M42, M45, Ngc 253

[TidaLpHasE]

Got some clear skies this morning and decided to get out imaging some targets.

Still couldn't get the EQ6 aligned as good as it needs to be, but was able to locate and goto various objects and have them in the fov.

Here's a couple of pics prime focus with the 350 through the ED80.

[Striker (Tony)]

I like your Orion the best.

I'm a bit jealous you can actualy do some imaging ATM.

[davidpretorius]

Well done, roughly how long for the exposures??

I will be here in a couple of years, fighting the polar alignment and following in your footsteps!

I like all three. I know these are no Eddie T, but these are still exciting and I know I would printing these first lots out on photographic paper & placing in the wallet over the family pics

[atalas]

Great effort Trevor ! yes you will be a happy man when you sort out your polar alignment and are in sinc with the galaxy .

[beren]

Top work mate, exciting stuff hey

[TidaLpHasE]

Thanks for the nice comments, i had a ball this morning picking targets and having them in the fov

I was writing down targets from StarryNight, and going outside and getting them on the cmos, what a buzz.

I forgot to write down what iwas imaging, and lost track of their NGC/M names

Here is a couple more images from this morning, sorry apart from M42, i think next pic is the Flame Neb, Tarantula Neb, and a mystery shot that looks the best

[atalas]

Looks like your having some fun there Trevor ! your second image is the Flame then the Tarantula and Eta Carina nebula .

[TidaLpHasE]

Thanks for the i.d. Louie, i must remember to keep a record of my images next time.

You bet i had some fun, it was awsome and my best night out under the stars i have had since i found this new hobby.

It must have been a sign early on, when i watched the ISS racing through the sky near Venus that the night would be a good one for viewing it was an awsome sight seeing it cruise through the Southern Sky.

Settings where between 800-1600 ISO, exposures from 20-60 seconds, i varied settings a bit to try for more detail, but polar non-alignment restricts what i can capture.
All in all, i am one happy camper, and can't wait for another night like this one.

[davidpretorius]

i will digest the new pics, but it is simply great that you have good news after all the setbacks.

see good seeing and pretty heavens put a smile on all faces!!!!

[davidpretorius]

the running man is just there in pic 1: well done
love tarantula in pic 2!
eat carina, very very nice, this is my favourite one of yours!!!

[TidaLpHasE]

Thanks Dave, i was stoked to get these pics this morning.

All i need to learn now is polar alignment, and how to stack images, registax gives me the you know whats.

[davidpretorius]

i am finding iris better as i get to punch it harder!!

it is a bugga to get going, but i think it is the one for your types of dso imaging.

i would love to work on anything you can send me. If you have say 10 x 60 second m42's etc, do not worry about getting your alignment spot on as iris can allow for drift. it can darken the background and then stack the images etc.

i am itching to try it out on some longer exposure stuff.

eventually image plus sounds like the one to use for processing, but there is a lot to learn from iris.

so please keep them coming!!

[davidpretorius]

hey tidal,

had a quick play with iris on your m42.

offset normalisation to darken the background, gaussian filter to round the stars, gradient to remove any.....well gradient, and multiplied by itself by 2 a tad too much).

a quick play, but if we had 10 or so, we can start to stack em and start to reduce noise

great shots you are starting to get. like you said, perfect the tracking and look out!!!!

[Robert_T]

nice pics

having clear skies in Melbourne when Brisbane's under a drissly cloud bank though just isn't on

[asimov (John)]

Hey nice pics Tidal!