Here's an image I did last weekend, the Helix nebula. It's not the perfect shot but about the best I could get out of the light polluted sub-frames I had to work with. I used ISO400 for this image but if I get another shot at the Helix I think ISO200 would be worth a try to pickup finer detail.
This image sets the a personal record for the longest exposure I've ever done 2hrs and 13-minutes long (38 x 3.5-min. subs).
well thanks a lot for all the encouraging comments. It's my best Helix to date but I can still see room for improvement. ISO400 is a bit noisy especially at ambient temp, so I'll try for the Helix again but this time with ISO200 which tends to give smoother results.
David: As it turns out I had taken 40 subframes but two were throw aways so I ended up with 38. That was about the limit of my imaging session cause the 'scope had followed the Helix from rise to near Zenith and being a GEM couldn't follow it further (until it moves 10deg the other size of Zenith).
Lovely shot mate. The inner detail yet lack of noise is noted. Colour balance excellent too, nice neutral black sky yet pinks and blues look spot on.
Scott
, I mean why didnt you go for the neat and even 3 hours
, there is just no dedication anymore mate
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