Here is the first image obtained with the new Optolong Astronomy Filter L-QEF.

M42 NEBULA & NGC 1977

Credit: Mirko Tondinelli (Italy)

 

It was a cold evening but it was worth it to try out the new Optolong Astronomy Broadband Filter L-QEF. The telescope used is my legendary Skywatcher newton 200/800 reduced to 760 mm with Artesky's x0.95 factor corrector/reducer. 
The camera is the Omegon 571 vtec used at a temperature of -10° with Gain 100 and Offset 300.
The subject I chose to perform the first test of this filter was not chosen for its beauty (I would say beautiful) but for its height in the sky, which at its maximum reaches 41° (from my observation point, Guidonia Montecelio). I started shooting at 7.30 p.m. when the subject was at 29° immersed in the pollution of my city with buildings and chimneys lit up below...a spectacle.I would say.

 

 

Anyway, in the end I got out a good 42 300" exposures and 70 by 10" exposures to bring out the trapezoid in the centre of the Nebula. What you see here is raw master out of the integration to which I gave a pass of DBE (dynamic background abstractor).

I must say that at first glance this filter impressed me for the cleanliness it gave back despite the low height of the subject and despite the pollution.  Unfortunately the seeing was not crazy and the guide thought a bit about it. As soon as I can I'll process it properly and show you the result.

 

 

 

Hi everyone, here is the first image obtained with the new Optolong Astronomy Filter L-QEF. Broadband filter with more selective characteristics than the L-pro filter. I must say that I shoot from a fairly polluted sky (Guidonia Montecelio, Rm) and until now I have always used the L-pro filter for broadband shots with good results. Shooting with this new filter, however, I noticed a better rendition of contrasts without distorting the colour rendition of the image too much.  I was especially surprised by this subject because it was shot under less than favourable conditions, both in terms of the usual IL present at my location and because M42 at this time and from my latitude did not rise more than 40° in the sky. In fact I started photographing it from 7.40 p.m. when it was at an altitude of just over 30°.
As the first light of this new filter, granted by Optolong to test it in my area, I was remarkably impressed.  There will certainly be further tests on galaxies and star clusters as well. 

 

 

Technical data of this photograph
Telescope: Skywatcher Newton 200/800 
Main camera: Omegon vTec 571 C
Guiding telescope: Skywatcher 80/400
Corrector/Reducer : Artesky x0.95 
Filter : Optolong L-QEF 2" filter
Guide Camera: Zwo Asi 224
Mount: Eq6 Mod rowan
Light : 42 Duration : 300" Gain : 100 Offset : 300
Light Core: 70 Duration: 10"
Dark: 40
Dark Core: 30
Flat :40
Datkflat: 40 
Location : Guidonia Montecelio ( Rm ) 
Bortle Scale : 6
Date: 12 January 2024
Shooting software: Sharcap, Apt, ph2 guiding
Processing software. : Pixinsight, Photoshop 
High resolution link on my AstroBin page where you can see my other images. Enjoy viewing .