Beginner M42

[Jazza (Jay)]

Hi all, in the tradition of beginner images here is my first real attempt at m42.

10" Meade rcx
Polar aligned by eye
5 x 1 min
5 x 30s
2 x 10s

Unguided and through an unmodded 350d.
Don't think I'm quite doing the scope justice yet heh.

More proof of concept than anything.
Sorry about the hot pixels, darks came out the wrong size for some reason and won't stack *lost look* will have to take some more.

Going to chuck up two versions, the straight and one I've had a rough go at colour correcting. Processing was done on a laptop in the dark at 5 am so... heh
Comments, criticism and suggestions very welcome.
Jay

[telecasterguru (Frank)]

Jay,

That's a pretty credible first attempt. The image looks to be well stacked and the focus and tracking also look pretty good. Now you will need to concentate on getting longer subs to really bring out the fine detail.

Keep on imaging.

Frank

[Robbie]

getting there!

[Jazza (Jay)]

Cheers guys, gonna have to sort out guiding next... what fun!

[multiweb (Marc)]

The details you've captured is awesome. You're a natural mate! Keep'em coming. Sure it's your first? Only processing from there on.

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by Jazza

Cheers guys, gonna have to sort out guiding next... what fun!

good guiding= longer exposures=more data=better details
If you are a beginner and not up to speed on guiding try PHD to start with its free and idiot proof.
Also focusing isnt as easy as it sounds with astrophotography, focusing software isnt the easiest to use either; as a beginner I found focusing with a bahtinov mask the easiest, least time consuming and least stressful way to go. The difference between using a mask against winging it with eyeballs are worlds apart.
You probly knew this already but I found it very good advice when starting out.
Good luck

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

Not bad for a start, and you have a very nice scope im lead to belive. keep it up youll get alot better before you know it

[Jazza (Jay)]

Thanks again folks,
Fixed the hot pixels