M42 baby steps with my new C9.25

[spearo (Frank)]

Hello everyone,
Just thought I'd post this here, not because it's great but because it's my first go. I recently bought a C9.25 thanks to the great input from Iceispace.
I still have much equipement to get (like a good camera, etc) but for now, while I save up, I'm trying to make use of what I have.

So here it is, my first go at M42. Very very rough polar alignment, less than ideal Fujipix S7000 (with max exposure of 15sec) T-Threaded onto a Celestron 25mm eyepiece. I have to set the camera on super macro to get the focus ok but it then insists on redoing it's own focus automatically...
used a Hartman mask for initial focussing.

I select 3 crisp (best of a bad bunch) and registax-ed them, then photoshop for auto level and auto color (which brought out the nice pinkish color)

far from ideal but here it is...I'll keep working on it
(will someday get a better camera and probably something to autoguide but I'll have to get a laptop first...if only I could find a money-printing machine somewhere...)
By the way, I was due to write something up at first light of the C9.25 so here it is: great scope (but I'm no expert, friends and neighbours usually look through and they have all so far come out with the expletive "Holy S##T !!!" which i take as a compliment to the scope's optics.

Spearo

[iceman (Mike)]

Excellent first attempt spearo! Well done!

[Robby]

You'll love the C9.25. It's a great scope!
Nice start with the pic. We all start out like this, well, actually most start out far worse!...
Well done!

[Itchy]

Yea Spearo

Good Start.

Next time try around 20x15sec shots. The extra effort is worth it. Also, learn how to use levels in Photoshop. Auto levels rarely does anything for astro photos, but using levels and curves correctly can make a huge difference.

Keep posting images and asking questions!

Cheers

[ving (David)]

great star spearo!
love the colours

[allan gould]

Great shot (and for a first attempt) but remember Murphy's Law always operates and it gets worse from here on in as you want to improve

[spearo (Frank)]

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. I know it's not an excellent shot but I have to say it's given me a little boost and made me want to work on it even harder.
I only managed to get 3 descent pics out of about 8 last time but i'll be going for more shots next time (ill put the camera batteries to the test!)
I'll also try to take the shots in better resolution. These were with the camera at 1MB setting so i'll go for broke with the 3MB setting (i know it's a very limited camera)
the biggest problems I will face is the limited exposure time (max 15s) and the achromatic diffraction caused by the fact that I have to use the fixed lens on the S7000 (it cant be removed).

I have so much to learn including about levels...I'm keen to play around withthem a bit more now having seen what a basic auto level and colors did (the pic was all blue before then ,as per magic, nice pinks came through)

I'm already agonizing over what camera to consider buying when i get the money together (anybody got a 20Da they're bored with?)

I hope to get a chance to shoot some more this weekend though the clouds are coming tonight so who knows....

thanks again
spearo

[beren]

Super effort there mate , well done

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Spearo, nice try.

Since you have an S7000 I will let you in on a little secret to get the camera to focus to infinity and stay there (well until you turn it off or change something) I use this method for Lightning photography but getting the camera to focus to infinity and using the Telescope to focus is easier than focusing the telescope and trying to focus the camera.

First Turn the camera on.


Select the zoom position / focal length that you will be using for your shots at infinity focus (this is important as zooming on the S7000 requires refocusing the lens system); Most of the time you will have wide angle (no Zoom). If you do need to zoom, do this now. If you need to change zoom, you will need to re-do the infinity focusing again (steps 1 to 5)

1. Put lens cap on;

2. Set Photography Dial to SP;

3. Select Landscape Mode; (Little Mountains)

4. Set the Focus Mode switch to MF; (should already be set there)

5. Press Quick Focus button;looks like >o< on the little switch that goes to MF.

The camera is now manually focused on "infinity". You can now take the lens cap off and change the Photography Dial to whatever setting you want to use for your photos. For Astrophotography set the apature to it's lowest number and the exposure time to 15 seconds or whatever. If the camera is set on the telescope use the dust coverto block the light instead of the cameras lens cap.

The infinity focus will remain until you either exit manual focus, enter play mode or turn the camera off.

Hope this helps a bit, give it a try and let me know how you go.

[spearo (Frank)]

Andrew,
thanks for the tip,
ill try it out.
I wonder though if this approach work with prime focus astrophotography, i hook up the S7000 onto an eyepiece with a t ring.
Ill give it a try soon, though it looks like tonight wont be the night with clouds over and rain (finally..)
but thanks i'll follow the steps you describe
cheers
Frank

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

You wont be able to use the s7000 for prime focus photography, unless you find out a way to get rid of the lens. Only way to use the s7000 is though eyepiece projection or afocal photography.

[Striker (Tony)]

Something tells me Frank wont need any adapters for this camera anymore...cough...cough

[spearo (Frank)]

Andrew,
I'll be trying your suggestions this weekend skies permitting...
Striker: you need to be nominated for an award
spearo
( i wasn't kidding when I said i got a boost encourageing me on...)