M45 IC348 Californian Nebula

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Also taken early this morning, 16th Sept.
I was just experimenting, seeing how much detail I could get out of M45 using the Nifty 50 and 3 minute subs.
Very surprised to see that I picked up the California Neb as well as IC348 (you can just make it out) It's a fairly heavily cropped image this one.

Another area that need more attention over the weekend.
It's going to be very busy in the early hours of the morning.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

It's definitely there. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with over the weekend - how's the weather forecast looking?

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Weather man says it's going to be fine.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Nice composition, with some more attention that could be a beauty Jeanette

Mike

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

It was only 24 minutes worth. Just testing the waters.
I'll give it good run on the weekend.
I was thinking of doing it at iso 1600 f4. Would that introduce too much noise? Or should I keep it at iso 800 and go down to f3 or f3.5?

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

It was only 24 minutes worth. Just testing the waters.
I'll give it good run on the weekend.
I was thinking of doing it at iso 1600 f4. Would that introduce too much noise? Or should I keep it at iso 800 and go down to f3 or f3.5?

Well I'm no guru with DSLR's but I believe keeping the ISO down and opening up the aperture would be best depending on the quality of your lens of course. Regardless, do lots of exposures, the more the better.

Mike

[renormalised (Carl)]

Good shot there, Jeanette....plenty of faint nebulosity there apart from the Cali' neb

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

nice one JJJ, another well framed image, made more interesting from what you have captured !

i have noticed of late that your exposure lengths are getting longer, you heading towards an autoguider setup?

[multiweb (Marc)]

Another beauty! You guys seem to be getting quite low targets from the NH up there in QLD. Will have to come and visit one day when there's the next star party up there.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

The next star party starts TOMORROW.!!!!
Barambah Dark Sky Camp.
3 nights of dark sky goodness, not a light dome in sight.
You could almost image to the horizon if that's what you wanted to do.
Heavenly!

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by toryglen-boy

nice one JJJ, another well framed image, made more interesting from what you have captured !

i have noticed of late that your exposure lengths are getting longer, you heading towards an autoguider setup?

3 minutes is the longest I can go for using that lens on the eq5. I still lose about 50% of the subs to drive error. When I do this one again, I'll only do 2min.

[telecasterguru (Frank)]

Great area of the sky with lots to recommend it.

Image looks very good and uniform.

Oh for a dark sky.

Frank

[DavidU (Dave)]

Another fine image jjj !
I'm getting jealous of dark sites

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Yes, dark is good.
Just wish I could take full advantage of mine.
I should be out there taking 10-20 minute subs, not fiddling around with 20secs, 2min 3min etc.
I'll get there one day though. Slowly but surely. In the mean time I'm having a ball honing my processing skills so I'll be ready.

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Jeanette,

If I can get 4mins out of a wedged Meade ETX125 @55mm, you should be able to get 5-6 mins out of the EQ5, it has to be a better at tracking than mine.

And thats without drift aligning or anything. (Mind you, I now know what the SCP looks like through my 26mm eyepiece, so my starting point is good)

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'll be getting another lesson on drift aligning this weekend.
Maybe I'm not patient enough to do a thorough job. I can't see the SCP from where I set up.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Jeanette,

Lovin' these widefields of yours.

I had no idea how nearby the California Nebula was to the Pleaides.

There are also hints of blue nebulosity throughout the central portion of the image.

Another one to add to my list of things to image!

Regards,
Humayun