M20 with DSI-C

Hitchhiker · #1 24-04-2006, 06:36 PM

Another image from Saturday night - M20 the Trifid nebula.

Telescope: 10" LX200GPS mounted Alt-Az
Camera: Meade DSI Colour

Captured and stacked with Envisage. F3.3 Focal Reducer used.

h0ughy (David) · #2 24-04-2006, 07:12 PM

could you have gone a little longer on the exposures? Nice start though, how long you had the DSI?

Striker (Tony) · #3 24-04-2006, 07:24 PM

Not bad....needs more colour

Like Houghy said nice start.

Hitchhiker · #4 24-04-2006, 09:47 PM

I should have gone a little deeper! I imaged this right at the end of the night - I hadn't intended to image it but I realised it was high enough. The ambient temp was down to about 4 degrees, so I just took some frames and called it a night.

I'l have to revisit this target at a later date.

Striker (Tony) · #5 24-04-2006, 10:18 PM

Yeah do that Adam...it's really a wondeful imaging Nebula that reveals both Blue and Red portions of the Nebula.

EzyStyles (Eric) · #6 24-04-2006, 11:59 PM

Beautiful image Adam!

at last another DSI user posting

I found it easier to have the exposure longer eg: 1 min 24sec - 2 min and have less image stacked eg: around 8 - 10 depends on object.

Hitchhiker · #7 25-04-2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

at last another DSI user posting

Funnily enough, it's taken a while to come to grips with the focal reducer. I've learned there is a lot more to using a focal reducer on an SCT than just attaching it to the scope.

The DSI and its software is pretty easy to use - there are some things that leave you scratching your head, but once you get your head around it some great results can be had. I've still got a lot to learn but, hopefully, I'll be posting some more pics as I go along.

Quote:

I found it easier to have the exposure longer

I don't have a wedge so all my images are taken Alt-Az. At this stage the longest exposure I have taken is 30 seconds - I think I will be able to go a little longer depending on where in the sky I am imaging but I doubt that I can go too much longer. Since I can't go longer, I'm trying to compensate by taking more images. I will have to build or buy a wedge but that's a little further down the track - I'm just enjoying pushing what I have as far as it will go.