M45 First proper attempt

[pringlepowell]

I think I used 12x1 minute lights, 8 darks, 8 bias and no flats (probably hence the grainy effect).

[StarRaver]

very good first attempt, i would try getting more darks bias and flas around 20 or so. What iso were you using and maybe a little longer expsoure to bring out the nebulosity abit more. but stunning shot none the less

Dale

[pringlepowell]

Think I was using an 800 ISO with a Canon 650d.

[StarRaver]

were you using guiding, if not you can still manage around 2 mins unguided if polar aligned corectly, more darks will help reduce the noise in the picture like said before around 20 should be enough, the more lights you capture the more detail in your final image ( hard to capture alot of subs with our weather with the limited time we get out )

[pringlepowell]

No autoguiding used. My intention was to get out last night and take some 2 min lights but my Iphone app lied through it's teeth about having a clear sky! managed to get a load of darks at different ISO's and exposures though, so every cloud!

[Keiran]

Very nice first attempt. What scope was you imaging through?

I read through the DSS help guide, and it said take between 10 and 20 darks, 10 to 20 bias 10 to 20 flats

have a little look through this http://deepskystacker.free.fr/english/faq.htm you might find some useful info on the darks bias and flats

Keiran

[symesie04]

Very nice indeed. I assume your using a EQ mount? cant see that you have actually said what you are using anywhere apart from the 650d. I know Maidstone is a bit of a cow for pollution so depending on what your using equipment wise you could try and get out a bit. Top of blue bell hill gives nice views although light pollution is still a issue. Or not to far a drive away is romney marshes which are rated as some of the darkest skies in England.

[pringlepowell]

I'm using a Skywatcher 200pds with HEQ5 mount. Somehow I've managed to master polar aligning down to about 2 minutes so as soon as the sky is clear at home I'm off. Maidstone is pretty awful but I've seen worse. I went down to Romney Marsh in the summer and was blown away by how clear the Milky Way was, I actually had some difficulty finding constellations it was so dense.

[symesie04]

I would imagine dragging your 200p and aHEQ5 to romney marshes on a regular basis would be a little tedious. It does take a certain amount of will power to get yourself down there on a winters night i must admit. I did a couple of years back when there was a thick covering of snow and it was -5. That was a real painfull experience. Great views though.