M42 - I'm really surprised

[jgs001]

After getting the M36 subs, I turned my attention to Orion and the classic M42 with the intent of getting at least 3 or 4 hours of 5 minute subs... I started with some 30 second subs for the core/trap, reset and went for a bundle of 5 minutes... Within 2 subs, the clouds had moved in, and as you can see, it had got a bit misty too... anyway, I'm truly amazed at how much there is here..

Imaging: Celestron 80ED, Canon 450d, SW LPR, Nebulosity

Guiding: Konus Vista 80s, QHY5v, PHD

Mount: HEQ5

2 x 5 minutes @ ISO800 and 7 x 30 seconds @ ISO800

I have in all honesty probably over cooked it a bit, but it'll get better with a lot more subs and a lot less cloud...

[SaltWater]

Just Beautiful!

[oldfruit]

Just beautiful. Looks great.

[TakMan]

Excellent!

Nice 'n' sharp, nicely processed too with detail showing into the core.

(love the blue glow off those bottom stars too....!)

Damian

[simplybob]

Wow.

[Dave S]

Lovely delicate shades of colour there. Nice and natural.

Dave...

[ncjunk]

Good start! As you say with more subs theres a lot more fine detail to pull out.

Not bad for 2 subs of five mins :-)

[Luke]

Lovely pic, very pretty!

[russ]

wow that's lovely John. Great capture!

[steppenwolf]

Excellent, John - this has turned out nicely.

[Taff]

Hi John' That's a very nice capture of M42 area nice colour there.Mark

[jgs001]

Thanks all...

Damian, the blue glow is from the thin mist/cloud that was moving in when I started...

[RobH]

You look like you've had a great imaging session

As with the Auriga cluster shot, great framing and alkready a very good image. I think you should go for your original plan, and get a good few hours worth of subs.

Although not clipped, the core is very bright, so could maybe be backed off a shade, but not so much that it looks artificial, or loses balance with the bright stars.

I rather like the misty effect on the blue stars.

Cheers

Rob

[jgs001]

Thanks very much Rob... I've got a pile of subs coming in at the moment.. Nearly 2 hours worth... I was out earlier and couldn't get started till gone 11... and have had to go and hair dryer the optics twice... it's a bit dewey out there.

[Coolhandjo]

Great framing!

[swag72]

That's a real nice shot John - Look forward to seeing some more subs added.

[jgs001]

Thanks Paul and Sara

[Pete Presland]

wow thats amazing for just 15 mins of exposures

[jgs001]

thanks BG... I was stunned by it.

[MartinB]

10 mins well spent John. It is wonderful what modern DSLRs are able to achieve

[jgs001]

Thanks Martin

[namreg]

That is excellent framing. I can't get all that in! Nice image John.

[jgs001]

Thanks Doug. The C80ED is a short tube and that makes all the difference, the 200p is a lot longer.

[Dave]

but it'll get better with a lot more subs and a lot less cloud...

Never a truer word was said.

But there's no taking away from it, that is an excellent result.

[jgs001]

Thank you.

I posted up the following nights image, and that had a lot more subs and a lot less cloud ..