Yes I Know another M42. Sorry

Hagar (Doug) · #1 14-01-2009, 01:05 PM

I shot this image last night with a near full moon.
4 X 600sec images and some 10 and 30 sec images for the core.
I am still having a little trouble getting the core correct but at least it is improving.

See what you think.

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #2 14-01-2009, 01:12 PM

No problem with M42 over and over again! Its a stunning nebula. This shot looks great. What equipment did you use? I notice your kit in your signature and was wondering which you used to capture - guide etc?

leon · #3 14-01-2009, 01:22 PM

Bloody hell Doug not another one,

but i have to say that is a fine effort indeed.

Leon

Hagar (Doug) · #4 14-01-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolhandJo

No problem with M42 over and over again! Its a stunning nebula. This shot looks great. What equipment did you use? I notice your kit in your signature and was wondering which you used to capture - guide etc?

The equipment I used is:
Telescope: Takahashi FS102 with the Focal reducer fitted.
Camera: QHY8 cooled CCD
Guiding: QHY5 and Skywatcher ED80
Mount: Losmandy G11 with Gemini.

Difraction spikes are produced by fishing line stretched over the dew shield.

bluescope · #5 14-01-2009, 02:18 PM

Nice image Doug ... although I find the spikes distracting ... just my opinion. Why taint a Tak FS102 image with fishing line ?

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #6 14-01-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluescope

Nice image Doug ... although I find the spikes distracting ... just my opinion. Why taint a Tak FS102 image with fishing line ?

Here, here.... (sorry Doug). One of the joys of owning a top of the line refractor is that optical defects such as diffraction spikes are normally absent...

Otherwise...not another M42!

Apologies accepted.

Geoff45 (Geoff) · #7 14-01-2009, 05:23 PM

Nice image but I noticed a few dust motes. Did you take flats? I agree with others about diffraction spikes. Who needs them?

Hagar (Doug) · #8 14-01-2009, 05:56 PM

I Like them.

AlexN · #9 14-01-2009, 06:06 PM

Nice indeed Doug... Great depth and the blending looks very nice... I like the diffraction spikes myself.. some see them as defects of certain optical systems, I happen to think they add a bit of flare to an image (pun?)

The dusty nebulosity around m42 and the running man is very nice and smooth... I like it a lot.

Well done.

Bassnut (Fred) · #10 14-01-2009, 06:07 PM

mmm, M42, dont think Ive seen that before, nice change.

Nice neb extention too and well resolved core.

The RC spikes certainly give it a "regal" look.

bloodhound31 · #11 14-01-2009, 07:02 PM

Never apologise for practicing Doug! That's a fine image indeed.

I agree with Steve on the spikes, but that being said, how easy is it to aquire and capture M42 and how hard is it to get it right?

Good job mate. Like the colours.

Baz.

sheeny (Al) · #12 14-01-2009, 08:46 PM

Very nice shot, Doug! I don't mind the spikes at all.

Lovely colour and detail without burning out the core.

Al.

spearo (Frank) · #13 14-01-2009, 09:15 PM

Nice wide field of M42 and the "Running Man".
The spikes are a matter of personal taste for people and you certainly have your options as you use a refractor

I like the image the core looks fine, that camera is pretty sensitive isn't it!
good work
frank

Hagar (Doug) · #14 15-01-2009, 12:33 AM

Thanks for the comments Guys. I would rate this nebula as the hardest thing to image well in the sky that is big and bold and almost jumps out to bite you. I have myself taken hundreds of images of M42 and I am yet to really take one that I am truely satisfied with. I have seen hundreds of others and feel much the same about them.
Something to keep working on. At least it's not a repro.

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #15 15-01-2009, 07:58 AM

Lovely image Doug, well done! Great colour. Decent resolution at the core too - not bad at all!

Cheers, Marcus

multiweb (Marc) · #16 15-01-2009, 08:31 AM

Pretty good doug.

I know the feeling. I still don't have a shot of M42 in focus yet

Yours looks awesome. Wanna swap?

richardo (Rich) · #17 15-01-2009, 12:39 PM

Pretty cool to be able to image an object without narrow band when the moon is full.
I like this rendition Doug. Nice and subtle. Even the Running man came out well.
And I agree with you, it maybe the brightest, but it is a challenge to get it processed well.
I know I always go back to this one time and time again. There will always be something with it that you won't be happy with.

I reckon you can push this a bit more though and make it just a tad more dynamic.
Just mask the Trapezium and go from there. Even saturate the colours a bit more.

Go on, we want a repro....

The FS102 is a lovely scope and looks as though the QHY8 is a good match from what I can tell??, not seeing a full blown image that is.

Naaahh, the FS doesn't want to be a reflector.... jimo of course

Thanks for sharing
All the best
Rich

atalas · #18 15-01-2009, 07:29 PM

Looks great Doug !

Hagar (Doug) · #19 15-01-2009, 10:27 PM

Thanks again everyone.
So much to do about a few dif spikes. Don't go fishing much anymore with the drought and the lack of trout in our waterways so I have to use the line for something. (No good for boot laces)

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #20 16-01-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hagar

Thanks again everyone.
So much to do about a few dif spikes. Don't go fishing much anymore with the drought and the lack of trout in our waterways so I have to use the line for something. (No good for boot laces)

Good for cleaning your teeth with Doug!