This is my first 'successful' long exposure image. It's only been two years since I started imaging :-?. It's 4 minute exposure (I have ten frames and will process them sometime soon), my longest before that was 90 seconds.
I have finally got my guiding sorted using Skywatcher AT80 with Phillips SPC900 unmodded using wxAstroCapture - PHD went wobbly after a couple of minutes every time.
The image was captured using a Minolta Dynax 7D at ISO800 at prime focus with an Orion SkyGlow SCT filter. It is totally unprocessed except for conversion to JPEG and it's 1/3 original size. The camera was set to use a colour temperature of 5500K.
I know the stars aren't round and it's all fuzzy but it gave me a real thrill! I started at 20:30 and started getting images that made me go wow at 02:30 :D.
(http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10050/normal_m45_pf_iso800_59.jpg)
BTW I know its M42 but I started out going for M45 Pleaides and the Minolta capture software has to have the camera turned off before you can change the file capture name so I didn't bother.
Excellent - Well done Dunc & congratulations on your first successful LX image. I look forward to seeing the final stacked image - hopefully there is no stopping you now you have the guiding sorted...
John
Duncan, I can imagine how excited you were!!!
That is really good for a first attempt & a lot better than my images of M42 up to this point.
Fay
Duncan,
Well done! That's a great first guided image. You must be so pleased to get everything working.
Was it done last night? I thought last night was cloudy.
In my opinion M42 is a better subject to choose in any case - it's got so much beautiful colour.
Congratulations.
Mark
Thanks everyone.
It was Saturday night. Lovely and clear, hope we get a few more like it over Christmas and New Year!
I will be in Normandy from tomorrow (work then play) and I'm taking the whole caboodle so hopefully I will get a load of good subs from much darker skies. M42 is great to practice with! I will share the results in the New Year.
That's excellent for a first long exposure. There's quite a bit of nebulous detail lurking in that image. Hope you enjoy your break and we look forward to seeing the fruits of your labour.
Very good indeed for a first time ! Well done.
Quote from: Dunc
It was Saturday night. Lovely and clear, hope we get a few more like it over Christmas and New Year!
Great image Dunc, and a bit of poetry to go with it.
Tony G