Nebulas

• LN

Setup

• Extremely clear, no wind.
• Coolers on from lunch time for darks.
• Could only get to -15C during the day (60 - 80% cooler power)
• Start up around 19:00
• Dome open straight away to cool down and cooler can reach -20C
• Aligned easily to Sirius to the south.
• Flaming Star Nebula the target as quite high and slightly to the west (ie away from London).
• 1 min exposure without filter to get some stars despite blueish sky.
• Uploaded to astrometry.net to check location vs stellarium location.
• http://nova.astrometry.net/user_images/1564397#annotated
• Slightly off it would seem. Took 400s second exposure in mean time with H Alpha filter to see if we see anything.
• Indeed, slightly off.
• Ah, forgot to turn on tracking!
• Centred where nebula should be (without filter - so just stars) and started tracking.
• Checking with astrometry again before long data taking.
• http://nova.astrometry.net/user_images/1564483#annotated
• Bang on target - 20:58
• 20 minute image was good, but we need better - limited by read out noise
• 2x 30 minute exposures so far at 22:37
• LIght without filter for star field.
• 60s had some stars, but 180s was better. Need to take several for star field.
• Quick to take now and will use as trial of false colouring later. Record 5x 180s in total.
• Then back to 30min h alpha exposures.

-- LaurieNevay - 31 Mar 2017