M42, an F7 guinea pig

[Rod771]

Hi Everyone

Whilst I had the guiding sorted and as NGC 253 headed lower into the crapmosphere, I slewed over to Orion to shoot some quick subs @ F7 before I called it a night.

The background is a little noisy but easily fixed with more data. I still had to pack up and haul everything inside, so it was just quick re balance and a short run of 10 subs to see how guiding would go on the opposite side of the meridian. There's room for improvement but I'm happy with where I'm at.

5 x 2 min + 5 x 5 minute subs . sensor temps were reading 28 to 31c
Canon 60Da on C11 Edge hd with .7x focal reducer, 1960mmFL
OAG/SX Lodestar

Processed in Pixinsight

Large image Here (http://astrob.in/full/64623/0/)

Large image adjusted colour balance (http://astrob.in/full/64623/B/)

Thanks for looking

[gregbradley]

A very dramatic shot Rod. Are you able to shift the slight orange colour over to more red?

Love the tight Trap area.

Greg.

[multiweb]

Very nice. Looks like an oil painting. :thumbsup:

[Geoff45]

Great shot Rod. It's amazing how much variety comes out from this one object.
Geoff

[Larryp]

Nice detail and colours :thumbsup:

[5ash]

Nice picture . How do you measure the sensor temperature ??
Philip

[strongmanmike]

Ha yeah! it does :)

Nice one Rod, perhaps a bit mono in the core.. but I love it when a night of imaging is too good to finish because it's still clear and ya juuuust have ta shoot something else :D...before packing up (groan) :doh:

Mike

[Rod771]

Thanks Marc! Yeah that's what I thought too. :)



Thanks Geoff! Yes it's great to see everyone's take on it, I know M42's a bit :rolleyes: but I never get sick of it.



Cheers Laurie :)



Thanks Philip. I use a canon camera control program called Backyard EOS, its great! After each sub image is taken it records the sensors temperature in the file name of the image. Very handy!



Thanks Mike! :) Yeah I just couldn't resist it :D I thought bugger it! I'll just stay up a bit longer, I fell into bed at 4:11am :screwy:

[Rod771]

Thanks for the feedback Greg! :)

Sometimes the colour calibration tool in Pixinsight leaves me scratching my head and having second thoughts about its results. I didn't mind what it came up with this time, especially considering the very few stars it had to work off for the white reference point. Other times I have run it, then clicked undo, proceeded without using it and adjusted the balance myself.

I ran the HDR tool using the 2 minute subs for the core, I'm pleased with the result.

I went back in and adjusted the balance with the curves tool. I reckon it has more of a "traditional" balance now. What do you think?:question: I like them both :P

Large click here (http://astrob.in/full/64623/B/)

[astronobob]

Pretty deep for 5 mins subs Rod, dig the colors and results, the repro looks betterra & with more color in the core area too, Nice work :thumbsup:

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Nice Rod!:thumbsup:

That C11 really brings out the detail, like your processing too.

Cheers,

Justin.

[Rod771]

Thanks for the feedback Bob! :)



I appreciate your kind words Justin :)

Yes I love the C11, its very versatile. I'm also keen observer and at a dark site it really soaks it up. :astron: