First attempt on M42

[Andreas]

Good evening!

This was my first try on M42, and my second deep sky object captured

I'm pretty happy with the results, but I'm not really sure how the get the real colours of the nebula? Some of them are real, but not everything.

[cardconvict]

this is stunning just for your second attempt amazing

[Gina]

Nice one

[Steve 1962]

Great effort - well done. Very nice and smooth with good detail.

[NickK]

For a second attempt this is very good.

IMHO the part to play attention to with this target:

a) Trap stars and the nebulosity close by,

The dust between M42 and M43 shows some very fine exquisite detail - if this looks 3D then you're onto a winner.

c) The really hard bit is getting the stretch for the wings to appear softly showing detail - too much stretch and the image appears to have contour lines.

No doubt this is one of the hardest due to it's dynamic range.

Trap stars with a range of shorter exposures - such as 1, 4, 10, 30, 60 second exposures blended in. This will recoup the core detail.

Stunning debut!

[Moon monkey]

yes very nice

[Andreas]

Thanks everybody! And thanks for the tips NickK

[stellawolf]

Vrey nice image for a second attempt well done :)