M8: Shorter subs

[mswhin63]

Hi All, My 450D is getting a bit old but still works well apart from the recent hiccup.

Advice is welcomed but issue already looking into are:
- New Camera - harder too chose than I expected.
Aligning the mount. Currently very rough polar alignment by taking long exposures and looking at the rotation of the stars (very rough)

This image capture was mainly to consider my options on smaller subs (60 secs) after acquiring a more scientific understanding of taking more shorter subs. Reference Dr Robin Glover from Sharpcap, a very good look at the basic math involved that has been very intuitive for me.

I am still learning the processing path, so there is still a lot of work I can do to improve this, especially the colour of the core. It looks a bit washed out.

[PKay]

Hi Malcom

What you have achieved is pretty good.

M8 is a difficult target because of the bright core. It blows out easily.

I am always trying different exposure times to see the outcome.

Right now my scope is on M8 taking 30sec subs for exactly that reason.

[rustigsmed]

it looks like its an unmodded camera, you've gone in on a Ha rich target. still well done of course but not sure you could go much further with the hardware.

next cam perhaps a cooled OSC zwo or qhy? thankfully we are spoiled for choice these days.

[LostInSp_ce]

As Russell said there's only so much you can get with an stock DSLR. Maybe pull back on the background just a fraction. It looks to be right on the threshold of being clipped and perhaps crop out the stacking results along the top and left edges just to tidy it up. Otherwise you've got a nice wide field of M8.

[mswhin63]

Ooops, I paced the wrong image, I did cut out the stack. Nevermind thanks for the info.
Thanks all for the comments, I feel I am getting to the end of the 450D use but I am still a bit limited on budget to get a mono camera. That is my ultimate goal. I may simply get a colour cooled ZWO and later when the money comes in I can use it as a planetary or something like that.

In the meantime it appears to be my only choice to stick with the 450 for a while.

[multiweb]

That's excellent. Your stars look good and the field is flat. Also plenty of details and the colors are typical for a DSLR. Keep going. :thumbsup: