First Go at a DSO with a DSLR

[Starcrazzy]

Hi.
This is my first attempt at a dso through a GSO 8" f5 newt.
Im reasonably happy with the results, I realise I have a lot to learn. It took me over an hour to drift align and get things working. I am using a celestron nexguide auto guider through the HEQ5.
I have a couple of questions.
What is the best (easiest for a beginner) stacking programme? This image is only 1 3minute exposure on ISO 1600. I Got another one of similar length and would like to stack them to see what happens.
I didn't perform the PEC check before I started shooting, and you can tell by the training (i think thats what caused it)
Is it best to have the in camera noise reduction "on" or off?
I Did a bit of fiddling with lightroom3. Is it best to process single images and then stack, or stack and then process?
Sorry for all the newbie questions..

Any help would be super cool.

[Joshua Bunn (Joshua)]

HI,

Nice firts picture - No need to be sorry for the questions, we all have to learn somewhere. I will have to leave the answers up to some other more experienced users though.

Josh

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Internal noise reduction just adds time to your exposures, most people don't use it if you shoot appropriate darks.
If you shoot in RAW , then you can stack in DeepSkyStacker which is pretty intuitive and has lots of info on line.
Most folks stack and the process the resultant image.
Good shot by the way, keep em comin'!
Graham

[cosmo/luce]

great effort

[renormalised (Carl)]

Try this......take 6 or so 10 sec subs. That will give you the stars of the trapezium without burning them out. Then take 6 or so 3 minute shots of M42. Stack the 10 sec subs and the 3 minute subs separately, then blend the 10 sec subs in with the 3 minute subs. To learn how to do this, go here to Louie's (atalas) site and click on "Mask for Photoshop". The methods will work in other similar image applications. Learn these and the other Louie has on site (especially levels and curves) and you'll be cooking with gas

[Starcrazzy]

Thanx guys. Carl, I will try that, thank you for the tip. I actually got a few short exposures of the trapezium while I was testing the camera focus. I will Try and get windows working on my mac (sacrilegious i know) and try the program's you recommended.. Thank you again.