M42 First Try

[CapturingTheNight (Greg)]

I have been itching to image this ever since I got my astrophotography setup about 4 months ago. Critique is welcome.

31/08/2011
3:30AM
Canon 1000D unmodified
10" F/4 Newtonian
NEQ6 Pro Mount
Baader Coma Corrector
80mm Orion ShortTube Guidescope
Synguider Autoguider
20 X 3 minute exposures
plus 10 X 30 seconds exposures for the core
ISO 400
Dark Frames subtracted (20 X 3min plus 10 X 30 seconds)
Images stacked and alligned in Deep Sky Stacker
Final processing in Photoshop Elements 8.0

[niko]

stunning work Greg - well done! Great wisps of nebulosity

If I might suggest...? - maybe just knock the brightness down a tad, I find it just a bit bright in the core

keep it up and keep dodging those clouds

cheers

niko

[dynobolt (Dave)]

Wow Greg, that's a magic "First M42". Top effort on the image and for staying up that late......or did you get up early?

Dave

[batema (Mark)]

It is a stunning nebula. Well done.

[multiweb (Marc)]

That's a great shot Greg, nice ans sharp. You'll find that if you back off the black point in your processing you will be able to bring out even more nebulosity.

[midnight (Darrin)]

Stunning Greg. You must have spent time getting your focus right. There's a lot of potential in this!

Well done mate!

How are you finding the Synguider?

Darrin...

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Ahhhh that's lovely!
So much better than that dodgy one I posted the other day.

[desler]

That really is well done, A real credit to you!

Darren

[CapturingTheNight (Greg)]

Originally Posted by niko

stunning work Greg - well done! Great wisps of nebulosity

If I might suggest...? - maybe just knock the brightness down a tad, I find it just a bit bright in the core

keep it up and keep dodging those clouds

cheers

niko

Thank you very much for the nice feedback and suggestion Niko I'll certainly take it on board

Originally Posted by dynobolt

Wow Greg, that's a magic "First M42". Top effort on the image and for staying up that late......or did you get up early?

Dave

Thank you very much Dave I'm very happy with how it turned out. I setup the scope in the evening and then put a tarp over it, went to bed and got up just after 2am. Needless to say I slept well the next night when it was cloudy.

Originally Posted by batema

It is a stunning nebula. Well done.

Thank you very much

Originally Posted by multiweb

That's a great shot Greg, nice ans sharp. You'll find that if you back off the black point in your processing you will be able to bring out even more nebulosity.

Thank you very much for the nice feedback and advice Marc I'll have another play around with it one day.

Originally Posted by midnight

Stunning Greg. You must have spent time getting your focus right. There's a lot of potential in this!

Well done mate!

How are you finding the Synguider?

Darrin...

Thank you so much Darrin A Bahtinov mask is the best purchase I ever made. Takes about 30 seconds to focus. Being all I am used to, I find the Synguider fairly easy to use, but as I just said it's all I know and i'm sure there are better and simpler ways to go about it. A parfocal eyepiece is essential in finding a guidestar. The big appeal is that I didn't need to spend yet more money on purchasing and running a laptop to do the guiding through a USB. When the ultimate dream of a home observatory is realised I'll probably get something different.

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Ahhhh that's lovely!
So much better than that dodgy one I posted the other day.

I wouldn't say yours is dodgy JJJ. I really like it. It actually inspired me to get up early and finally have a go at it. And you will always have the honour of being the first for the season Thank you so much for the nice feedback

Originally Posted by desler

That really is well done, A real credit to you!

Darren

Thank you so much Darren

[RB (Andrew)]

Wow Greg, for a first time at M42 you've done a lovely job.

[Osirisra (Ken)]

That is a very, very nice first go at m42 indeedy!

[CapturingTheNight (Greg)]

Originally Posted by RB

Wow Greg, for a first time at M42 you've done a lovely job.

Originally Posted by Osirisra

That is a very, very nice first go at m42 indeedy!

Thank you so much for the nice feedback Andrew and Ken

[atalas]

Looks great,well done Greg.

[CapturingTheNight (Greg)]

Originally Posted by atalas

Looks great,well done Greg.

Thank you so much Louie

[Ross G]

A great photo Greg.

Sharp, detailed and has a smooth, natural look.

Ross.

[CapturingTheNight (Greg)]

Originally Posted by Ross G

A great photo Greg.

Sharp, detailed and has a smooth, natural look.

Ross.

Thank you so much for the nice feedback Ross I really appreciate that.