First Narrowband Light with the ASI294MM Pro

[umasscrew39]

The ASI294MM Pro is the newest camera in the ZWO line. It has advantages over the well-established ASI1600MM Pro like no micro-lens effect from bright stars and a higher QE. However, it does produce amp glow like the 294MC so one needs to make sure you have good darks to remove it.

Here is M27 in narrowband using a C11" EdgeHD @f/10. Using this scope at f/10 really requires good or better seeing to avoid oversampling. Also, given I have had only a handful of hours this entire year to date to image anything, I was anxious to try this new camera. So, view this with an eye of just a beginning because I need to collect a ton more data- hopefully this year! Adding more data will certainly get more of the nebula to pop out and be much sharper.

Gain was 120; Offset was 50; Narrowband filters: Chroma H-alpha (5nm); OIII (3nm)
Integration: 13x300s (H-alpha) and 21x300s (OIII)

Dumbbell Nebula.jpg (799.85 KiB) Viewed 2017 times

[admin]

Hi Bruce,

that's a great image – glad to hear that you're getting on well with your new camera.

Cheers, Robin

[umasscrew39]

Thanks much, Robin. It is performing well, so far, and does appear to be an upgrade over the ASI1600MM.

[Menno555]

Oh wow, nice one! I like the color setting!

[umasscrew39]

I was able to collect more frames and could at least get some of the outer shell. Here are 2 versions:

M27_new.jpg (174.27 KiB) Viewed 1923 times

M27_clone.jpg (176.58 KiB) Viewed 1923 times

[Menno555]

Seems you like the camera?
Indeed the outer shell is starting to show. Very nice

[turfpit]

Outer shell coming along nicely Bruce.

Dave

[umasscrew39]

Camera is ok ...... just lots of user error

Thank you both very much. I need the encouragement as I see what folks gather in dark skies with this and other DSOs and I get discouraged at times. Dave- I don't think I will ever obtain the patience you demonstrate with your stuff, especially the incredible lunar and planetary images you produce.

[turfpit]

Bruce

I have been experimenting with M27 and APP's 'combine RGB > formulae'. These are the outcomes of the 11 combinations offered from the drop down 'formulae' menu. Some interesting outcomes from no effort.

The test data was: L: 18x300s, RGB each 6x300s, Ha & OIII 3x600s.

Dave

all-APP-formulae.JPG (319.05 KiB) Viewed 1851 times

[timh]

Hi Bruce,

The detail and contrast within your pictures of M27 is quite exquisite. The background stars seem quite few and faint relative to the nebula (compared to my own pics with a UHC filter) - is that something deliberate through post-processing or just the natural consequence of using the narrow band filters ? Anyway the effect is to really enhance the nebula.

best wishes
Tim