Hello everyone.
Here's my first proper M42 since I started astrophotography a few months ago. M42 was the target that got me hooked onto astrophotography of DSOs when I first captured it with an S7000 fujipix on the C9.25 in April 06 and again in May with the 20Da. By then it was very low on the horizon and, quite frankly (no pun intended) I didnt have a clue what I was doing (it's only improved a wee bit but still...)
This one was taken in a race against time as the morning glow was about to hit the sky and was taken amid very severe winds that picked up so bad I wrote off a whole series of shorter exposures.
You'll note the dedication (Houghy-there's a hint in there for you! :] ).
The girlfriend knew I was desperate to start trying my hand at imaging M42 and knew that it would clear a big tree at about 4:30 AM (cuz i kept mentionning it). So she decided to cut short our trip down the coast so we could come back in time for me to set the gear up, stick it in "hibernate" mode, get a few hours of sleep and wake up at 3:00 AM to have a brief imaging session from 4 AM onwards.
Hence de dedication.
I'm pleased that it's progress for me. Despite the severe winds i managed to tweak my autoguiding which should be nice when its calm again. I've also been learning to take multiple light frames and calibrate later with a dark frame. You guys were right its a bit more work but definitely worth doing (reprocessing my Dumbbell and Helix same way too this morning).
Here you go 4x 271sec ISO 400 with 20Da on a C9.25 F6.3 on CG5 autoguided.
Hope you like
When calmer conditions prevail, I'll try ISO 200 and hopefully not burn out the core too much as I did on this one. I'll also re-do the drift align to get it better.
I include the first two shots I refered to from April and May.
Excellent M42 - please pass on our thanks to Lisa for her selfless contribution as without it, we would have missed seeing this very nice image of one of my favourite regions of the sky.
Frank congratulations on finding Lisa - Marry her because women like that don't really exist !!! WOW what an improvement !! Are you indicating I have a problem???
Hi
I've been playing with the colors a bit after I noticed that the Hubble telescope image shows a better range.
here's a reviewed version.
cheers
frank
Great images Frank,
I had actually forgotten that Orion is on the way back, with images like that I won't forget again. Only problem is that it on the wrong side of the house at the moment so I'll have to wait a bit longer.
Good one Frank, all coming along very nicely, now that your back at work, you'll be staying up to the wee hours just like you were on holidays
Very impressive, lots of detail, and I see your critical eye is still looking for that perfect shot ..... I'm happy if I can set the tripod south and move one axis to keep the target in view while I eyeball the sky. Leaps and bounds ......
I better see this shot with a plaque and Lisa's name prominently displayed on ya wall somewhere, you have a great spot for dark skies .... happy hunting
Thanks guys
I have seen better shots of M42 on IIS which is what's inspiring me to do better...
i need more time...and clear skies...and a lotto win so I could quit work sleep all day image all night..
:]
frank
Thanks again
trying to figure out how best to merge a briefer exposure i took the same night that barely shows the core.
if I can i'll reprocess them with the core thus not burnt out
f
- Marry her because women like that don't really exist
!!! WOW what an improvement
!! Are you indicating I have a problem???
