My first attempt at M42

[ldd55uk]

This is my first attempt at M42 using my Canon 350D directly connected to the focuser on my Skywatcher 150. It was a single shot and hasn`t been stacked.

[Peter Reader]

Stars look fine. Maybe go for longer exposure?

[Quatermass]

Nice on Mick I have the same camera and attatched to a sky watcher 200p on an eq5 mount you can get some great results. If you have an RA motor set the ISO to 1600 and take a shot of 1minute and 20 seconds gives you a great image. I like to take 10 at 1.20 seconds 10 at 60 seconds and 10 at 50 seconds plus a few at 15 seconds just for the core and then use photoshop to get it all together. Check out my tutorial on my blog for more details. A fantastic target and such fun to image as well.

[Quatermass]

This is typical for an exsposure of 1min and 20 seconds in a good dark sky but you will have to take about 30 subs darks and flats to get your final image.

[ldd55uk]

wow Quatermas, that is outstanding. I have a EQ3 mount with fitted twin motor control. However i am having problems with keeping on an object however i think that is down to the set up of the scope. I haven`t got a polar scope fitted however there is a port on the mount for one. I have been using a compass to set the mount to North. I have been advised to us te main tube to find the pole star and set up that way. Using the advice you have given me i will try a few timed shots when it has stopped snowing which it is tonight and i`ll post them on here if they are any good. Many thanks to you and to Peter also.

[Quatermass]

Its your mount thats making things difficult for you. I had the eq3 as well but moved up to the eq5 with a polar scope and ra axis motor drive. It makes a big difference as I can get a good polar alingment with my polar scope and the mount is sturdy enough but only just for astrophotography. However last night I took a single shot of M42 at 1 minute and 20 seconds and it had a lot of detail on it. If you can get away with 60 seconds ISO at 1600 and your stars are not blurring that should be good enough but your going to have to focus using a Bahtinov Mask first to make sure your focus is spot on. My blog has details on doing that if you dont have batinov mask you could easy make on in a couple of hours like I did just need an old plastic folder craft knife and some tape plenty of templates for them on the net. M42 is a good target to practise on but you will need a few shots of the core at shorter exsposures to fix the burn out of it at longer ones. My tutorials on photoshop tell you how to go about that if you get stuck its not that hard and good fun.

[x6gas]

That's an excellent first shot!

As said above, the next steps are to stack a number of images. Download DeepSkyStacker, take as many images (subs) as you can of the longest exposure you can get away with and away you go!

Beware, though - this imaging lark is addictive and like most addictions things can get expensive!

[Quatermass]

Yes I would second that warning addictive and expensive but its better for you then some addictions. I think...

[ldd55uk]

i`ll remember that after my next purchase of a new mount , well once i`ve saved up enough for one. Thanks again guys .

[ldd55uk]

okay thats a Bahtinov Mask made, taken a couple of hours but hopefully it will be worth it. Only one small problem and thats the weather which isn`t great at all tonight. look forwards to the next clear night so i can try it out.

[Quatermass]

hope you get a clear night soon

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