Second Attempt at the Orion Nebula - M42

[Matty P]

This is my second attempt at the Orion Nebula after my first go at it a few weeks back.

I am much happier with this image compared to my first but I still think there is a lot of room for improvement. Focus could've been better and more subs would've really helped this image. I decided to use ICNR darks this time making it a little easier for myself.

I used 3 x 8 minute subs, 5 x 5 minute subs, 10 x 1 minute subs and 10 x 15 second subs all at ISO 400. ICNR Darks, Flats and Bias removed.

All seperately stacked in DSS and combined in PS using layer masks.

Let me know what you think. :)

Thanks for looking. :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Very nice. Was this with your 450D?

How do you like the 450D?

What does ICNR stand for? (something something noise reduction?)

Greg.

[Hagar]

Very nice Matt, Lots of detail, good colour, nice round stars and depth in the nebula.
I like it a lot.

[Octane]

Greg,

ICNR = in camera noise reduction.

Regards,
Humayun

[ChrisM]

Very impressive Matty - especially (I gather) for one of your early attempts. Did you use the 450D at prime focus and guide with your 70 mm scope? (I have a friend who guides with his 8" SCT and shoots through an ED80).

Use of the range of exposure times has really helped capture the large dynamic range and bring out the colours.

What does DSS stand for (I think it's probably imaging software).

Also, what focussing method do you use?

Keep up the good work,
Chris

[Matty P]

Thanks Greg,

Yes, this was taken with my 450D (unmodded). For astro work it is a great camera even unmodded. It performs really well and the live view function is a real live saver, helping getting the focus as perfect as possible everytime. It's lightweight and is a great camera for daytime use as well.

I'm wanting to get my 450D modded soon so my images will/should only improve.

:thumbsup:



Thanks Doug,

I'm glad you liked it. :)



Thanks Chris,

Once I purchase a new refractor, I use will sometimes use my C8 as a guidescope but for this image, I used my 70mm refractor as a guidescope.

DSS = Deep Sky Stacker. A program used for stacking multiple deep sky images.

For focusing, I use the camera Live View function which lets me focus in real time. The only drawback of this function is that you can only focus on bright stars but that isn't a problem.

Thanks. :thumbsup:

[AlexN]

Matt, Very nice indeed :) Good color, Great focal length for the target...

I must ask though, whats with the flare coming off the star in the bottom right of the image? is that a reflection off the corrector plate or perhaps a slight collimation problem? I've never seen anything like it...

Was that at F/10 or did you use a focal reducer?

In any case, fantastic.... Layer masking is the only way to deal with the trapezium... its such a hot area to try to recover...

I'm going to photographically split the trapezium into 6 stars next week hopefully... :D Thats the plan anyway.

[Lester]

That is a very nice image Matt. I like all the detail that you have captured from the bright to the faint areas.

[suma126]

VERY nice matt .I give it 10/10

[Craig_L]

Very nice Matt. Judging by that, maybe you don't need to mod at all.

[Matty P]

Thanks Alex. :)

The reflection flare in the bottom corner is definitely not from the scopes optics, it is from the Focal Reducer. I'm not sure why it appears like that but it only happens with bright stars.

All my Deep Sky images are used with a Focal reducer as imaging at f/10 (2000mm) is not easy. Although I have tried. :)

I'm looking forward to you splitting the Trap in 6. I've done it visualy but have never tried it photographically. ;)

:thumbsup:



Thanks Lester. :)

I'm really pleased how it came out. :thumbsup:



Thanks Shane. :thumbsup:



Thanks Craig.

Just imagine how much better it would be with a modded camera. ;) :whistle:

My unmodded 450D is doing a great job at the moment but one thing is for sure, that it is going to get modded (one day).

Thanks. :)

[RB]

Very nicely done Matt.
I'd perhaps lower the black point on the histogram to increase contrast and really make the colours pop.

Focus slighly out but only just.
I suspect the flare is from your longer exposure subs, perhaps you can mask out the flare using the shorter subs.

I'm assuming you were imaging at F10?

Glad you used ISO 400, better result on M42 than using ISO 800 with the same exposures.

:thumbsup:

[Matty P]

Thanks Andrew. :)

Having another look at the image the next day definitely shows what you have missed the day before. Focus isn't the best as I have said before. I'm still using the course focuser on the C8 which makes focusing quite difficult sometimes. I agree the background does need to be slightly darker as well.

This was taken at F/6.3.

Apart from that, I think what really helped this image was using ICNR Darks instead of taking seperate darks for each different exposure at the end of the session.

Thanks. :thumbsup:

[AlexN]

Matt, I hear you on that.. I tried imaging @ F/10 through my 11" and the results were shockingly bad (unguided + 2800mm focal length) now that I've NEARLY got guiding working properly I'll be giving it another go to split the trap... I dont see any real reason to image at F10 other than splitting the trap...

For me, even F/6.3 isnt easy @ 1764mm

[RB]

Matty, make yourself a dial to fit over the focuser on the C8 which allows you finer adjustments.
You can make it out of a piece of perspex or similar, even wood.
Cut out a circle so you can wrap all your fingers around it, say around 5-7cm dia' then cut a smaller hole in the centre to fit snuggly over the focus knob so as not to slip.

[Matty P]

Your guiding will have to be pretty much spot on imaging at that FL. :eyepop:



That is a very good idea but instead I am wanting to purchase a crayford focuser. We'll see what happens. :) :whistle:

:thumbsup:

[RB]

Yes I understand, I was only suggesting it until you get the crayford.

:thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

nice image matty - looking forward to my first image of this in 2 weeks time

[Matty P]

Thanks Dave,

Under the dark skies at Lostock I presume. ;)

:thumbsup:

[Matty P]

I have done a fairly quick reprocess and ended up with two versions.

The first version has not been changed except for the black point which I lowered to darken the background.

The second version has been sharpened using a high-pass filter layer and slightly over saturated to reveal more detail in the clouds. For the people who like a rough image with lots of detail.

Let me know what you think. :)

:thumbsup:

[RB]

Yep I like the first one better Matt.

:thumbsup:

[AlexN]

I like all 3, however I think as far as aesthetics go, the black point edited version is the best.

[StephenM]

Well done Matty! All 3 versions look great to me, but (on my monitor at least) I do like the extra cloud detail in the second reprocessed version.

Cheers,
Stephen

[gregbradley]

That really is a good image. You've got the full dynamic range going there and show the Trapezium as well.

Greg.

[stevenc77]

You've gotta be happy with that one Matty! Imagine how good it will be with a few more subs to bring out the core just that little bit more, and even with a few more for a little touch more of the darker parts of the nebulosity! Great colours as well...looking foward to the image with those extra subs! Have you tried using noiseware or the photoshop noise reduction on the jpegs you have posted? To me that would really add some softness to the image and reduce the background dark noise in the images. Well done. :):)

[Bassnut]

Top image Matt. The core is well resolved albiet a slightly odd colour balance. I think you could actually lower the background more and even more selective sharpening.

Being an overposted image, I think you should do more subs too, to cut it with the best. 1 10 min sub is just asking for grief. The posted res is not flash also, given the competition, but then you might not care about that :).

[Ric]

Hi Matt, a great looking image. The central core looks awesome with no over cooking and I can see 4 stars in the trap.

You've done a fine job with this image.

Cheers

[winensky]

Great images. No crit here as all three are better than anything I have taken of M42.

[Screwdriverone]

Nice one Matty!

Seems this one has already been promoted to your avatar picture, well done!

Cheers

Chris

[Matty P]

Thanks to everyone for your comments. It is really appreciated. :) :thumbsup:



Thanks Fred,

Again, I do agree I could lower the background etc. but at the moment I am happy with the image. I know the posted res is quite small but compressing a Hi-Res image so that it can be posted doesn't look the best. If you like I can post a higher res image on my website. :)

I did feel like I was cutting the imaging session short by only collecting a total of 60 minutes worth of data. Especially only capturing 3 x 8 minute subs.

:thumbsup:



Thanks Chris,

It sure has! I thought it was time for a new avatar. :D

[AlexN]

Hah matty... I changed my avatar to my Celestron SCT M42 image too... :)

[Matty P]

M42 makes a great avatar doesn't it Alex. Especially if it was imaged with a SCT. ;)

I thinking about doing another reprocess of this image. Still not overly happy with it. :screwy:

:thumbsup:

[Jen]

Nice new avi u have got there Matty :Dgreat work well done buddy :thumbsup:
Hey, I was just wondering what is that object in the bottom right hand corner of the pic that you have captured i dont recall seeing it ever before :screwy:

[Matty P]

Thanks Jen. :)

I'm not sure what object you are talking about Jen. :shrug:

Is it the reflection flare in the corner? Because there is no other object apart from M42 in this image.

:thumbsup:

[Jen]

Yes Matty it must be the reflecton flare there in the corner it looked kinda interesting LOL :D its amazing what the mind can make you think sometimes haha :thumbsup: