M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy

Time Lapse Covering 15 Minutes Of The Whirlpool Galaxy on June 15th, 2010.
Using a Nikon D5000 and Celestron 8" SCT. In 'Real Time' each still is a 30 second exposure with a 12 second gap between them.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Astronomy
• 'The
• Whirlpool
• Galaxy'
• M51
• RASC
• 'Sunshine
• Coast'

[Edsan91]

Unless I Hyperstar or fastar My celestron C8 which is another way to get faster imaging. But I don't know if my Celestron C8 is compatible to convert it to A fastar to Hyperstar. I have the old Celestron C8 Classic So Idk if it is compatible. And doing this is Expensive too! Cheapest way is A Nice Canon Rebel And A F/3.3 Focal Reducer or f/6.3 Focal Reducer! When You image at f/6.3 Do your majority of The deep sky Objects you take Stay Around 30 Sec Exposure? I'm new to Astrophotography :)

[Coastastronomy]

@Edsan91 The tracking time depends on how accurate your mount is and the focal length of your scope. The longer the focal length, the less tracking time before star trailing shows up. I use a Celestron ASGT (CG-5) mount which has no periodic error correction (PEC reduces your tracking error) and with the f/6.3 reducer the focal length of the C8 is effectively 1275mm (2,024mm x .63). I can get a minute tracking under calm conditions,that's about the limit. f3.3 would extend tracking to 2 min

[Edsan91]

Wow great detail! Are you using A Focal reducer? And is the Camera in prime focus with a t adapter or how? 

[Coastastronomy]

Yes, used a Celestron F6.3 Reducer - with camera on a T-Ring at prime focus.

[Edsan91]

@Coastastronomy Thanks for the info very much Appreciated I'm going to start Astrophotography! Thats why I asked :) Also what If I used a f/3.3 reducer would it vignette too much? Or a dslr would still be good for it?

[Coastastronomy]

@Edsan91 The F/3.3 reducer will give you much faster imaging, but image scale will be a little smaller. Not sure if the F/3.3 will give enough back focus to get your DSLR in focus. I'm checking into that myself, would be a nice option for some wide field imaging.

[Jules7892]

@CoastastronomyPEC or Periodic Error Correction is FULLY Corrected Automatically with your PHD or Classical AutoGuidance whether using a separate GuideScope with Guiding C.C.D.of the Off-Axis method.Also,while doing Manual Guidance using your"Illuminated Reticle"anyPECmotions of your Worm-Gears will be seen in the Crosshaired Red Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece and thus your Keypad counter-measure of correction direction is Tracked applied.Therefore,PEC or Periodic Error Correction is Conveniance!!

[Jules7892]

@Edsan91 All Celestron C8" are FULLY Compatible. Just get yourself a T-Ring for your NIKON,PENTAX or CANON Pro-DSLR and learn the 30 second method of exposing on a Celestron Computerized Mount. Expose your Pro-DSLR Camera at T-Adapter Prime Focus then Stack your Images either in Registax V5.0 or DeepSkyStacker which are FREE Download Public Domain FREE Download Software. Happy StarGazing!!!!

[RaiderSix]

I have a Celestron 8" SCT on a Nexstar alt az mount and have been eyeing the CG-5 mount due to it's price. Would an autoguider make up for not having any PEC?

[joikbenik]

wow

[jdastro]

Enjoyed your video and the final result. Makes me want to get out  and do some imaging.

[rfnking11]

this is amazing!! i can't wait to start astrophotography!! <3

[Edsan91]

@Coastastronomy I agree! Many people that have used a dslr and and f/3.3 have said they've gotten faster imaging cause of the focal ratio but that it causes vignetting. And so f/3.3 is ONLY supposedly used for CCD cameras and not DSLR's. I think CCD cameras Are very Expensive Thats y I was asking for the Dslr way with an F/3.3 Reducer because it will be cheaper and give me faster imaging But it would be nice if you tried it! Because I wonder if it works! :)