bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I've been considering a smart telescope package such as the new Celestron Origin.

All of the smart telescopes I've looked at are based on an Alt/Az platform shooting 10-15 sec subs to keep field rotation under control unless they have built-in field derotation.

The Origin is based on Celestron's Evolution mount which I've had for a couple of years, so I mounted my Stellarvue 60 (SV60) and QHY 163M with filterwheel on the mount and proceeded to shoot half an hour of 10 sec. subs of the Orion nebula with each of Lum, Ha and Oiii filters (180 subs per each) just to see what I could capture. It should be noted the SV60 and Origin focal lengths are almost exactly the same at 330mm; however, the focal ratio is considerably different at f/5.5 and f/2.2 respectively. This will significantly impact what can be captured with 10 sec. exposures off the Origin.

I used SharpCap's Live Stack tool to align and stack the subs as they were captured giving me three stacked images to play with. I aligned these stacks in PixInsight and created a LumHaOiiOii (LRGB) color image and tweaked it in Lightroom. I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

The only thing I'd do differently if I did this test again would be to shoot a few, maybe 2-3 minute, sessions to recovery the Trapezium area of Orion.

Enjoy!

bwa

LumHaOiiiOiii (LRGB) Image

(Download)

Luminance Image

(Download)

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

It seems like you're doing a excellent job with the combo you have, but f2.2 would be tempting.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

It works quite well but is a hassle setting up, particularly when it's well below zero:
1) Move the Evolution, scope and camera to imaging location.
2) Move laptop table
3) Move laptop
4) Connect power and USB cables
5) Fire up system and run StarSense for a sky alignment
6) Run a few subs to get a good focus (with Bahtinov mask)
7) Find and frame a target
8) Finally ready to image and by this time my fingers are frozen!

It would be really nice to simply setup a smart scope and do all of the above from an app on my indoor computer or smart phone, essentially eliminating six of the above steps.

I've used an 8" RASA, f/2.2 scope and f/2.2 is indeed VERY tempting. Amazing how fast photons accumulate at f/2.2!

bwa

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Being in a warm room while letting the scope do the work in the cold is way nicer. I've never experienced that. Hopefully you will get that new scope and post new images soon.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I have no idea what you are talking about, but I love your photos!

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Astrophotography is the easiest and cheapest type of photography...said nobody ever 😎😎😎

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Yup, after decades of astrophotography I almost took up golf to further add suffering! :)

bwa

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Great images of M42. I have played with assigning different filter images to different color with a fair amount of success. In some cases using Ha for the luminance is quite useful. Note M42 also has a fair amount of SII that can bring out some other details in the image.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I would have shot Sii as well but cloud cover ended that plan.

bwa

rwww80a Loc: Hampton, NH

I'd love to be able to set up my telescope like this to take 30 min exposures of the heavens. But alas, 30 minute exposures require a stable atmosphere and at the seacoast the weather changes too fast.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Yup, I'd also love to have the equipment to take 30 min exposures of the heavens. That is why I shot 180x10sec subs and stacked them.

bwa

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I redid the LRGB combination as HaHa0.9xOiiiOiii. I think using Ha as Luminance did improve the image but still fighting thin cloud to a degree.

Thanks for the suggestion.

bwa

(Download)

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Nice detail in the image. I like the contrast in the nebula.

rwww80a Loc: Hampton, NH

One issue, 10 sec exposures aren't long enough to collect the dim light a 30 sec exp can resolve. 10+10+10 DOES NOT EQUAL 30 SEC of exposure. They are till just 10 sec exposures.