Hey guys and Girls, right now my favorite thing to image is the M42 Orion Nebula, I'm just wondering, is there a way to get more detail out of my pictures?
Really should post this on the beginner's astrophoto forum.
Anyway, you can only get more data through longer exposures, which means a motorised equatorial mount (not alt-az), guiding, and TIME - anything short of about 5 minutes per exposure through a 5" reflector is not going to give much data at all. Also, afocal photography (camera / mobile phone over the end of an eyepiece - it's projection photography) won't yield decent results unless you use a cradle/holder securely attached to the scope.
If you are still using the jerry-rigged point-and-shoot camera, it's not centred. It may even be trying to focus on the secondary!It's showing a LOT of secondary shadow still. If there is a way to stop auto focus on your camera, do so, and focus with the telescope. BUT, you need the camer centred!
