Eta Car and The Southern Pleiades

[[1ponders]]

I feel like I'm starting all over again it has been so long since I posted a DSO image. :lol:

From Cambroon last night. Eta Carina and The Southern Pleiades (and a bit of NGC3532)

10/240sec @ ISO800, f/3.2 135mm Canon lens with Canon 300D. No calibration. A fair bit of dodging clouds going on with some pretty poor transparency at times.

Registered and combined in Images Plus, curves, levels and saturations in PS.

Not real flash as I didn't take enough time to frame the objects accurately but it was definitely nice to be out under it again. :D

[iceman]

About time you posted an image again, Paul!

Nicely done!

[peter_4059]

Nice shot Paul. Did you use in-camera noise reduction?

[[1ponders]]

Thanks Mike, it's not been for lack of desire let me tell you :lol:

[[1ponders]]

Unfortunately not Peter. No such thing as ICNR with my rather primitive 300D ;)

[Dennis]

Very nice Paul, it is good to see you haven't lost your touch. Did beating Josh to the concrete pad help with polar alignment! LOL!

Cheers

Dennis

[[1ponders]]

You bet Dennis, lining up the tripod on my old marks and all I had to do was adjust my elevation with just a touch on the azimuth adjustment. ;) About 30 min worth even with doing some demo work :)

[jjjnettie]

Nice one Paul.
Pity about the clouds and rain last night. Still, at least the sucker holes were fairly large.

[RB]

I don't think you really need the flash for DSO work Paul. :P :poke:

Seriously though, it's a nice capture mate, gotta luv that 135, beautiful widefield there.

[[1ponders]]

:lol: Gosh you're a funny guy Andrew :P

[seeker372011]

well done paul...i too have forgotten what it is like under the stars-clear tonight but I am simply too tired to get out, what with the alarm set for an ungodly hour in the morning

[strongmanmike]

Nothing wrong with the framing really Paul, I like variations on a theme and Eta Carina smack in the middle of an image can be pretty boring.

The joy of getting out under the sky to do some imaging after a bit of a break is a nice warm feeling huh? :)

I am actually looking forward to SPSP to do some visual observing, haven't done any since last SPSP :doh:.

Mike
CCD eyes only