First Image - Orion Nebula M42

[terencelegrange]

This is my first post and one of my first deep sky images I've taken. I started on the Astrophotography Journey earlier in the year. Feedback always welcome!

30x30s
Monochrome (don't as yet have filters)
Celestron EdgeHD 9.25
Hyperstar (F/2 @540mm approx)
ASI 1600mm cooled
Basic processing in Pixinsight

[Atmos (Colin)]

That looks really well controlled between the super bright trapezium and the dusty surrounding region. Nicely done
Out of curiosity, did you use flats? I only ask as I am curious as to whether the dusty region around the frame is really that bright compared to the darker centre?

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

That's a magnificent start. (My first M42 was a dim red smudge). Perhaps you could push the faintest background a little less hard, so as to emphasise the main structures more.

[terencelegrange]

Originally Posted by Atmos

That looks really well controlled between the super bright trapezium and the dusty surrounding region. Nicely done
Out of curiosity, did you use flats? I only ask as I am curious as to whether the dusty region around the frame is really that bright compared to the darker centre?

Hi Colin!

Thanks for the feedback. No I didn't use flats, I haven't mastered that yet, and as I am using a Hyperstar lens, I'm not really sure even how to achieve that. The lens sticks out the front of the scope, so covering it is near impossible.

I don't know why it's so dusty around the edges, I suspect I'm doing something wrong within Pixinsight, or whether that's just a result of my light pollution, or something else! A few of my other images in the last few days seem to do the same - dark in the middle and lots of noise around the outside. Any suggestions welcome

Thanks again!

#whoSaidThisWasEasy

[terencelegrange]

Originally Posted by Placidus

That's a magnificent start. (My first M42 was a dim red smudge). Perhaps you could push the faintest background a little less hard, so as to emphasise the main structures more.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll try to do that.