My first M42 for 2009

[Hagar]

M42 is one of my favorite visual targets but it is also one of the hardest imaging targets in the sky. With a little bit of time last night I captured 10 X 5 minute exposures and 10 X 10 second exposures for the core area.
Stacking was done with IP3 and core masking done with PS CS3.
I am not really happy with the core and will spend a bit more time on this as soon as I get some extra data.
Telescope: Takahashi FS 102
Camera: QHY8 Cooled CCD
Guiding: ED80 with QHY5
Mount: G11 with Gemini

Hope you enjoy.

[renormalised]

Nice piccie:D

The spike on the stars give it a "Dr Who" feel:D:D

[AlexN]

Doug... Nice.... I found that with the QHY8, 30 sec subs dont saturate the trapezium and surrounding nebula.. Doing the 30sec subs, I dont get that darkish area outlining where the shorter image has been blended in...

That said.. It is a nice shot!