Seeking some advice - M42 as an example

[niko]

The M42 here was taken with my ED80 and Canon 350D and is a stack of a handful of 10sec and 30sec images. Alignment wasn't spot on and the focus looks a bit slack but my real question is this...

Having seen Mike's M42 in a recent post should I be using a barlow to increase the amount screen real estate that M42 can occupy or should I be just collecting more data at the magnification I have so I can crop the image to get a "bigger" M42?

I wouldn't even begin to suggest any of my images could hope to come close to what I often see here but it's more about how I can make the images bigger with the set up I have.

If I use a barlow does this go between the camera extension tube I use and the scope or somewhere else in the setup.

Does that make sense?

thanks gang

niko

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

You have some data there, just a very quick and poor enhancing of your jpg data in Imagesplus to show u. How many 30 sec shots did u take? Processed with what software ?
Good start just get more data and it will like Mike's ( well similar hehe )
Hmm somethings definetly wrong here, i just looked at some old m42's and not sure if they were with ed80 or sw 120 ut here are some unprocessed images 1sec and then 4 then 14 secs Hope this helps.


Marcus

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

I look it at like this.

More lens's and optics in the path make for less light hitting your sensor. your FOV with the ED80 and 350d is perfect to capture M42,43 and running man in one hit and makes for a very pleasing shot.

If your passion is to get a bit more up and personal you will need to start changing your focal lengths/feilds of view, this is generally done with different telescopes for best results.

heres a shot with my 40d+ed 80 from december last year

http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/w...gmanandM42.png

Guided for 5x 10 min shot @ ISO 800
plus a reduction of 3 min , 1 min ,30 second shots.

hope this helps you.

[niko]

thanks guys - this is very encouraging!

Marcus - can you let me know what you did to improve my image? It is soooo much better. I have Photoshop but didn't use it on this image. It was just a "raw" stack in Registax but I'd love to go back to the full images, stack again and process along your guidelines.

When you say "something is wrong" - what do you mean?? Do you think my initial settings are wildly out? I think 200 or 400 ISO from memory, captured using DSLRFocus.

Brendan - great image - I would put my feet up forever if I could get to that point!!!!

thanks guys

niko

[Hagar (Doug)]

G'Day Niko..... You just need lots more exposure to allow you to bring out all the detail which is tucked away in this image. As for the size you will find it goes a long way towards filling the screen when you have enough data to stretch out and see the full nebula.
Keep at it mate. Just remember lots more exposure time.

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

I only meant that if this was an adjusted image something was wrong But all is ok.
Load your image into PS and muck around with curves you'll get better than i did with your data.

Go here for some very good hints http://www.astropix.com/HTML/I_ASTROP/TOC_AP.HTM by Jerry Lodriguss

[Robbie]

You're reeeeely proud of that photo arent you Brenden

Give me a call
Rob

[niko]

Thanks Marcus and Doug - very encouraging!

cheers

[Robbie]

Work on better focus , a bahtinov mask is a godsend for this and work on your alignment skills.
If you are a beginner and these are some of your first efforts you should be justifiably proud considering the exposure time.
Longer exposure balanced with tweeked focus and alignment on this object and you will fall off your chair looking at the results.
No barlow tho using that will double plus the exposure time you need to gather the same amount of light.

[niko]

thanks everyone for the helpful advice

I'll stick at it when the clouds clear!!

niko