Finally some progress, M45+M33 05/10/2007

[cygnusx1]

After what seemed ages the last 2 weeks waiting for the clouds to clear and a lot of practise, tampering, tinkering and testing my setup late into the night, here my latest creations into the dark art of astrophotography.

Pretty chuffed with M45, think it's my best to date.

Scopos ED66 on CG-5 GT, Canon 350D unmodded.

Not sure what the dark areas at bottom left of images are, suspect dew or finger marks on front lens??

[Andrew*]

what a superb result :shock:

Am I totally behind times or are these your first images?!?

Whatever the case - I love them!

Andrew

[Cloudwatcher]

Cool images both! M33 is my favorite,lots of detail in a wide field.

The dark blobs could be 'Dust Bunnies'. Try cleaning the camera chip.

Cheers

CW

[jcm]

Yep , excellent results :salute:

The black marks are probably muck in front of the sensor ( as CW said). I have several on mine but I use flat fields to remove them. Careful , gentle cleaning will remove them - kits are available to do this.

John

[steppenwolf]

Excellent images, especially M45. I agree with the others, the dark spots look like dust and debris to me!

[beamish]

You do right to be chuffed mate they're great. Do you recall the exposure times and settings?

Karlo

[Ant]

Excellent images. Can't wait to have a go at M45 myself - If I get one that good I'llbe happy.

Did you add the defraction spikes with software or a physical addition to the scope?

Ant

[centroid]

Two very nice results Kevin!!

As Steve has said, it looks like you have some 'dust bunnies' in there too.

Dave

[cygnusx1]

You do right to be chuffed mate they're great. Do you recall the exposure times and settings?

Karlo

M45 - 14min 40s

M33 - 8min 10s

ISO 800

[cygnusx1]

Excellent images. Can't wait to have a go at M45 myself - If I get one that good I'llbe happy.

Did you add the defraction spikes with software or a physical addition to the scope?

Ant

I bought Noels Actions a few weeks nback, and like the spikes on big stars, so yes, added artifically

Images stacked in DSS and processed in PS CS2.

[SteelRat]

Well done Kevin 8) Good stuff.

[lunator]

Kevin

they are very good pics

M33 looks very good in the widefield

[MartinB]

Love that M45 Kevin. Well done on that. Good detail in M33 as well

[cygnusx1]

Thanks for the vote of confidence folks, really nice to finally get something i can be proud of

Still a long way to go, but its a start eh?

[legion48]

Thanks for the vote of confidence folks, really nice to finally get something i can be proud of

Still a long way to go, but its a start eh?

Great stuff and not too far to go, I think.

[Helen]

Really great start Kevin I love that M45 in particular.

Helen