Finally, An Image!

 It's been three years since my last pretty image, not including the spectra. This is the first image taken with my transitional platform that's built around an AT65EDQ imaging scope, Losmandy G11G mount, and SBIG ST-8300M CCD. On the software side it uses APT, Stellarium, and PHD. 

I chose the Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146) and collected the following frames:

• Luminance: 12 frames @ 5 minutes each, unbinned, CCD cooled to -10C
• color filters: 12 frames each, 2.5 minutes, binned 2x2, -10C
• 24 dark frames at each bin/time/temperature combination used
  

I processed it using Images Plus and Photoshop.

Cocoon Nebula (minimal crop, scaled)

I'm really pleased with the performance of the G11G--the stars are nice and round. My processing left a lot to be desired, though. I clipped the dark end of the histogram and did not do a good job getting rid of the sky gradient; doubtless there are other shortcomings. But still, given that this was imaged through a white zone sky (Bortle 7.5) with only LRGB filters, I'm pleased.

Link to Astrobin page for this image

Next up is learning PixInsight, and with some luck the smoke will abate and I'll be able to travel to darker sites.

Smoke and the Nebraska Star Party

I registered and had purchased a park sticker. A few days before my planned departure to the Nebraska Star Party I assessed the smoke situation and decided not to attend. My personal judgement was that it wasn't worth the travel expense and hours of driving to seek out what would probably be mediocre sky.

Last night I was at a friend's house north of Minneapolis and the effect of the smoke was obvious. The limiting magnitude was around 4 instead of the usual 5.5. Extinction due to smoke was costing us somewhere around 1.5 magnitudes.  That translates as requiring exposure times to be 4 times their normal values.  

Looking at satellite loops suggests the smoke blanketed NSP the first three nights (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights). Wednesday night was probably the best of the event, but even then there were occasional clouds combined with smoke. Thursday night's forecast is for fewer clouds but more smoke. 

Considering the five nights from Sunday through Thursday, recent years have not been kind to NSP. In 2019 it rained four of those nights. If NSP 2020 had taken place it would have provided maybe five hours of good quality imaging, unfortunately coming as three hours one night and two another. This year's NSP 2021 may have been a complete loss for imaging unless you're willing to image through smoke.

I'm beginning to think I was spoiled by my first three NSP trips (2014, 15, and 16).

The question is if this is just a bad run of weather or an indication of some sort of "new normal" as the climate warms and wildfires become a regular feature of summer.

Time will tell. And while we wait, get fully vaccinated if you aren't already!