Imaging Plaedes and the like

[Fordos Moon]

Please can someone advise on the best ways to image Plaedes and the like. With my Canon 1100d, focal reducer and ED80 on an unguided HEQ5 Pro I only managed 6x30 secs lights and darks as time got short, so I am assuming firstly I should take a lot more frames?

I used DSS and GIMP/photodshop levels, curves etc but the images came out stangely "smudged"?

I have attached the jpeg just to try an illustrate the point.

So, how many frames should Ibe taking, what exposure time, top tips for processing gratefully received!

[Steve Ward]

With very good Polar Alignment / Drift Alignment you should be able to achieve 5 minute unguided subs with the HEQ5Pro .

Simple answer is as many as you can get and as long as you can get . . . .

Processing I cannot comment on really as it's the one area that still baffles me , I tend to just tinker . . .

Some great basic PS tutorials here from Doug German . . . http://www.youtube.com/user/namregd

[Andymac79]

I think you could easily manage 3-5 min subs unguided, regarding numbers, I look at it like you get improvements in steps of 8, 16, 32, 64 etc, stack 64 good frames of 3 mins with darks and you will see the difference for sure. For 64 subs you may have to take a lot more to chuck a few out.

Having said that your picking up the dust as you are

And yes Doug German gets my vote

[Fordos Moon]

Great stuff thanks fellas that will help me out a lot!