My First DSO's

[Geno]

Here are a few of my first DSO's. A bit crude but I am still getting used to the camera (got this Xmas), polar alignment, collimation and my scope (got September last year) and DSS/Photoshop but we all have to start somewhere.

M1 - Struggled a while to find visually but spotted it one night so got a pic

M31 - Bad trailing but happy to see dust lanes

M42 - Always a favourite for a newbie

M45 - Couldn't get much out of this, more subs needed

M81,M82 - Not good but I love it.

[bigal1]

Great images especially for your first ones well done any chance you could post your settings for these pics ? thanks .

[Geno]

Great images especially for your first ones well done any chance you could post your settings for these pics ? thanks .

M1 was a single exposure

M31, M81 & M45 - I think 3 of 10 60 sec exposures stacked in DSS

M42 - 5 of 20 60 sec exposure stacked in DSS

Other exposures binned because of out of focus or bad star trailing. All stacked with 10 x 60 second darks taken after the lights. All at ISO 800

[yoda]

Hi Geno m42 is looking great congrat's

[prbaxter]

good photos. you really get a feel for your skywatching from your shots. that's what its all about.

[WhiteShiva]

These look great! Amazing first try!

[Aggelos Kechagias]

Well done Geno !!

Go for it

[Geno]

Cheers all.

Just need the clouds to go away for another go

[gazza666]

M1 was a single exposure

M31, M81 & M45 - I think 3 of 10 60 sec exposures stacked in DSS

M42 - 5 of 20 60 sec exposure stacked in DSS

Other exposures binned because of out of focus or bad star trailing. All stacked with 10 x 60 second darks taken after the lights. All at ISO 800

hi

being a total noob what is ment by 10 x 60 darks and how do you do it

[bigal1]

I'm very new to imaging myself but i believe the darks are used to get rid of bad pixels and noise they are normally taken with the scope cover on ( ie dark ) , i'd like to know how Geno got his flats as its something i'm moving onto at the moment .

[Geno]

hi

being a total noob what is ment by 10 x 60 darks and how do you do it

After imaging I took 10, 60 second exposures with the cap on the camera, hence darks.

These need to be done at the same temperature and exposure time as the lights that's why I do them after I have taken my images.

There are also flats and bias frames to be taken but I am very new to this and will try them the next time.

I think the Deep Sky Stacker help pages explain it a lot better than what I have done.

[Geno]

I'm very new to imaging myself but i believe the darks are used to get rid of bad pixels and noise they are normally taken with the scope cover on ( ie dark ) , i'd like to know how Geno got his flats as its something i'm moving onto at the moment .

Flats is something I need to try next time.

The easiest way I have found when looking into it is to illuminate a white t-shirt which is over the end of the scope with a white light. Then take pictures on Auto I think letting the camera decide on settings, but I could be wrong.

[peter shah]

wow you have been very busy....a great start

[Catanonia]

Nice one mate, well on the slippery road of imaging. Hold onto your wallet

Lovely 1st time images, be proud and be prepared to want more and more

[jumpclone]

very nice m8, this is where im hoping to be heading very soon, good job, look forward to seeing how you progress

[sheri_barri]

Gorgeous tour for a 'new' setup! Perhaps a bit of balancing the black sky would allow the object to pop out especially in M42. Look forward to your next image set!