Print Page - M44 from Riberac

Title: M44 from Riberac
Post by: MarkS on Apr 11, 2010, 23:29:39

I'm now home from my Easter break in France.

Here is the first image I took whilst down there.
Modified Canon 350D on Tak Epsilon 180ED (F2.8 with 500mm focal length) with 2" Baader IR/UV filter.
36 x 90sec exposures at ISO 800
Stacked, asinh range compression, then scaled by 2/3 in IRIS (to help disguise the elongated stars on the right hand side caused by the CCD misalignment)
Date taken: 5 April 2010

(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/webdisk/takm44_05042010small.jpg)

Non-cropped version is here:
http://www.markshelley.co.uk/webdisk/takm44_05042010.jpg

We had 6 clear nights out of 9 and I did some imaging on 4 of them.

Mark

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: Mike on Apr 12, 2010, 09:47:04

Very nice. But there are those strange rectangular stars again.

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: MarkS on Apr 12, 2010, 10:16:24

I'm not quite sure what you mean Mike.

Do you mean that the bright stars (with the diffraction spikes) look rectangular?

Or something else?

Mark

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Apr 12, 2010, 11:28:57

Quote from: Mike on Apr 12, 2010, 09:47:04
Very nice. But there are those strange rectangular stars again.

They are the thickness of the spiders, you get it on a VC200L as well.

Mark, I really like this picture, fantastic colours, little noise and nice little galaxies as well.....

Chris

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: Mike on Apr 12, 2010, 11:31:54

Quote from: MarkS on Apr 12, 2010, 10:16:24
Do you mean that the bright stars (with the diffraction spikes) look rectangular?

Yes they look rectangular to me. It was the same on your other image.

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: RobertM on Apr 12, 2010, 12:11:16

Have to agree with SD, the colours are really good and it's a lovely image.

Robert

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: MarkS on Apr 12, 2010, 13:05:05

Thanks for the comments and thanks, Chris, for the explanation of the "rectangular" stars - the Tak spider is certainly very substantial.

Mark

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: Mike on Apr 12, 2010, 13:46:54

I might expect a square look, but why rectangular?

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: Mac on Apr 12, 2010, 13:54:08

QuoteI might expect a square look, but why rectangular?

Oval stars? :D

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: Fay on Apr 12, 2010, 14:42:59

I agree, lovely colours & no noise, very nice Mark.

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: mickw on Apr 12, 2010, 19:09:40

Quotestrange rectangular stars

Widescreen monitor settings ?

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: MarkS on Apr 13, 2010, 06:27:24

Quote from: Mac
Oval stars? :D

Yes, the rectangular stars are oval stars with diffraction spikes. My guiding was not as good as it should have been for one reason or another.

I think I'm going to have to invest in a decent guide camera now ...

Mark

Title: Re: M44 from Riberac
Post by: MarkS on Apr 13, 2010, 21:31:20

Quote from: MarkS
I think I'm going to have to invest in a decent guide camera now ...

QHY5 has been dispatched. It's on its way ... ;-)

Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: MarkS on Apr 11, 2010, 23:29:39