M42 - first image for a long time

[Craig_L]

Hi all,

Finally got the new laptop going and got the energy up to try some imaging again. Was a hot night - 30 degrees - so set the Canon 450D to ISO 800 in a hope of reducing some of the noise. Still very noisy and the city location is fairly light polluted - no chance of getting some of that nice dust. Didn't bother with taming the core with a shorter exposure.

Looking at getting a cooled camera but what?

10X5 mins
Tak Sky 90 with reducer at 4.5
Astronomik CLS filter

Cheers,

Craig

[Paul Haese]

Good effort Craig. As for a CCD, it all depends on how much money you want to spend.

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Very nice Craig - great job dealing with the noise. 30º is not the best temperature for an astro image to taken at.
If you went for a mono CCD you could do decent NB stuff from your location.
Doug

[Craig_L]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

As for a CCD, it all depends on how much money you want to spend.

Thanks for the comments Paul.

I was thinking of the 8300 colour version (an Atik or QHY) or a QHY 10, something not too expensive, but I realise this isn't going to help with light pollution. I was going to buy your cooled 40D but got beaten at the post.

Craig

[Craig_L]

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

Very nice Craig - great job dealing with the noise. 30º is not the best temperature for an astro image to taken at.
If you went for a mono CCD you could do decent NB stuff from your location.
Doug

Thanks Doug, you are probably right but NB scares me a little with the processing. Maybe you'll move up to a mono CD and sell your Astro 40D

[Paul Haese]

The QHY8 can produce very good images and has good cooling too.

[Craig_L]

Thanks Paul. Yes, the QHY8 could do the trick. You think it might be better than the 8300C?
Craig

[Hagar (Doug)]

Come up very nicely Craig. A bit hard imaging at 30 degrees without serious active cooling.

Nice job.

[Craig_L]

Thanks Doug,
Just investigating the cooled QHY8, 9 and 10 at the moment but might end up with an "empty bank account". Will try and tame the core with some short exposures. Your M42 looked pretty good - nice dust.
Craig

[naskies (Dave)]

Very nice, Craig. I'm looking for a cooled CCD myself (mono), but will be interested to hear what which one you decide to get.

[Craig_L]

Thanks Dave. Long road ahead.

[Ross G]

A great M42 photo Craig.

You have captured lots of detail and I really like the colours.

Ross.

[Craig_L]

Thanks Ross. A little noisy and core blown out but will have another go when it's cooler.

[atalas]

Nice shot Craig....If you want to stick with OSC I second the QHY8 for value.

[Craig_L]

Thanks Louie. Looking into it at the moment. Need to tackle some of your tutorials before I post another. Craig