M74... worth the effort?

[Vega]

Is it really worth the time and effort, considering I like to get half decent images for my efforts...M74... Not many imaged it on here and im starting to realise why after a bit of googling

Worth sniffing at with an unmodded DSLR in a light polluted garden? what ya reckon?

Matt

[Sparrow]

I'd go for it - in fact I've been toying with the idea of imaging it as it's favourably position at my location. If you use your Skyliner and the Canon 400D you should get a reasonable image scale - check it out with CCD calc if you want. An unmodded DSLR should be OK with it - that's what I'd be using (Canon 1000D)

[Ben Ritchie]

It's a tough target - quite possibly the hardest Messier visually, and the arms have quite low surface brightness which may be hard to drag out of the light pollution when imaging.

Might be worth shooting a few test subs and see how they look?

[Whippy]

Is it really worth the time and effort, considering I like to get half decent images for my efforts...M74... Not many imaged it on here and im starting to realise why after a bit of googling

Worth sniffing at with an unmodded DSLR in a light polluted garden? what ya reckon?

Matt

I've had two attempts at it and neither of them have turned out particularly well for one reason or another. It's not overly large (slightly smaller than M51 if memory serves) but it's not that dim or tricky, I've certainly imaged dimmer objects. IIRC you may find getting a suitable guide star a bit tricky too, it's in a pretty sparse bit of the sky. It is a lovely object though!

Tony..

[Vega]

oh goodness, guide stars.. not even thought of that and I use a trusty unmodded ToUcam for that job too! What the hell.. I'm feeling ridiculously positive and lucky, I'll have a go in the next window of opportunity :-p

Matt

[Whippy]

Looks like that might be tonight Matt .

Tony..

[moocher]

I`ve never had any luck with this one!!! I did see it Saturday night at Kelling in my mates 17.5" dob and tbh it was easy to see spiral arms etc i just think that from anywhere with the remotest bit of LP it practically kills it.....

Alan:D