Messier 42 - Orion Nebula Update

I was able to get out again last week to again target the Orion Nebula.  My previous image had just 1 hour 24 minutes of total exposure time.  The one above included that with a second night of imaging for a total of 2 hours 30 minutes.  The net difference was being able to bring out a lot more detail.  

Photo Details

January 21 & 24, 2020

AstroTech 65Q on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Skyglow filter

50 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 2 hours 30 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

Messier 42 - Orion Nebula

The best winter sight, by far, is the Orion Nebula (Messier 42).  I've photographed this one a few times previously, but this was my first attempt with my wide-field telescope.  While it would have been nice to have more time on it, it turned out fairly well.  I shot 40 frames at 3 minutes per frame, but it must have been a busy night up there because 10 of the frames had airplane or satellite tracks through them and had to be discarded.  The net time was 1 hour 24 minutes.  I'd love to come back when the weather clears to try and double the total exposure.

Photo Details

January 21, 2020

AstroTech 65Q on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Skyglow filter

28 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 1 hours 24 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

Moon 2020

First astrophotos of the year were, of course, the moon!  I really need to make an effort to shoot from some different locations.  My sky availability at home basically gives me right around the first quarter to full moon which is great, but I miss out on a lot of interesting features that are only captured during earlier phases.  Until I make that effort, these will have to do!

Photo Details

January 8, 2020

AstroTech 65Q on VX Mount

NexImage10 Camera

Image Acquisition iCap2.4

Y800 Codec
Image Stacking in AutoStakkert
Wavelet Filtering in Registax
Final Adjustments in Photoshop