Comments Please

Hi all, I have not posted for some time now. I'm just getting started with a new camera I picked up over the winter. Please al comments are welcome.

OK here is one 5min image of m51 from tonight, Lum only with auto dark, Temp -30c @ 67% guiding with PHD focus by eye next I'll try focus Max, R200, Paracorr, ST-10ME on a G11

Bob

PS: this image is right out of the camera

Attached Image:

M51 is a great target for this kind of single shot. I wish all galaxies were equally cooperative. Looks like you have the potential for a great pic if you start stacking shots like this.

Looks great Robert!
Stacking more of them, and at a large scale, would make a great pic for sure! 8)

Nothing wrong with that! Excellent start;take 15 more and stack, DDP and you'll have a great B&W image!

I heard NEAF/NEAIC was great this year. I would like to get out there one of these years.

Tom

That's great for a single sub.
Stack up some more of those and you will have a great Lum!
A good flat will help too.

Jason

Bob,
Nice one. Like the others say a stack of 16 or so should produce a great image.

I am wondering if you set a low white point though. It seems as though there may be some lost detail in the core areas. If this is not stretched, you may want to consider an additional stack of shorter subs to get more core detail.

That is a great single shot. For stacking, though, I suggest skipping the "autodark" feature and also take a series of darks (again 5 or more) to combine and subtract from each light frame. After that, you will also be able to tell that a good flat frame will help your processing ability too.

Charlie