Swan Nebula

[stevenc77]

Here is my first Swan Nebula image taken in the same place and time (last night) as my Orion pic. Just a few small stacks unguided with a Canon 40d.
Steve.http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr172/standz18/swan.jpg?t=1222482904

[Hagar]

Very nice image considering it is unguided. Keep at it.

[Matty P]

Excellent image Steve especially as it was unguided. :)

How long were the exposures?

Well done. :thumbsup:

[RB]

A nice capture Steve, reminds me of an inferno.
Considering it was unguided and just a few small subs you've done well.
Did you use any noise reduction routines in the post processing stage?

[peeb61]

Great first Swan Steve and unguided! (Don't you just hate these unguided shots?) Keep them coming.

Paul

[winensky]

Nice work. I long for guiding too but it has its own frustrations by all accounts... keep em comming.

[stevenc77]

Thanks guys, I think this is one is definitely showing I'm starting to learn the trade and show improvement, and it's great to see that you can see it too!

Here is how I did it: Prime focus Skywatcher 8" Newtonian on EQ6 Pro. 14 * 30 second lights ISO 1000, 1 * 95 second ISO 1000, 2* 70 second ISO 800, 1* 90 second ISO 800, 2* 60 second ISO 800 using a Canon 40d with no on camera noise reduction.

This was all punched into Deep Sky Stacker at the same time also using 9*30 second darks ISO 1000 as well as 9*30 second ISO 800. I used 33 flats just from the whole file, so they would have had a range of ISO from 800 to 1600.

Then processed levels and curves in photoshop with a little unsharp masking. Noise reduction done in Noiseware on factory settings. There was heaps of light pollution around me since there was a street light five meters away.

The mount initially set up with an illuminated reticle eyepiece for polar alignment and when this was achieved i then 3 star aligned the scope (way better than two star).

I'm starting to think that a heap of smaller two minute exposures might be the way for me until i can afford a guide scope. So I'll take some more lights and see what i come up with. STEVE. :)