An afocal DSO night

[m_j_lyons]

Chasing deep sky objects for afocal photography.

Viewing done via Orion 4.5" starblaster - afocal imaging with cannon G11 using Orion Steadypix afocal mount. Images were done with 2-2.5 second exposures using F/2.6, ISO3200.

Afocal DSO astrophotography leaves much to be desired but it does work. Living under 6-7 level bright skies doesn't help either.

All images have been slightly touched up for crop (to get them under 2mb), color saturation, small contrast change, and a slight sharpening.

Image list:

M41 - faint but visible

M42 (Orion Nebula) - decent color - M43 is also visible

NGC 1975/1977/1981 - M42/43 are at the top right...NGC1981 is at the bottom (almost W shaped)...NGC1977 is the area of the two bright stars in the center (very faint nebulosity visible)...NGC 1975 is between 1977 and 1981, three stars in a diagonal (no nebulosity visible).

Cheers.

[Space Cowboy]

Pretty good for such short exposures! Were these stacked images? Planning to try the same with a 15 sec exposure compact digital camera.

[m_j_lyons]

Pretty good for such short exposures! Were these stacked images? Planning to try the same with a 15 sec exposure compact digital camera.

No stacking - these were just shot with my point/shoot camera (not DSLR) using an afocal mount. Used a 25mm eyepiece.

I'm getting bad star streaking beyond 2.5 - 3 seconds of exposure because I do not have a motorized mount.

[Space Cowboy]

Wow never knew such detail was possible from just 2.5 secs of exposure! I too will be using afocal mount but on my auto Dob. I'm hoping the Alt/Az tracking will hold out for 15 secs lol

Could do with some of those California clear skys!