Mastodawn

I did a little experiment this week for funsies. Last week I posted a pic of M81 and M82 that I got with my Seestar S30, and I decided to replicate it with my best astrophotography rig (Askar 130PHQ + ASI2600MC). Obviously, there's a huge difference between the two setups, but I stuck with 60 second subs like I did on the S30, about the same integration time, exactly the same light pollution level, and processing was done with the same tools.

This gives you an idea of how much more detail is available using a scope that's ~7x larger and a better camera.

Full resolution and capture details: https://app.astrobin.com/i/c24ufh?r=0

#astronomy #astrophotography #SeestarS30

@malcircuit Nice comparison.

@malcircuit
That is one of the best comparisons I've seen!

It really drives home how much better a pro rig is.

On the flip side, assuming a new site, I imagine the setup time is considerably different. But, on the gripping hand, given that it is a rig you are well familiar with, probably less of a difference that it might otherwise be.

Intrigued to hear what the difference was.

Oh yeah, the Seestar is ready to image in a few minutes, while the big rig would take at least an hour to get put together, set up, and running. Actually, probably double or triple that time if you take loading and unloading it all in to/out of my car into consideration. There's a reason I have a Seestar lol

@malcircuit
Hmm. That is more than I was expecting, but not that much more. I was thinking 30-45 minutes, based on how long it takes me to setup my GOTO rig, which is much, much simpler.

It makes you wonder about the pro level Vaonis rigs.
(The 11k+ ones!)

Also, I recently re-read The Mote In God's Eye so I greatly appreciate your use of "on the gripping hand" lol

Ԏєηυкι, 手抜き🚀🐧♏ 🔭 ⚫⚪Mar 1

@malcircuit On the other hand the less detailed pic can be used as a filter to focus on the galaxies.

@malcircuit Wow, nice hands-on comparison! Puts it great into direct context!

drs1969 (David Smith) 🇬🇧Mar 1

@malcircuit so the bigger rig is £5-6k with a mount? It’s striking just how close the Seestar is. Also the Seestar stars are much brighter than the bigger rig - what’s the reason for that? Quirk of the S30 sensor? Both lovely pictures.

By "brighter" do you mean larger? That's because the angular resolution is lower for the S30.

drs1969 (David Smith) 🇬🇧Mar 1

@malcircuit both. The stars seemed both brighter and yes larger as well.

I'm mostly a visual observer ... was a visual observer. I have eyepieces more expensive than my S50. I don't use them. Most winters here now one grabs an hr or 2 when one can. The seestar has given me more observing time than all my other scopes. I do sit outside and watch the photons appear on the iPad though. Tradition and all that.

The brightness difference might have more to do with differences in processing. I used the same tools for both (PixInsight), but I'm not methodical enough to have done both images in exactly the same way.

And yeah, I'm not dissing the Seestar at all. I have one for a reason. They are super easy to use and, most of all, fun to use!

@malcircuit What a great comparison! What’s stunning about the clarity of the second one is that, along the top third of the image, I can see at least two smudges no larger than stars that appear to be very distant galaxies. Have those been identified?

While M1 and M2 are better in the second one, weirdly I think I prefer the stars in the first, which have more of a glow around them. I think stars become a bit less interesting the more they resolve into sharp pinpoints.😅

I have no doubt those galaxies are in an a catalog, but I have no idea what their IDs are. I'll get back to you on that.

You're not the only person to comment on the stars. I think I might have sharpened them more in the high-res image. It also makes a difference how "zoomed in" the image is. The second image is considerably higher resolution, and the stars don't look as extreme at full resolution.

@malcircuit Wow, thanks! Top center and top right were the ones I noticed. Interesting to see the other ones.

@bluejay @malcircuit also those two are only one bulb in the first one

tuban_muzuru Mar 2

Excellent work.

Lesley M 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇪🇺Mar 2

@malcircuit I might be weird, but while I like the detail in the second pic, as an overall picture, I like the first one at first glance. They are both awesome shots you got though.