Still getting the hang of imaging - Processed M42

TheAstroChannel (Sean) · #1 28-12-2012, 07:52 AM

Hey everyone, this is my first photoshop image

The photo was only taken at a 6 second exposure due to the excess moonlight.
ISO - 800

LightningNZ (Cam) · #2 29-12-2012, 10:03 AM

Well good on you for getting through the whole process all the way up to posting here!

Now you need to take lots of those photos, like 100 of them (also try 10 or 15 seconds under a darker sky). Then combine them with DeepSkyStacker (it's a free download, just Google it). Don't worry yet about the bias, dark and flat images it asks you for, that can come with later efforts.

Good luck!
Cam

TheAstroChannel (Sean) · #3 29-12-2012, 10:06 AM

Thank you!

Ross G · #4 29-12-2012, 10:19 PM

Congratulations Sean and good luck.

You've got a long and exciting road ahead of you.

Ross.

leon · #5 30-12-2012, 08:29 AM

Good effort Sean,

you did pick on one of the most difficult ones,

but a fine effort,

the road will be long, but we all started at the beginning at some point, keep at it mate.

Leon

spacezebra (Petra) · #6 30-12-2012, 09:23 AM

HI Sean

Im still learning too. What is your setup?

Try dropping the ISO and going for longer exposures.

Cheers Petra d.

TheAstroChannel (Sean) · #7 30-12-2012, 12:09 PM

This is my setup, the ISO i use really depends on the Moon. i took this photo with a near Full Moon. I usually use around 400-1600 ISO range for the M42.
I will try the longest exposure i can with my camera on an ISO of 100?
I eill experiment with different settings next night im out

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #8 30-12-2012, 01:02 PM

Hi Sean,
If you can get 15 seconds exposure at ISO800, you'll be doing well.
The next step is to take as many images as possible and stack the best photos in Deep Sky Stacker.

TheAstroChannel (Sean) · #9 30-12-2012, 03:11 PM

Alright ill try that tonight

allan gould · #10 31-12-2012, 10:45 AM

Well done - keep at it