First Attempt Deep Space Imaging-Orion Nebula

[aljo2345]

... long way to go

[RickS (Rick)]

A good start. Just make improvements one at a time and you'll be producing stunning images in no time!

[rogerco (Roger)]

Its nice to have something to show, isn't it

Good start,

[aljo2345]

thanks, thats the plan. I would be grateful for any advice. Currently
using Meade LX90 with wedge, off axis guider, and DSLR Canon 400D at primary focus,
best

[aarong (Aaron)]

Nice. I have a similar set up, but have gone done the guidescope route. I'll be interested in your experiences. I'm only about a 1.5 yrs into the journey.

I can echo RickS' s comment. I have concentrated on one step at a time, learning and working out problems in stages. I still have so far to go, but that's part of the fun and addiction

[aljo2345]

thanks aarong. Does any one any experience with Bahtinov Mask? I think that effective focusing is my first hurdle.

Best

[stevous67 (Steve M)]

Well, we all had to start somewhere. Good effort.

I started with a similar set up, and can remember how hard it was to get a grip of the basic principles. It definitely gets easier as you go.

Yes, the Bahtinov mask combined with live view is a great focusing option.

Steve

[aljo2345]

Thanks Steve, how did you overcome yuor DSLR focusing issues?

[Ross G]

Hi,

A good first attemtpt with not an easy setup.

Even though your Canon 400D does not have Live View, you can still focus succesfully with the Bahtinov Mask.
Centre a bright star and focus it by eye through the viewfinder.
Place the Bahtinov Mask on your scope and start taking short exposures (10 - 20 seconds).
After each exposure, bring up the shot on your camera's screen and zoom in to the max. That way you can see the horizontal spike produced by the mask.
Turn your focusing knob very slightly after each shot as you observe the horizontal spike getting closer to the centre of the star.

Good luck.

Ross.

[aljo2345]

Thanks Ross!!

[aarong (Aaron)]

I have been using BackyardEOS to control my camera. It also has a focus module, which seems to work. You can also use the mask with it, but I haven't got one so not sure which is best.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Good job, your doing well. Ahh the old 400D good little camera, although a little outdated now, but still quite capable of producing some pretty fine images. I made up a Bahtinov mask, but you can get them from Bintel and the like, they work well...

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

I got my Bahtinov mask at astro shop. Invaluable tool for cameras that don't have live view.

[aljo2345]

Thanks yall, yes the 400D i'm using is pretty old , not making life easy for myself am I? It was a hand-me-down down from the mrs, when she updated her camera

[aljo2345]

... what would be the best open source software for processing my images... anyone?

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Gimp? Irfanview? Deep Sky Stacker?

I'm using old cameras also. The trick is to squeeze every last photon out of them, which often involves lots and lots of sub exposures.

[aljo2345]

Thanks

[aljo2345]

amazing how much detail can be pulled out of the same image in photoshop, just one pic. Gunna try some staking. BTW has anyone had a positve experience using a Meade LPI as an autoguider?