2013-01-04 - M42, IC 434, NGC 2024, and Orion's Belt

[gboulton]

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.

[admin]

Love this shot - very well framed!

[gboulton]

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!

[admin]

I really feel like I'm starting to know just enough to be dangerous!

Gotta agree - didn't take you long either!

[gboulton]

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.

[admin]

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.

Gee, thanks Gordon! Now there's a quote for my CV...