First attempt at M13

[Rob Astro]

First attempt at astro photography. A single shot of M13, 20sec, ISO 3200, Canon 100D, 200P on a HEQ5. Its taken several nights to get to grips with setting up, EQMOD, PA and APT. Slowly getting somewhere. Each step is getting quicker with each attempt. What is has been is good fun and fantastic to learn a new skill.

M13 Single__0002_ISO3200_20s__34C.CR2

[spillage]

Thats a good first attempt.

I would suggest dropping your iso down to 800 and you will need to stack several of these into DSS with flats and bias.

You can also try using apt to control your canon and this will then allow you to dither so you may be able to get away without having to take darks.

You have not mentioned but are you autoguiding as this will help for long exposures.

 

cheers

Spill.

 

[Richard Hather]

I can't see the image?

Richard

[Swithin StCleeve]

41 minutes ago, Rob Astro said:

First attempt at astro photography. A single shot of M13, 20sec, ISO 3200, Canon 100D, 200P on a HEQ5. Its taken several nights to get to grips with setting up, EQMOD, PA and APT. Slowly getting somewhere. Each step is getting quicker with each attempt. What is has been is good fun and fantastic to learn a new skill.

M13 Single__0002_ISO3200_20s__34C.CR2

What does 'EQMOD, PA and APT' mean please?

[spillage]

Seems to be a possible website issue maybe. I have just noticed that my last post was retained in the reply box when I clicked in it and also the download link for the image has now stopped working!!!

 

[RayD]

27 minutes ago, Swithin StCleeve said:

What does 'EQMOD, PA and APT' mean please?

EQMOD:- is a piece of software which you can use to control your mount via a PC

PA:- is polar alignment.  Necessary to align your equatorial mount to allow it to track correctly

APT:- is one of many camera or imaging control software packages.  Again this allows you to control and manage your imaging session from a PC

[spillage]

op has uploaded a .cr raw image.

@Swithin StCleeve

eqmod is a computer program used to control your mount.

APT is again another computer program used to control you camera 

PA is polar align. You need to align you eq mount so that when you track and object in the sky you do not get any star trails.

M13 Single__0002_ISO3200_20s__34C.CR2

 

Too late.

[Swithin StCleeve]

Thanks guys. I should have guessed what PA meant.. but I'd never have known what the others meant.

[Rob Astro]

Thanks for all the advice. I was just happy to get a photo of M13. I'm not guiding at the moment. As I said I'm progressing a little further each night. So the next step is a lower ISO and to stack several images along with darks and bias. Cant wait for the next clear night. One question I have is how to upload photos and have them displayed? Am I rtight in thinking I have to have them on another host site like flicker?

[spillage]

You should just be able to drag the image into the text box where you type your post or click on the choose files.

[Richard Hather]

Click on edit then click on add image at the bottom it should let you upload the image.

Richard

[Star101]

Thats a great image for a single 20s shot.

Thanks for sharing.

[Richard Hather]

I really want to see this image can someone not copy it and post it in the comments for some reason I can't view it?

Richard

[wimvb]

-- reply removed. Crossing threads --

[spillage]

[Richard Hather]

That is a lovely image Rob regardless off you being new to the hobbie, how you've captured the surrounding stars and you can make out the gold and blue and silver of the bulge of M13 well done and I look forward to seeing more of your work ?

Richard

[Rob Astro]

Thanks for displaying the image and for the comments. I'm lucky in that I live in mid wales and don't have any light pollution. Been looking at what settings what other poeple have been photographing M13. So I now have a plan saved in APT ready for the next clear night. Hopefully 30 lights, 45sec at ISO 800. Then 10 dark's to match. So cant wait for the next clear night.

[spillage]

I could be completely wrong here but you can probably dither without autoguding. You could then also ditch your darks and just use flats and bias. I know it would not make too much of a difference for now as you only save under 10 minutes but when you start autoguiding you will find it will save you lots of time and allow you to take more lights. Take a look here it may be of interest.