Camera Labs

Well, here is my first real attempt at DSO's. By no means perfect but Im pleased with them as a first attempt.

M13 - Great Cluster In Hercules



10 frames with a total exposure time of 11min 30s. Darks were also added.

M31 - Great Nebula In Andromeda



15 frames with a total exposure of 17mins 38s. Darks were also added. Nowhere near enough but its starting to bring out the dust lanes.

M82 - Bodes Nebulae



10 frames with a total exposure of 11min 21s. Darks were also added. This is my favourite.

All shots were done with strong moonlight and shot at ISO800 at prime focus on my SW250P DS with my D200. Subs were limited to 60s due to no guiding and the strong moonlight. Focussing probably isn't spot on but its difficult looking through the viewfinder especially with no live view.

Thank you for looking and comments / critique always welcome as I am keen to improve.

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Lee Diggle
My Astronomy Blog | My Photography Gallery

I like M31. I never got that far, barely making out the core!

In a quick look up, the 250P is around 1200mm focal length? How do you get so little trailing in a minute exposure? And I guess light pollution isn't a problem for you even if the moon was around.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Hey popo, hows it going?

Yes the 250P has a 1200mm focal length. I have it mounted on an EQ6 Pro mount which is the sturdiest you can buy. With good polar alignment I can manage around 3min subs with no visible trailing. After that I will need to autoguide.

The use of a minute exposure was, actually, to counteract light pollution from Bristol. Even so it still was evident and I managed to remove it with the use of a gradient technique in PS and curves.

The M31 did take a lot of tweaking until I was happy with it, I do need a lot more subs though which is the plan when the moon isnt out. Still you can ust about make out some of the dust lanes.

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Lee Diggle
My Astronomy Blog | My Photography Gallery

VERY nice shots, Digz!

Floyd.

When you said "no tracking" I thought you meant no movement at all, as opposed to not guided.

Feels like I haven't used my scope in ages, but now its starting to get dark earlier again I might have to dust it off

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Apologies yeah I meant not being guided not no tracking.

I cant wait until the winter months!

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Lee Diggle
My Astronomy Blog | My Photography Gallery

Very nice first attempts!

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Flickr

Nice!
Could you say the name of the scope? I cant find it on Google
But, I think it's strange that M31 hasnt more detail, it was a long exposure though.

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

Hi Ruben, sure no worries.

The scope is a SKywatcher 250P DS:

Skywatcher 250 P DS

and it is mounted on and EQ6 Pro Mount:

EQ6 PRO

M31 does need more than 17mins of subs to show detail, it didnt help that the moon was directly below it so maybe on a darker night 17mins will yield more detail than I have managed to capture below.

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Lee Diggle
My Astronomy Blog | My Photography Gallery

Here's another DSO from last night:

M57 Ring Nebula:



This time a 2x barlow was added to the scope to give a focal length of 2400mm

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Lee Diggle
My Astronomy Blog | My Photography Gallery

That's nice stuff!
Im starting with something cheaper, and better to handle for a beginner (so far that Im a beginner)
For my birthday I get an Eq3-2 with motors, from my own earned money Im buying a Skywatcher 130PDS, that's one with a 2'' focusser and 1:10 somewhat.
The 350D I bought was too for astrophotography, but before I start with the camera on the scope, Ill use my 2 teles (80-200 F/3,5 and 135mm F/2,8 ) and try to learn it.
Then I could set the camera on the telescope and make pictures.

Im interested in DSO though, if you have any tips for me, let me know!
Untill 2 months ago I set my compactcamera with 30s F/2,8 and ISO1600 on wide angle, and made shots of the Milkyway. Nice though.

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies