First Light - Horsehead and Flame

Here is an old favorite for this time of year - Horsehead and Flame. It is also first light on a WO Zenithstar 66 APO that I recently picked up. I also used the WO FFIII (works well for both the WO 80 mm and WO 66). Between the two I can range from 555 mm FL to 280 mm FL. This image was at the 280 mm FL - remember, I have a small CCD.

I used an H-Alpha filter on some 10 minute exposures. There was some star trailing - which I processed out - but the nebula softness was not correctable. I think the single foot mountinmg on the Zenithstar causes some flexure; guiding was fine. I'm going to get rings for it - I think it will help.

Anyway, the image as well as exposure and processing details are here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/Horsehead-Flame.htm

Zenithstar 66 mm APO at f/4.3
Artemis285 IR/UV Block, H-Alpha, RGB
G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding

An older image made in 2005 is here:

http://www.jthommes.com/MiscAstro/Archives/Horsehead-Flame.htm

Jim, you did a great job on this one. I like it a lot.

-Eric

Very nice Jim.

Looks very promising. I thing the scope is going to work out well for you.
Looking forward to more images using it.

Looks good to me, Jim!

Tom

Hi Jim. The image looks great! I think that scope is going to produce some really nice images... in your capable hands.
Cheers,
Tyler

Jim, awesome work, as usual! 8)
The WO66 is a great match for these "small chip" cameras (like the Orion Starshoot , for example) as it allows us to maximize the FOV...

Well done, and looking forward to your next shots!

Thanks folks for the kind comments.

Tom Simmons said:

FWIW, I found these little 66's fit the 3" TV clamshell if you also include some thin flocking felt on one half of the clamshell. YMMV

Tom, I looked up the TV ring - looks good. I had actually already picked up a set of 3 inch rings from Scopestuff. They fit pretty nice as is. I think they will be OK for the ZS66 - its pretty lightweight.