Another Orion. 2nd Attempt

[AdamJL]

Hi all

So my first go of Orion was back in November (seriously?! Time flies)

https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/...e.php?a=268306

With the awful weather, this past week has been the first real time I've had to get out and shoot again. So I lined up M42 for just over 4 hours worth of imaging.

I took 187 60 second subs, and 120 10 second subs for the core. Took 30 darks for each as well, then processed them separately and combined them in Photoshop to help tame the bright core and bring some of that teal back in.

I spend about 20mins editing this because I still don't know what I'm doing

Also, my 5D IV has some major banding issues that is only fixed with a LOT of Lights, and I also can't use Bias frames as they make it worse (confirmed with the experts at DSS). So this is just LIGHTS and DARKs. I forgot to take flats

Anyway, here's the result. I'm going to dedicate much of 2021 trying to learn as much as I can editing wise, and live with the big flaws in my camera, then upgrade at the end of the year.

Gear and specs:
SkyWatcher EQ6-R, polar aligned with PoleMaster and 3 star aligned
No Autoguiding
187 x 60, 120 x 10 @ ISO 1600 on Canon 5D IV stock
SkyWatcher 80ED + Orion Field Flattener (no reducer)
Sequenced in NINA
Stacked in DSS
Edited in Photoshop. Will try StarTools next

Thanks for looking

[Robert_T]

impressed you manage decent 60s subs on the EQ6 with no auto-guiding! The running man has come out well too. And the 10s subs look to have allowed you to keep the core detail well.

Flats in my view (though yes easy to forget) are really a must though not an option if you want the best from your AP. And probably all the more important using a full frame DSLR where vignetting can be expected.

Oh and yes give Startools a go. Make sure to read it's guidance on DSS settings though otherwise you wont get the best from it.

[AdamJL]

Thanks Robert. 90 seconds is about as far as I'd go with this setup currently, but the keeper rate drops. 60 seconds seems to be a spot where I keep about 85-90% of images, which I'm happy with.

Definitely looking at auto-guiding though!

Yes I felt like a fool when I got home and realised I forgot the flats
the OTA was still locked into the right focus point, but I'd taken off the camera. I've no way of knowing which orientation it was in to align the sensor to imaging circle.
Oh well, lesson learned. I might start taking flats before the imaging session going forward.

[Wilsil (Wilco)]

That looks really good

[AdamJL]

Cheers Wilco!