Very first astro image - Murphy's Law

[BruceG (Bruce)]

Friday night was the night where I was determined to create my very first astro image. I decided that it had to be the iconic image that has always been the one that has drawn me to astronomy since I was young - the Horsehead nebula. I have spent most of 2013 collecting the basics needed for the task at hand and most recently obtained a full spectrum modified 300D. With everything charged and ready on Thursday night, a last minute check on Skippy Sky suggested Friday night was finally the big night.
Got home from work in time to setup in daylight and waited until the object of my obsession rose above the plane tree in my yard. Everything hooked up and ready, I fired up CDC, EQMOD and PHD. PHD calibrated fine and I focused using a "cheap" OEM 3x 90 degree finder for my 300D.
OK now its time to program the interval timer. Done. Cross your fingers and hit start. Hmm am I getting 3 minute subs with 30 second intervals or 30 second subs with 3 minute intervals, after several subs I was sure it was the second of the two, so I stopped, reprogrammed and started again.
Inside I went for about 30 minutes and on my return, found the camera dead. Flat battery! Inside with the camera and charged the battery enough to see what I had managed.....
Only one solitary 3 minute sub frame, no darks, I was expecting to do those after the light frames. By now too late to do anything more about it.
The moral of the story is check the battery life with a trial run of the expected use - 15 or so 3 minute light frames and 5 or so darks.
Oh well 2 more batteries on order as I speak and this time I will also use the twin battery grip.
I decided to see what I could get from this poor old 3 minute sub with no darks subtracted, no noise removed and having never post processed anything before, just mucked around in Nebulosity until I had a recognisable image. I am sure that this will not be the only frustration I will have in this hobby, I guess I will have to keep smiling and keep trying.

[torsion (Bram)]

Hi Bruce,

Doesn't look to bad, get a few more of these and it will look great.

See to get BackyardEOS, it will greatly simplify you shutter settings, as well as focus, polar align, image download (or keep it on the memory card), etc. There is a trail period of 30 days (I think), keep in mind that you will get the license key a day later ... (e.g. no last seconds change of mind

I had the same dead battery story, got an AC adapter ..

Good luck,
Bram

[2stroke (Jay)]

Try some darks it should help with some noise, just take them at around the same temp that night and exposure, no need for bais as that will be included in your darks. Should Help clean it up some more for you and give you some practice before next shooting.

[BruceG (Bruce)]

Unfortunately BYEOS will not talk to the 300D. I'll take some darks and see if I can clean it up a bit. I will look around for an AC adapter to power the camera. All in all, I am impressed with the old Canon. If I can keep feeding it electrons until it has collected enough photons I will be ok.

[nebulosity. (Jo)]

Thats a really decent sub Bruce, and the stars look excellent

Can't wait to see what you'll be able to produce once you can get a few hours worth.

Cheers

Jo

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

That's a hard target for a first image. You did well, even if it is only 1 sub.

[leon]

Fine effort indeed for your first attempt, we all have had frustrating imaging runs, but it is all worth it when it all comes together.

Leon

[BruceG (Bruce)]

Thanks all for the encouraging comments. I am sure once I have new batteries, I will be able to produce images that I will be happy with. I still think there is magic in bringing out colour and form that can't be seen through the eyepiece. I remain enthusiastic and patient. Just wish that clear nights line up with weekends as I have no opportunities mid week for astronomy.
Bruce.

[dutch2 (Ingrid)]

Great job for a first effort.
Well done, you'll be hooked now.