Hello! I am going to Western New Mexico next week for 5 nights of imaging with a RASA 8 + 2600 MC Pro, how would you parse those 50 hours : 25 targets at 2 hours/ target, or just 5 targets at 10 hours/target?
Going to NM for 5 nights under Bortle 1, how would *you* parse your time/target ?
Well Written Engaging
Personally, if I ever made it that far south with a RASA 8; 5 hours per target 10 targets (roughly), a 4 panel RGB image of Orion and the horse head, at least 10 hours on the Dolphin nebula (SH2-308). After that I'd be looking for interesting dark nebula's and IFN. In a dark site that far south it would be all about RGB imaging for me (except the Dolphin) and southern skies that I can't see from north of the great lakes.
Oh boy. RASA 8. I'd punch in asymmetric datasets. 2 x 15h objects, 10 x 1h projects, and 5 x 2h projects. Keep some variety, get the darkest stuff with the 15s, brightest with the 1h, and somewhere inbetween with the 2h. Personally I'd really like to just go around getting 30m on 100 objects though. RASA would allow it completely.
I would focus on 'difficult' (i.e. faint) targets only to make best use of Bortle 1. Would then shoot 10h per target resulting in one-of-kind images that are nearly impossible to get from light polluted backyards.
CS, John
CS, John
Hi Richard,
I had the same challenge back in May in Namibia, and I ended up with ~6h per Object at F4.1.
If the sky in NM is as good, actually I think 1 hour per target would be sufficient for deep images with good SNR at F2 - double the time if you want to go extra deep...
If you want to give your images a special touch, I would also try to do some high-res mosaics - bortle 1 skies make the assembly of mosaics really easy!
Here's an example what is possible - 2 panel mosaic 10x5min each panel at F4.1 under bortle 1 skies:
https://www.astrobin.com/g2qy77/B/
Best Regards,
Nico
I had the same challenge back in May in Namibia, and I ended up with ~6h per Object at F4.1.
If the sky in NM is as good, actually I think 1 hour per target would be sufficient for deep images with good SNR at F2 - double the time if you want to go extra deep...
If you want to give your images a special touch, I would also try to do some high-res mosaics - bortle 1 skies make the assembly of mosaics really easy!
Here's an example what is possible - 2 panel mosaic 10x5min each panel at F4.1 under bortle 1 skies:
https://www.astrobin.com/g2qy77/B/
Best Regards,
Nico
Helpful Engaging Supportive
Where in New Mexico? I've been to Gila, staying at Casitas De Gila. Been there several times over the years. Brought my SQM meter once and recorded 22.
Zodiacal light seemed like light pollution. Going back next month.
Jeff
Zodiacal light seemed like light pollution. Going back next month.
Jeff
Personally, I would be very focused on southerly DSO's. I live in the Pacific Northwest and have a poor southern horizon due to trees and a massive light dome. With the light bucket you are taking you can probably do really well with 2 targets per night at 4-6 hrs each. I would choose the targets in such a way that you don't have to spend valuable time on meridian flips.
Sounds like a fun trip. Will follow for results.
Sounds like a fun trip. Will follow for results.
Well Written Concise
Where in New Mexico? I've been to Gila, staying at Casitas De Gila. Been there several times over the years. Brought my SQM meter once and recorded 22.
Zodiacal light seemed like light pollution. Going back next month.
Jeff
*** Going to Hidden Springs, about 15 miles north of Cosmic Campground. Truly Bortle 1.