First image of M42 with the new 2600MC camera with limited data
After imaging NGC 1316 on Monday night I was hoping to capture at least 2 or 3 hours on M42 as it was nice and high around 11pm but the Cloud Free Night forecast was totally wrong with medium cloud banks pushing through one after the other from the west until the sky was clouded out
Only managed 6 subs over 40 minutes until frustration got the better of me so decided to call it a night.
6” f6 Bintel Newt on an EQ6-R mount
ZWOASI2600MC camera Ascom control set as Highest Dynamic Range ( Gain 0 offset 50 ) cooled to -12C
ZWO 2” Duoband filter
Bortle 8 Sydney skies
6 x 180sec dithered guided subs ( 18mins )
No darks
No flats
Goto and navigation EQMOD and Stellarium
Frame focus and capture APT
PHD2 guiding at 0.90 arc sec error
Stacked in DSS ( median )
Processed in Startools V1.6 OSC linear data set
After an initial stretch in Startools, I couldn’t believe what I saw on the screen , the core was bright but not blown out with the trapezium staring at me.I could never expose the trapezium with my DSLR unless I took 10 or 15 sec subs but with the new 2600MC no problem at all with 3 minute subs in Bortle 8 skies. This camera keeps surprising me every time I use it.
Due to the limited amount of data ( 6 subs @ 3 minutes, 18 mins total ) the noise floor was quite high but Startools tamed the noise quite well and retained good detail and tight stars.Next available chance I’ll try to capture 2 or 3 hours on M42 and really give the image a good stretch to expose the outer regions of the object.
