Any tips for M42?

[ryandsimmons]

Tonight is the first clear sky in over a month, and finally I can get a try at Orion which I have been waiting for since I got the scope at the start of this year!

The scope is F10, which is obviously an issue, but I am very tempted to get a focal reducer at lunch taking it to F6.3.

I was just wondering, given that I know it is a tricky target due to the differing brightnesses, what exposures people would recomend?

Equipment is:

Celestron C8

CG5 mount

Canon EOS 1000d

Possibly a F6.3 focal reducer if I can convince my wife...

I was thinking of 60x45 seconds or similar?

[laser_jock99]

The trick with M42 is to take exposures of varying lengths. The core is very bright and will burn out in the longer subs.

45 seconds will get you something but you might want try longer if possible.

The 6.3 reducer is a good idea anyway.

[ryandsimmons]

Bah!  I go to the telescope shop once a month or so, and every time for the past 2 years there has been a focal reducer sitting on the shelf.

Today I finally decided to pick it up, so went in and it has gone.  Typical!

So M42 is out. 

Not sure what to go for now, will just play it by ear I suppose.

[Astrosurf]

Have a go at some globular clusters such as the Double Cluster (NGC 869). Lovely things and bright generally. There's also the Ring Nebula (M57) which was my first target in AP years ago. I got quite a good pic with 30s subs.

To check how objects fit your FOV (as I'm not sure about NGC 869), try this. It's excellent.

http://www.12dstring.me.uk/fov.htm

Alexxx

Oops, Edit. The FOV calculator doesn't do the NGC catalogue. He was working on it though.

[raathistle]

Have a go at some globular clusters such as the Double Cluster (NGC 869). Lovely things and bright generally

This is what I'm doing as I slowly make my way in AP (when it's not wall to wall cloud anyway) and the clusters are very satisfying objects to start with, and a lot easier than M42 to boot!

[Astrosurf]

Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

[Carina Lass]

Eagle neb is a good one for f10.

took this with 45 mins exposure in 3 min lumps.

on a wedge with lx90.

other things are the messiers and planetary nebula