Centaurus A and Eta Car

[Buddman (Adam)]

About a week ago we (Mark Bateman and myself) finally got to do some imaging. I have had a week on holiday and the chance to spend some time processing the images. I am submitting my efforts for for any advice and comments. We had a bit of trouble with Eta C - the camera body came up against one of the legs of the tripod but we didn't realise, lost a few shots, too excited at seeing a clear sky.

Cent A is a stack of 5 shots at 4 minutes and one of 7 minutes (forgot to watch the time). Stacked with Deep sky stacker with 2 darks and 5 flats.

Eta C is 3 shots of 5 minutes, 2 darks and flats using Deep sky stacker.

Processed with Gimp. Camera is an unmodded Canon 350D through an ED80 on a HEQ5 guided with PHD Guiding.

Adam

[batema (Mark)]

Very nice shots Adam. Welcome back. Mark B

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Nice Eta Adam.
There seems to be an internal reflection(?) though to the far right of the keyhole - any ideas?
Love the detail and colour.
Cheers
Doug

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Nice shootin' guys.

I was going to say that reflection was the starlight reflecting off Marks grin 'cos he's out doing some imaging, but from memory you had another shot that was like that the other day.

Was the shot from the other day and these ones taken from the same place? Is there an external light that could be reflecting into the camera. It looks fairly well focused so it's either coming from inside the camera or from a fair distance away off axis. I'm going for internal reflection. Where's the laptop in relation to the camera? The screen isn't pointing towards the viewfinder of the camera is it? Is the reflection in all the images? or only a few?

[Buddman (Adam)]

Thanks Doug, I was fairly happy with the colours considering how many shots were in the stack.

As far as the reflection goes I can't think of anything external that would have caused it.

Light in the viewfinder? So that is what the rubber viewfinder cap is doing on my strap, you cover the viewfinder. I bet that's the problem.

We'll try again later tonight if the moon isn't too bright.

Thanks Paul