M42 new for old

[The_bluester]

Amazing what a year of practice and some more suitable gear will do. Two shots of M42, one taken around a year ago and a second one which was a quickie shot last night after the target I was shooting got to an unfavourable position. Just a pity that cloud interrupted things so I did not get short subs to try to blend in a core that is not burned out, job for later along with more 5 minute subs to smooth out the background.

Now to upgrade the glass so that the blue is properly focused. I reckon I am near the end of the road with the Evostar 72. To get much better I need to change something I think, either a mono camera so I can focus individually on r/g/b or a better scope for the OSC to peer through.

[Andy01]

Looking good Paul, progressing nicely - I'm a bit reluctant to show off my first attempt M42 - but we'll all been there! :lol:

[The_bluester]

Sadly the "Old" isn't my first go, but it was the first with even moderately OK gear. That would have been the same camera and the SCT with reducer, but no UV-IR filter.

[strongmanmike]

Yes nice improvement Paul, good to see huh? :thumbsup:

Over a bit longer time period across different technology eras...HERE (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/140147438/original) is another :)

Mike

[The_bluester]

I think it is amazing how far the gear has come in just the last decade, let alone since 1984! That was the year I first peered through a scope and I never would have even thought of putting my dads SLR on it even if it had a T ring adapter!

[The_bluester]

The image continues to evolve, a bit more data added, I shot some short subs overnight as well to try my had at blending in a less saturated core. Stretching it harder reveals a lot more dusty stuff but blows out the brighter areas as badly as you would expect.

https://www.astrobin.com/full/tvv3nv/0/

[The_bluester]

I am getting close to happy with this, more data as always would be good. This is 22 X 300 second subs with the core layered in from an integration of 50 X 30 second subs.


Astrobin here. https://www.astrobin.com/full/xfe2x7/B/?nc=the_bluester