Christmas Tree Cluster in Monoceros [Explored #84]
A complex region of glowing HII ions, dark nebulae, open clusters and reflection nebulae in Monoceros. My favourite part is the Cone nebula which is easy to spot.
Technical Card
480/80mm f/6 Altair Starwave triplet refractor.
Altair Planostar 1.0 x FF with 2 inch L-eNhance filter
ZWO ASI2600MC; 44 x 360 second subs, Gain 100, Offset 25, Temp = -15c.
EQ6 R mount . EQMOD control. Primalucelab Sesto Senso electronic focuser.
Session control; SharpCap 4.1 on miniPC attached to scope. Ethernet cable to home network.
Automated plate solving GOTO.
20 dark frames
61 flat frames (electroluminescent panel A, 6500ms exposure @ 0 gain).
Post processed in PixInsight 1.8.9.
Light Pollution and Weather:
SQM (L) not recorded - 60% Moon
Clear throughout. Session ended when target reached roof level.
Polar Alignment:
Still adjusting to my new mount - guiding not as good as I would wish:
Error measured by PHD2= 1 arc minute.
RA drift + 0.95 arcsec/min
Dec drift + 0.27 arcsec/min
Guiding:
PHD2 guiding with ZWO ASI290mm/Altair Starwave 206/50mm guider. Every 8th sub dithered.
RA RMS error 1.1 arcsec
Dec RMS error 0.76 arcsec
Astrometry
Resolution: 1.609 arcsec/px
Observation start time ... 2025-02-05 20:40:55 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2025-02-06 02:04:24 UTC
Focal distance ........... 481.86 mm
Pixel size ............... 3.76 um
Field of view ............ 2d 47' 36.2" x 1d 52' 1.3"
Image centre ............. RA: 6 41 00.659 Dec: +9 53 45.22
Christmas Tree Cluster in Monoceros [Explored #84]
A complex region of glowing HII ions, dark nebulae, open clusters and reflection nebulae in Monoceros. My favourite part is the Cone nebula which is easy to spot.
Technical Card
480/80mm f/6 Altair Starwave triplet refractor.
Altair Planostar 1.0 x FF with 2 inch L-eNhance filter
ZWO ASI2600MC; 44 x 360 second subs, Gain 100, Offset 25, Temp = -15c.
EQ6 R mount . EQMOD control. Primalucelab Sesto Senso electronic focuser.
Session control; SharpCap 4.1 on miniPC attached to scope. Ethernet cable to home network.
Automated plate solving GOTO.
20 dark frames
61 flat frames (electroluminescent panel A, 6500ms exposure @ 0 gain).
Post processed in PixInsight 1.8.9.
Light Pollution and Weather:
SQM (L) not recorded - 60% Moon
Clear throughout. Session ended when target reached roof level.
Polar Alignment:
Still adjusting to my new mount - guiding not as good as I would wish:
Error measured by PHD2= 1 arc minute.
RA drift + 0.95 arcsec/min
Dec drift + 0.27 arcsec/min
Guiding:
PHD2 guiding with ZWO ASI290mm/Altair Starwave 206/50mm guider. Every 8th sub dithered.
RA RMS error 1.1 arcsec
Dec RMS error 0.76 arcsec
Astrometry
Resolution: 1.609 arcsec/px
Observation start time ... 2025-02-05 20:40:55 UTC
Observation end time ..... 2025-02-06 02:04:24 UTC
Focal distance ........... 481.86 mm
Pixel size ............... 3.76 um
Field of view ............ 2d 47' 36.2" x 1d 52' 1.3"
Image centre ............. RA: 6 41 00.659 Dec: +9 53 45.22