Hi All,
Here is my first attempt at M42 using the 127mm APO and QHY8. Last summer I was imaging unguided with an ED80 and a 400d, so things have evolved quickly over the last few months.
This image was captured at Wiruna on September 28/29, conditions were clear but windy.
5x10-minute subs, with 5x1-minute and 3x30s subs to bring out some detail around the trapezium. Each group of subs was average stacked in DSS and the resulting 3 files were layered in PS. Lots of fiddling around with curves levels and layer opacity to achieve the desired effect.
I've tried to raise the background level to show detail in the outer dust clouds, please let me know if the result looks OK on your monitors, it looks OK on mine although I find a darker background more dramatic
A larger, more detailed version is here:
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~robk/a...2_08092802.jpg
The rig:
127mm APO modified focuser, QHY8, EQ6 rebuilt, guided QHY5+ED80+PHD via EQMOD ascom.
Cheers,
Rob