M8 Lagoon Nebula

[pfitzgerald (Paul)]

Hi Folks

The attached image of M8 was made up of 4 x 5 minute exposures at an ISO of 800. The images were processed with darks and flat field using Nebulosity 3.0 and PS CS-5.

It was my first night of imaging using an Orion ST80 mm guide scope mounted on top of a SW BD ED120 APO on an EQ5 mount. Prior to getting the guide scope the best subs I'd been getting were only 25 seconds in length!

Any suggestions for improvements would be much appreciated.

PS The reason for only having the four subs was that it was only a test run once the guide scope and software had been set up. I'm looking forward to being able to collect more data.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/t...psffd444e1.jpg

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

Hi Paul,

Looks like a good start to me, nice star images out of your rig. A little intrigued why your were only getting 25 sec unguided. Certainly your auto guider is doing the job.

One thing which I seem to do too, is leaving too much green in the image.
Backing off in levels - green channel in PS should help.

Cheers,

Justin.

[pfitzgerald (Paul)]

Thanks for the feedback Justin - I'll give your suggestion on the green a try.

The 25 second subs were all that I was able to get before getting the Orion guide scope rig.

I don't have an obsvy, so I have to set the tripod up on the driveway each time I want to do some viewing/imaging.

Paul

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

Originally Posted by pfitzgerald

Thanks for the feedback Justin - I'll give your suggestion on the green a try.

The 25 second subs were all that I was able to get before getting the Orion guide scope rig.

I don't have an obsvy, so I have to set the tripod up on the driveway each time I want to do some viewing/imaging.

Paul

Yep, setting up each time sucks, I'm lucky to have an observatory . Do you have one particular spot to setup or do you need to move around the yard?
If you can stay in one spot, it may be worth putting some alignment marks where your tripod sits after alignment.
I'm probably telling you how to suck eggs, but thought it worth mentioning.

Cheers,

Justin.

[pfitzgerald (Paul)]

Nah that's fine Justin.

And I have done just that, marked out the spots for the tripod's feet on the concrete. When I can I leave the tripod set up in the garage so that I don't have to keep levelling it.

It was too wet tonight, and too late before the cloud cleared to set everything up. Hopefully tomorrow night will be better.

Paul