M44 Beehive Cluster

[Rattler]

My second ever DSO image and first guiding. Any tips appreciated.

M44 Beehive Cluster (NGC 2632)
21/03/18, Dunsop Bridge (Bortle 4)
Type- Open Cluster
Location- Cancer
Distance- 577.3 light years
Size- 15 light years span, >1000 stars

Scope- Explore Scientific ED80 APO Triplet
Mount- SW NEQ6 Pro Synscan
Camera- Canon 600d (unmodified)
Guide scope- Altair Astro 50mm
Guide camera- Altair Astro GPCAM2 290 mono
Software- PHD2, Astro Photography Tool
Stacked in DSS and processed in PS

29x 120 second exposures 

ISO 800
Total time- 58 mins

Ran out of time for darks and flats but will ensure I do them in future.

[Kbramley]

That's a lovely shot, nice round stars and the star colours are visible without being over saturated, also captured plenty of fainter stars too in the background.

[Sunshine]

I think its very nice! love the colours and nice pinpoint stars!

[Rattler]

Thanks guys. I'm happy with it.

[sloz1664]

Great image Rattler, just what you desire for one of your first images. Really like the nice sharp stars.

Steve

[stevewanstall]

It's a lovely picture of a beautiful cluster. Going from your figures, we are looking at around 3375 cubic light years , containing around 1000 stars... as ever, my mind struggles!

[angryowl]

As others have pointed out, lovely stars shapes and colours. Image looks fantastic overall but had you applied flat frames or gone through a gradient extermination routine (I know you don't have Pixinsight) I think it would even the entire field out more. Just a thought.

[Rattler]

18 minutes ago, angryowl said:

As others have pointed out, lovely stars shapes and colours. Image looks fantastic overall but had you applied flat frames or gone through a gradient extermination routine (I know you don't have Pixinsight) I think it would even the entire field out more. Just a thought.

Cheers man. I have GradientXterminate on PS so will give that another run at some point.