Oh M42, where art thou?

cybereye (Mario) · #1 22-12-2011, 07:12 AM

Hello everyone!!

Well on Tuesday night here in Brisbane, the clouds started to clear in the afternoon and by the time I got home there was hardly a cloud to be seen!! So I walked through the door at home and straight outside where I proceeded to set up the scope.

After dinner I went outside, tested drift aligning using PHD (how easy was that!) and started to image M42. I had a nice plan of 10, 3 minute shots followed by 6, 5 minute shots just for the first hour. Unfortunately during my third useable 3 minute shot the clouds rolled in. So I waited about half an hour and after the clouds cleared I started imaging again. This time I was able to get 6 shots before the clouds returned for good.

So I present to you 24 minutes worth of exposure of M42 - not nearly enough for what I was hoping to image. However, I've pushed the data fairly hard and overall I'm happy with the detail I've managed to bring out. There's the odd halo around some stars but nothing a good ol' repro couldn't fix!

So the details are:
8 x 3 min subs using a QHY8L attached to an 8" newt on a HEQ5 Pro mount. Guiding was done using a QHY5 attached to an Orion ST80 with the help of PHD. A Baader MPCC and UHC-S filter completed the imaging train. Processing was done predominately in StarTools with the framing done in Photoshop.

I hope you enjoy my interpretation of M42!

Cheers,
Mario

strongmanmike (Michael) · #2 22-12-2011, 07:28 AM

That's alright for 24min Mario

...more imaging than I have managed lately

Mike

cybereye (Mario) · #3 22-12-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

That's alright for 24min Mario

...more imaging than I have managed lately

Mike

Mike,

Considering the length of time I'd managed to image I didn't have high hopes going into the processing. However I'm extremely happy with some of the fine detail in the greyish, wispy dust(?) clouds I've been able to drag out as well as in the redish Hydrogen clouds. I also feel that the lighting from the core on all the surrounding clouds is just about right as well.

Cheers,
Mario

RickS (Rick) · #4 22-12-2011, 02:24 PM

Good work under challenging conditions, Mario!

I have been dodging the clouds in Brissie too for the last few nights. I managed to get some halfway decent Luminance for M42 but I haven't been able to get more than a few 3 minute R, G and B subs. Tonight isn't looking any better...

Cheers,
Rick.

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #5 22-12-2011, 05:58 PM

That's nice alright ... show's a lot of " depth " in the colors.

Excellent.

Flash.

cybereye (Mario) · #6 23-12-2011, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

That's nice alright ... show's a lot of " depth " in the colors.

Excellent.

Flash.

Colin, I too like the depth of colours as well as the shadows. Each time I look at this image I see another bit of detail that can be verified - it's just gratifying knowing that my efforts in setting up my rig were worth it even if it was for only 24 minutes worth of data. I've attached a crop of one part in particular that I've very proud of and put it next to the Hubble image - not bad if I do say so myself.... and I did!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickS

Good work under challenging conditions, Mario!

I have been dodging the clouds in Brissie too for the last few nights. I managed to get some halfway decent Luminance for M42 but I haven't been able to get more than a few 3 minute R, G and B subs. Tonight isn't looking any better...

Cheers,
Rick.

Rick, they are challenging conditions at the moment but we have to take every half chance that we can get!! I just keep reminding myself that once we get to about April/May the skies will clear and then we'll be laughing...

Cheers,
Mario

irwjager (Ivo) · #7 23-12-2011, 09:42 AM

That's a very nice Orion Mario! Maybe it's time you returned the favor and sent me a guide on how you did this!

Would love to hear which modules you used and if there's anything that could make your life easier.

Bassnut (Fred) · #8 23-12-2011, 06:20 PM

Although I'm so sick of M42s now, I must say that's a nice rendition, has a kind of frantic, shreaded feel

Visionoz (Bill) · #9 23-12-2011, 11:53 PM

Good one Mario

Reminds me of an "Old Master's" painting!

Cheers
Bill

midnight (Darrin) · #10 24-12-2011, 04:20 AM

For 24 minutes, you've done pretty good there Mario.

I'm doing M42 at the moment and about to throw my SN into the chook shed with the technical circus I'm dealing with at the moment.

Well done,

Darrin...

cybereye (Mario) · #11 27-12-2011, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnight

For 24 minutes, you've done pretty good there Mario.

I'm doing M42 at the moment and about to throw my SN into the chook shed with the technical circus I'm dealing with at the moment.

Well done,

Darrin...

Darrin, don't throw anything out - I'm sure there are plenty here at IIS in space that would give your equipment a good home!

I saw your M42 - you've done very well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visionoz

Good one Mario

Reminds me of an "Old Master's" painting!

Cheers
Bill

Bill, that's what I thought when I'd finished the processing and saw it all framed up! Maybe the Australian Gallery might be interested in having it in their collection...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Although I'm so sick of M42s now, I must say that's a nice rendition, has a kind of frantic, shreaded feel

Fred, I love the description! An angry M42...

Quote:

Originally Posted by irwjager

That's a very nice Orion Mario! Maybe it's time you returned the favor and sent me a guide on how you did this!

Would love to hear which modules you used and if there's anything that could make your life easier.

Ivo, I've sent you an email with what I've done - any tips after reading through it would be gratefully accepted!!!

Cheers,
Mario