First light ASI2600MC

(Click on the image to enlarge)

M51 14x300s SQM20 27MEI2020 ASI2600MC ESPRIT120 F7 Gain0 -10C 100% V2

Really need to learn how to use this camera and process the images, very different again from B/W and DSLR. The gain was set to “0” (“Maximum dynamic range”). Using the 120mm Esprit @ F7 native focal length of 883mm. As a first impression also the camera takes a lot longer to cool down compared to the ASI183MM and the files are pretty large at 50 Mb.

M51: the Whirlpool Galaxy in Canes Venatici

This is a famous sight: Messier 51, also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy (not hard to see why!) in the Hounting Dogs constellation (Canes Venatici).

I remember being able first time ever to see this galaxy with 8×40 binoculars when I was 14. That was a major achievement back then.  We spent the night under the stars in April with three friends, and as the spring sky is not very rewarding to binocular users, at least this one made our hearts beat faster.

In this picture, images from last year in April are combined with images from February 15th, 2018. All are taken with the C11, Nikon D750 and now in February with the ASI174MM as a guiding camera, replacing the Lacerta MGEN for off-axis guiding work.

The ASI174MM has delivered every time since it’s purchase in January a decent guiding star. With PHD combined with BackYardNikon the guiding goes excellent.

https://www.astrobin.com/full/336520/C   M51, a distant galaxy at 31 million light years

 

 

 

 

This website only uses statistical cookies. No personal data is collected or shared.