My first semi-serious attempt at a DSO target - looking for feedback!
Taken at Stockport on 3 May:
Telescope: Celestron 8SE SCT on single-arm fork alt-az mount (unguided)
DSLR: Sony Alpha NEX-3
Subs: 94 x 25s @ ISO1600 (with 25 darks, 50 flats & 50 bias)
Stacked in DSS, processed in Startools, touch-up in Paint.NET
I wanted at least twice as many subs, but the clouds closed in and abruptly ended the session! (I also took some nightscape subs before I went to prime focus, but haven't processed these yet).
What I'm trying to do is gradually learn the ropes of AP basics, before buying some serious kit (long-term goal is 5" APO, solid EQ mount, cooled CCD). I realise my current equipment is hardly ideal for AP, but Wayne Anderson has shown what can be achieved with similar gear and some talent + perseverance!
My key goal over the next few months is to learn the ropes on stacking and image processing (total neophyte currently), before I think about changing my kit.
After nearly 30 years as a visual-only guy, I've been having fun stepping into the somewhat daunting world of AP over the last few months.
P.S. Original FTS, straight out of DSS, is here, in case anyone wants to muck about with it and show me what can really be done! (33 MB zip [original is 109 MB FTS file]):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...ationalFTS.zip