The Elliptical Globular - M19

Not a particularly notable image, but I did catch M19 in a rather large field. It is generally not the appropriate image scale for a globular, but I do think the larger field serves to illustrate the asymmetry of this globular. The image is at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/M19.htm

(you can click on the image for a higher resolution showing the cluster a bit larger.)

Scope - Explore Scientific MN152 at f/4.8
Camera - SBIG ST8300M (Astronomik 1-1/4 inch LRGB filters)
Mount - G11/Gemini
Guiding - Megrez II at 555 mm FL, DSI Pro, PhD Guiding

Wow that's gorgeous! Congrats.

Please compare and contrast your experience with the ST8300 vs the Artemis camera. I have considered the 8300 myself, especially since my Atik 16HR is giving me issues.

Best,

David

Sweet shot Jim! I always like your processing on globs.
Cheers,
Tyler

Tyler, David,
Thanks for the comments.

David,
I still have and use my Artemis285. The Art is interline and the 8300 is full frame. The 8300 wells are smaller though. So I kind of expected an increase in signal level based on full frame, but a decrease due to smaller well size / capacity. I think that a sensitivity comparison is about a push. The 8300 has a higher number of warm pixels than the Art with the Sony chip - I expected that.

So far, I have been using 1-1/4 inch filters on the 8300 - its not bad. The vignetting is not too bad (but I have mounted the filter wheel as close as possible). A flat set or even a pseudo flat works well - most of my images on the 8300 have not been cropped beyond a few percent needed to eliminate where RGBs are not aligned on the edges.

I also do some work with a DSLR. I found the 8300 to be a little like the DSLR except for the Mono data aspect (and, of course, a significant increase in sensitivity and S/N). The back focus is shorter than the DSLR (even with filter wheel) but longer than the Art.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the 8300. It is the first camera I reach for. I will use the Art or DSLR on a second setup while the 8300 is pumping out data on my primary setup.

Nicely done.

Peter

That is a good scale - gives you that "lost in space" view. (Color "looks" right too.)

Charlie