m42

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

8x5min @iso800
8x30secs @iso800
flats and darks to suit
You all know the rig I'm using. ED80 etc.
Had a heck of time battling field rotation.
It's even more noticable when I layer the 30sec sub frame over the background frame.
This is why I've posted the Running Man and M42 as 2 separate images.
The stars over the Running Man are arcs, worse than the ones you see to the top right of m42.
My alignment seemed perfect and PHD had no troubles guiding.
My thoughts are that the time between captures could be to blame. I had a intermittent cloud during the night, so the time between taking the 30sec subs and the 5 minute subs was significant.
I'm such a newb.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Bit noisy but some really good data. If you're having field rotation on 5min subs then you need to check your polar alignment. Disable the guide output in PHD than have a look at the graph in DEC then adjust your mount until you get less drift. You'll be able to do 10min subs without a sweat.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I went through that last night. There was virtually no drift.
I'm so tired, I forgot that I'd worked out that the problem is probably due to the very floppy focuser on my guide scope. The slightest movement would make the guide cam move.
I'm going our right now to swap it over to the 10:1.
Reckon that will make all the difference.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Thanks Marc, I wouldn't have remembered if you hadn't posted.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

JJJ just a quick question. are you layer masking the 5 min and 30 sec in photoshop?

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

yes I am

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

i thought so, when you switch the 30 second layer off does the 5 min become alot more vibrant? if it does you need to use the Black brus as not to let any grey shadows come though, they will dull the overall image also with your bright stars cover them up so only the 5 min comes though that way your star will blend in nicely I had a few problems with mine as i was blending 5 images together where it would dull the image but once i figured it out happy days if you want have a look at my final process in my website.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Thanks Brendan.

[asimov (John)]

Wow, well done JJJ! A bit noisey but great detail & lovely vibrant colours!

[scopemankit (Chris)]

Great image, plenty of depth!

[Hagar (Doug)]

Very nice dataset JJJ. Could do with a bit more overall exposure to combat the noise but then every image could do with a bit more exposure. You have captured a lot of nice detail and good colour.
Great job

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I can't believe that that picture came out of my camera.