M42 (again)

[A4Andromeda]

There have been some great images of M42 on here recently, so I hesitated to post my first serious attempt (having made a reasonable stab with camera, 300mm lens and Vixen Polarie some time ago).

After much playing with DSS and Digital Photo Professional I got this final image.

I've tried to keep my kit relatively cheap (I live in Yorkshire) and simple (still prefer vinyl to CD).

Obviously a lot to learn about focusing and exposure. Many thanks to all at SGL who posted encouragement and advice.

 

 

 

Celestron 9.25 SCT, Advanced VX EQ mount, Baader crayford focuser, Celestron star diagonal + illuminated reticle eyepiece.

Red dot finder + 9x50 RACI illuminated reticle finderscope (belt and braces!)

Celestron focal reducer, Prime focus T adapter, eyepiece projection Celestron tele-extender with Altair 20mm wide view eyepiece.

Canon EOS 550D DSLR (modified), Kolari Vision Hot Mirror colour correcting filter, moon and sky glow filter.

Canon 18-55mm lens, Sigma 70-300mm lens

Kendrick DigiFire8 dew controller, Kendrick dew strips, Dew shield, Bahtinov mask.

A sense of wonder

[A4Andromeda]

I recently took a series of flats for the first time and out of interest, ran my original subs through DSS, adding flats to lights and darks.

I also tweaked the settings and colour levels  a bit, and post-processed through Digital Photo Professional.

Still poorly focused like the original, but an interesting contrast.

[Hicks]

If you've changed your imaging setup at all between taking the original lights and the taking of flats, you're better off not applying the flats.

If your imagine gear has not been adjusted at all (that includes taken down and set back up or even just rotated or focus changed), then there may be an issue with either your flat or the process you used to apply it as it seems your images has increased darkening (vignetting?) especially the top/bottom right corners.

Other than that though, the overall colour looks improved on the 2nd image and the green tint greatly reduced. Better than my first image was too

[A4Andromeda]

Thanks, very useful. I assumed flats were flats and that was all there was to it.

Ho, hum....