Thanks all for your very nice comments.
Quote:
Originally Posted by davewaldo
I might also add that this is one of the most natural M42s I've seen. Often to display the vast dynamic range the image ends up with very gray highlight areas and quite a low contrast look... not in your image!
You should be very please with this shot.
any chance of a higher res image?
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Thanks Dave. You can download a full-res jpeg from here:
1.1meg full-res jpeg
It has been saved at 10 (out of 12) jpeg quality, so there might be some compression artifacts but it shouldn't be too noticeable. There's many other flaws in the full-res version
Quote:
Originally Posted by laika
Mike,
WOW, I am just starting to get bits together to try this DSO stuff and if I can achieve results remotly close to this after 2 months I will be one happy chappy.
Great result and lovely photo to look at, the longer you look the more fine detail stands out.
Regards.
Brenton.
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Thanks Brenton - it takes some time to get all the bits to make your job easier, but once it's all up and running it is definitely satisfying to see it guiding itself and taking exposures automatically..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tamtarn
Really great image Mike. Can see why you're happy with this one. The multiple long exposures have really brought out the detail  |
Thanks Barb/Dave. I would've liked to have done more longer exposures, and perhaps some 10-min exposures too, but there's always next time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbaddah
This is a freakin amazing shot, well done!
Out of curiosity why the variant exposure shots? Was it to save time?
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Thanks for your comment. As Mill said, the long exposures reveal the faint detail and the nebulosity, but at the expense of the bright objects which get clipped (go pure white). For example, the trapezium (core) ends up totally washed out with no detail.
So we take shorter exposures, which have little nebulosity but preserve detail in the bright areas. Using software like photoshop, the exposures are combined to reveal both the bright detail in the trap, and the faint detail in the outer nebulosity.
Quote:
Originally Posted by davidpretorius
this is really nice.
nude up young man and strut around the block!
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Thanks Dave - I even showed my wife last night so it felt worthy of a strut.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghsmith45
Great shot Mike. It's a lot more satisfying than webcam planetary shots isn't it.
Geoff
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Wash your mouth out young man
I wouldn't say that exactly, but it definitely is rewarding when it all comes together and you get an image you can be proud of. However that's no different to planetary imaging as well. When the seeing is good and you get an awesome planetary image, the feeling is the same.
Deep-space imaging definitely takes a lot more time and has some different technical challenges, but a lot of the skills and techniques are shared between the disciplines.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deeno
Can't help but be really impressed.
Fascinating to see the equipment in action
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Thanks Deeno, it was great to be able to share and chat with you guys while it was doing its thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by h0ughy
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Thanks Dave, still a lot of room for improvement - I must start taking flats! I need another camera so I can leave it on the scope and be able to use master-flats. I just don't have the time or patience to take flats each time out
Quote:
Originally Posted by wysiwyg
Nice one Mike, 
I think I am really underestimating the potential of my ED80.
Love the colours, very well resolved and it does not have the plasticy look to it. |
Thanks Mark, I'd be interested to learn more about your adjustments (that you posted and then removed). Feel free to use the full-res version as a start. I don't mind people playing with my images. It helps me learn, and hopefully helps other people learn too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hickny
I have saved your image as M42 is my favourite DSO (see avatar) 192k image looks great on my 22" monitor. You are very hard on yourself if you need to improve on this image. Well Done.
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Thanks! I'm honoured!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jase
Nothing to complain about there Mike. A fine effort. Well done.
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Many thanks Jase. I'm finally starting to capture data that I can do something with. Half the battle is won.
Quote:
Originally Posted by joshman
probably the best pic i've seen of m42, that's for sure!!!
an effort to be well proud of!
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Thanks Josh, but there's many better images of M42 than mine on this forum. I appreciate your comments.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tornado33
Well done. This after 2 months, what will we be seeing after another 2 months
Scott |
Thanks Scott - what you have been achieving has given me great inspiration, so I thank you for that!
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl
and this from our " SEMI dark" site
just wait till we get him a "DARK" one  
geoff |
Cheers Geoff. I can't wait to get out to Ilford next year.. I'm still restricted by my power needs though - something I definitely have to sort out before I go to a site with no 240v access.
Thanks again everyone, I'm very humbled by your nice comments and hope that I can continue to share my journey with you. I'm contemplating writing an article describing the transgression into deep-space imaging, but I still have a lot to learn and need to start taking flats!: )
but I must not tell him the image is a corker). You need to improve your imaging sessions with flats and the like Mr Salway 7.5/10
