Took my first crack at guided longer exposure wide field work with just DLSR and lens last night. Built a test-run platform to mount a tripod ball-head and the guidescope to the CG 5, and headed outside.
Had a few fits and starts, learn a bunch about what I'll want to do differently on the next version of the rig, but as a first result, I'm extremely pleased.
Image was taken at 200mm, f/5
Image links to astrobin technical card, which includes a link to unstretched TIFs and the ST processing log.
Layering of M42's core, and final touchup of levels and curves done in PS6.
2013-01-04 - M42, IC 434, NGC 2024, and Orion's Belt
Re: 2013-01-04 - M42, IC 434, NGC 2024, and Orion's Belt
Love this shot - very well framed!
Ivo Jager
StarTools creator and astronomy enthusiast
StarTools creator and astronomy enthusiast
Re: 2013-01-04 - M42, IC 434, NGC 2024, and Orion's Belt
Thanks, Ivo!
I really must say, this is the most dramatic piece of work I've done with ST to date. If you get a chance to see the unstretched TIF, you'll note that there's almost NO hint that the Horsehead was even captured, and the Flame Nebula is extremely faint and weak.
I thought I MIGHT be able to get a suggestion of them both...to get what I got was an extremely pleasant surprise.
I really feel like I'm starting to know just enough to be dangerous!
I really must say, this is the most dramatic piece of work I've done with ST to date. If you get a chance to see the unstretched TIF, you'll note that there's almost NO hint that the Horsehead was even captured, and the Flame Nebula is extremely faint and weak.
I thought I MIGHT be able to get a suggestion of them both...to get what I got was an extremely pleasant surprise.
I really feel like I'm starting to know just enough to be dangerous!
Re: 2013-01-04 - M42, IC 434, NGC 2024, and Orion's Belt
Gotta agree - didn't take you long either!gboulton wrote: I really feel like I'm starting to know just enough to be dangerous!
Ivo Jager
StarTools creator and astronomy enthusiast
StarTools creator and astronomy enthusiast
Re: 2013-01-04 - M42, IC 434, NGC 2024, and Orion's Belt
Hats off to you, Ivo...you've nailed this software, imo. It's become one of my favorite pieces of software in ANY field, ever.
Re: 2013-01-04 - M42, IC 434, NGC 2024, and Orion's Belt
Gee, thanks Gordon! Now there's a quote for my CV...gboulton wrote:Hats off to you, Ivo...you've nailed this software, imo. It's become one of my favorite pieces of software in ANY field, ever.
Ivo Jager
StarTools creator and astronomy enthusiast
StarTools creator and astronomy enthusiast