New member my first astro pix

[Flugel88]

Hello all,
Im very new to the astro world and loads to learn.
I spent the better part of month working the computer side of things like eqmod and cated du ciel

ATM i only have a second hand eq6 with meade 75XD-8SN the scope is old and a bit rough. I have no idea how to collimate it properly. Just purchased that to get started.

I purchased the ZWO Asi120mm-s and filters/wheel with the intention of using for a guide cam and maybe some planetary when i have the right scope and gear.
Thought id give it a try at some deep sky just to get my head around using mono cameras.

Here are my efforts from last 2 weeks
Using Deep sky stacker and photoshop for first time was a real stress fest.:bashcomp:.

M42 was my first image every nothing fantasic but was more than i expected from such a little camera.I used 50x6 second frames of R,G,B no luminance as i had no idea how to combine it with photoshop.

M16 is my best so far i think! Did a lot of testing for best gain and exposure settings.30x20 sec of each colour RGB subs 65 gain
100x10 sec of Lum at 70 gain

Tarantula Nebular didnt go so well i went for 15 second expsure for my RGB and couldnt get the stars to line up very well.
I read here that you should re-focus for every colour sub somthing i didnt do Or maybe was just that i tried using fire captures autoguiding function for first time seemed to work ok i was drifting really bad. Was also a very bright night last night. :(
I manged to make them less obsessively out of wack with colour noisereduction in PS though now the stars like like blobs.

[jenchris]

Good starting point.
Now you have something to compare with.

[LightningNZ]

Nothing like leaping in at the deep end! I think you've got some good pics there. Nice details are seen in all of them. Focus is good, stars aren't trailed.

Louie (who post on here) did some great photoshop tutorials on youtube that may give you a help - at least to learn where things are in photoshop. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5b6pFHBGe66vsuSaXb-0A

Keep at it and keep in mind that it's all a learning curve that never stops, and that learning is half the fun. :)

[Amaranthus]

The chip on the ZWO ASI120MM is small (1/3"), which is why you are only getting part of M42, for instance. The camera is not cooled, but the Aptina MT9M034 sensor (CMOS) is relatively low noise (and very sensitive!). It's a terrific autoguiding and planetary camera, and, as you've seen, as servicable DSO imager for shorter exposures. I've never tried DSOs with mine, but might give it a go on narrow field, on a cold night!

[Flugel88]

Thanks Cam great link lots of stuff that i wanted to know how to do in ps there for me to learn.



Yeah shame the chip is so small makes it diffucult to pick suitable targets for imaging.
Cooling can be a problem the other night the sensor was reading 24c and i was getting lots of noise.
Using auto dark subtract helped a little but as the night progressed it fell to around 15c i could really tell the difference at that point.
Maybe one day ill work out how to DYO cool mod the cam i think it would be worth it.

[peter_4059]

Michael,

Your images are a million time better than my first attempts. You have some nice gear to get started with AP. Keep at it.

Peter

[Rex]

Michael they are top images for first atempts. Mate you've done really well.

[wayne anderson]

Hi Michael, good shots for your first astro pix, keep learning to get the most out of your setup and don't under estimate the value of good image processing techniques, keep going and you will get some amazing results.

Wayne.

[Khuda777]

WOW Michael! Incredible shots!

[raymo]

With that level of commitment you'll be an expert in no time. Great job.
raymo

[ZeroID]

Hi Michael, welcome along.
There are a few of us with ASI120m or mc playing with cooling at present. They seem very adaptable to it. here's the thread if you want to read through.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=126042

Cheers
Brent