M6 Butterfly Cluster

batema (Mark) · #1 14-10-2009, 10:33 PM

Hi,

I thought I would try ICNR for the first time. Taken with W/O Flt 110 and Canon 400d unmod ISO 800 for 8 x 4 Min with flats and bias frames. I think or know I should have done more exposures but am unsure of the star colours. Guided with PHD, stacked DSS and photoshop cs3.

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

Mark

AlexN · #2 14-10-2009, 10:53 PM

Looks nice Mark.

You perhaps could have gone another 10 or 11 exposures... As far as the star colours go, your best bet with a DSLR is to take a few subs of a shorter exposure duration (something like 10x60sec) to record the star colours, then stack those up, stretch it slightly to bring up most of the stars, and then select the stars from the shorter exposure, and layer them into the longer exposure image.. You can then adjust the opacity a little to suit, and maybe even boost up the saturation to give you very vivid star colours..

Funny you should image M6... I was planning to do either M6 or M7 this weekend... Now I'll go M7..

Cheers mate..

batema (Mark) · #3 14-10-2009, 11:01 PM

Thanks Alex. Your knowledge and advice is greatly appreciated. Have fun this weekend. I would love to have been able to make it however family has to come first Saturday night. I might sneak off after they go to sleep.

Mark

AlexN · #4 14-10-2009, 11:05 PM

Funny you should mention that Mark, My family commitments have killed my dark sky weekend plans, however im heading bush next weekend... I might get some hydrogen alpha imaging done friday night... fail that, maybe 100x2min subs of M7

Take it easy mate.
Alex.

Ps.. Remember, Sleep is for sissies!

TheDecepticon · #5 15-10-2009, 01:21 AM

Very nice. A favourite of mine. We all tend to go after the neb's and galaxies and forget the clusters.

multiweb (Marc) · #6 15-10-2009, 07:18 AM

I'm not much for clusters but I have to admit that's a top shot. Very well done indeed.