Eta C in a bit longer

[TrevorW]

Target: NGC3372 Eta Carina
Camera: Canon 350d modified, Astronomik CLS clip filter
Exposure Capture: DLSR Focus,
Scope: GSO CF RC200
EFR: f/8
Mount: EQ6 Pro
Exposure Setting: Prime focus, 1 frame @ ISO800, 16 @ ISO 1600 ICNR off Custom WB
Exposures: 17 @ 360s lights taken between 10:00 and 1:30am total 1hr 42min 27-28/12/09
Seeing: waxing gibbous moon 80%, slight wind
Guiding: Orion Starshoot Autoguider using PHD with ED80
Focus: DSLR Focus Bahitov mask
Stacking: DSS with corresponding darks and flats (ISO 1600 darks and flats captured in workshop)
Processing: PS CS3 curves, levels, colour, noise, MaxDL for background flatten

Type Emission Right ascension 10h 45m 08.5s Declination -59° 52′ 04″ Distance ~7500 ly (2300pc) Apparent magnitude (V) +1.0

Constellation Carina
Carinae Nebula bright diffuse nebula surrounding n Carinae easily visible with the naked eye. Discovered by Lacaille 1751-52. This giant diffuse nebula is one of the largest H II regions (composed of ionized hydrogen gas) in our Milky Way galaxy. The star forming nebula NGC 3372 has produced the very conspicuous peculiar star Eta Carinae, which is among the most massive and luminous stars in our Milky Way, and perhaps in the universe.
Star forming region and its complex structure of bright area of gaseous emissions and dark absorption lanes bears examination with a wide range of apertures, it contains various star clusters and several double stars.

Note: This may not look much different to the short version but it is when you zoom in there is a lot less noise

[suma126 (Shane)]

it looks way to red to me but the rest looks good

[AlexN]

Stars look a little bloated.. Could be either focus or a result of agressive processing. Detail looks good, indicating good focus..

Given the ISO 1600 data - it actually looks pretty clean.

Lovely field of view..

[TrevorW]

Thanks Shane it is very red with my camera as I have no IR/UV filter (now purchased) I tried toning it down a bit in this version but maybe went to far the other way

[TrevorW]

Yeah I know what you mean by the bloated stars Alex thats why I've gone and purchased an IR filter may help

I think I'll stick to the Bahitov mask and give DSLR Focus a miss (mixed results) the former gives better results IMO

[RobF (Rob)]

Nice shot Trevor
I agree with Alex about the brighter stars bloating. ISO 400 perhaps for the much greater dynamic range it would bring? Tracking seems spot on for the fainter stars.

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

I like the Framing and central area. Nice detail. Re the red, I have a modded Canon 350D and use a Baader UV/IR filter. I still need to shift the red channel down after every image. I do this in DSS via the histogram after registering and stacking.

[TrevorW]

Thanks Dr Paul and Rob, interesting about dropping the red back when stacking in DSS I'll have too try it