My first M42

[SimmoW]

And what a spectacular sight it was in the eyepiece.

This is 20 shots each of 5, 20, 60 and 300secs respectively, @ISO400 for the first time to try and preserve star colours, processed using Pixinsights HDR composition tool. So many different approaches to processing this famous beauty, this is just one I settled on.

I posted it to Flickr here (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48232585@N00/15633080136/), and it proved to be quite popular!

I'll definitely keep the data and keep working on it once I get a Ha Filter.

[cometcatcher]

Superb image in every way Simon. :thumbsup:

[andyc]

That's really nicely done! I tried an hdr of three snapshots from the other night - definitely a really useful method for M42. I might refer back to yours as a standard to aspire to :thumbsup:

[ChrisM]

Simon, that is very good for your first try at M42. Nice FoV too. I'm not surprised that Pix Insight has an HDR function, but haven't stumbled across it yet.

Cheers, Chris

[PeterEde]

Nice shot
It's amazing how bright M42

[rmuhlack]

good effort, but the double diffraction spikes would suggest that your focus was off. maintaining focus is always going to be a challenge with your scope as it is so fast (the critical focus zone is only 27 microns at f3.3). What method did you use to initially confirm you had the correct focus?

[SimmoW]

Yes, it takes a lot of patience to focus. I used Backyard EOS for the very first time to focus, thought I had it right but obviously not. Robofocus might be a long term option? I want to learn to plate solve first though.

[Rex]

Simon, that is a great image mate, although I had to stand on my head to look at it :rofl:. Nice detail and great framing mate well done :thumbsup:

[LightningNZ]

Yeah it just "feels wrong" doesn't it? :lol:

It's a nice pic though.

[cometcatcher]

At this image scale I can't see out of focus stars. Could the double spikes be from something else, like unsteady seeing?

[cometcatcher]

Wait until people start wanting pics with "north up". That takes some getting used to. :P

Edit... Actually I just had another look. This pic is wrong. It's not just up side down, it's a vertical mirror.

[RickS]

Nice M42, Simon. Well done!

[rmuhlack]

i've never had great success in achieving accurate focus when using the values reported by BYE. i have found that using a bahtinov mask together with the free 'bahtinov grabber' software to be easy to use and much more reliable. with the bahtinov grabber software utility, you enter your scope and camera details. use the 'frame and focus' screen in BYE, set up a focus capture loop, select the bahtinov pattern with bahtinov grabber and then the software reports your focus error in microns, and also whether or not you are within the 'critical focus zone (CFZ)'. then simply adjust the focus until bahtinov grabber reports that you are within the CFZ. the whole process only takes a couple of minutes.

[SimmoW]

Brilliant suggestion Richard! Will investigate.

[Andy01]

You've gotta be happy with that one Simmo :)
Damn fine first M42, bet you're loving this now eh?
Onya!

Cheers
Andy

[SimmoW]

Thanks Andy, yeah I'm loving this, a satisfying learning curve. And I just ordered a Ha filter, so more experiments to come.

[Rod771]

Excellent first M42 Simon. :thumbsup:

[BruceG]

Great result Simon. M42 was my 2nd subject about 12 months ago. I didn't know I needed to take subs of various lengths to ensure I could resolve detail in big he the bright and faint areas. Will try again soon and apply all the things I have learned in the last year. I hope mine works out as well as yours!
Bruce.

[Mckechg]

Nice work... (as usual)

[SimmoW]

Thanks Chaps again. I loved doing this one, now everything else seems so small and dim. But I hope to do the Horsehead justice at my next dark sky visit.

Part of the fun of this hobby is the anticipation of the next target, isn't it? One can dream...