Beginner Target in Western Sky, Sydney

[Nath2099]

Would anyone have any suggestions for a target I can shoot in a single exposure on a 5d through an Espirit 120? The weekend is more about learning to drift align, but I'm keen to see a few things without the need initially to do guiding. A nebula or galaxy would be nice! I will have a clear view west, or maybe reasonably high south.

What's the longest exposure you think I can get away with?

Cheers in advance!

[ChrisV (Chris)]

I'm doing video astronomy with a 550D on an 80mm frac. Lagoon Neb and surrounds were great last night. But i just do a dozen 30s subs unguided

[Nath2099]

So you take a 30 second video, then realign, and take another? Or is the field of view wide enough to not need to realign?

Then have software that stacks and aligns all the frames?

[ChrisV (Chris)]

Sorry I didn't explain video astro well. I take short 10-30sec exposures on a GOTO mount (unguided) and stack them live while viewing. The purpose is near-live colour viewing of DSOs - not photography.

Last night I used EOS Utilities to take 30sec exposures @ ISO1600. While doing this I stack them while viewing in Astrotoaster. The shot below was saved directly from Astrotoaster, no post processing.

So poor man's live astrophotography
Below is Lagoon + Trifid 16x30sec subs, taken with a 550D I modded (removed IR filter, but there's a bit of gunk on the sensor I'll have to clean)

[Nath2099]

I'd be well happy to see that! I'll give this a go tonight if the cloud stays away. Thanks for explaining!