07-09-07 - M31, M42, M45 and Double Cluster

[Grant]

Had a fantastic night last night (except smashing my observatories window!)...

Managed to get a pretty good polar alignment so could push subs up to 105 seconds, all of the belonw are 10 x Lights, 10 x Darks and 10 x Bias...

Stacked in DSS, processed in photoshop, all taken with 350D, unguided, EQ6 Pro & Skywatcher ED80.

Double Cluster

(click to enlarge)

M31

(click to enlarge)

M42

(click to enlarge)

M42 - Reprocessed

(click to enlarge)

M42 & NGC1977

(click to enlarge)

M45

(click to enlarge)

I'm super pleased today - its the first time I've got some nebulosity with M45, my best M31 and I'm really chuffed with imaging M42 for the first time - it was well worth the really really late night!

Cheers,

Grant

[jcm]

Looks like a BIG improvement to me :salute:

With my HEQ5 I can just about manage 2mins. Anything over that auto guiding is essential.

How did the window break?

John

[mikkey99]

Yes

I think we can DEFINATELY say you`ve cracked the processing mate

Superb images

Mike

[Grant]

Thanks John

When I pulled the roof down on the side where the window was, it must have flexed the side and put some pressure on the glass which just made it shatter - not to worry its now a non-window - covered in wood - its like like an observatory needs a window I guess its one of the downsides of converting an existing shed rather than designing/building from scratch

[jcm]

Thanks John

When I pulled the roof down on the side where the window was, it must have flexed the side and put some pressure on the glass which just made it shatter - not to worry its now a non-window - covered in wood - its like like an observatory needs a window I guess its one of the downsides of converting an existing shed rather than designing/building from scratch

No loss then

John

[jonifive]

Great images Grant, M31 is my favorite.

JV

[centroid]

Two clusters for the 'price of one', very nice!!

That M31, is a very nice result Grant, I'm sure you're quite 'chuffed' with that.

Dave