::Satourne::

Drawing of an astronomer behind a telescope

My images

Here are images I shot in chronological order (more recent at the top). Please click on each image to display it in a bigger format.

M27 (Dumbbell Nebula)

M27 using GSO Newtonian and Canon 300D M27 using GSO Newtonian and Canon 300D

Hardware

  • GSO 150/750mm Newtonian with Paracorr coma corrector
  • Orion E80ED mounted side by side for autoguiding
  • Canon 300D unfiltered and unmodified
  • Toucam webcam for autoguiding

Software

  • Acquisition with Audela (freeware and open source)
  • Autoguiding controlled by GuideMaster (freeware)
  • Processing with Iris (freeware)
  • Postprocessing with Photoshop CS (level and curve mainly)

Shooting Procedure

  • 20 5-minute subs with dark frames, bias frames and flat-field frames
  • Stacking using addition method

Comments

First time I have tried this planetary nebula. Red colour is missing a bit because my 300D camera is unmodified. I have always liked the view of this nebula I find fascinating, particularly in the wide field version above.

IC434 (the Horse Head)

IC434 using GSO Newtonian and Canon 300D IC434 using GSO Newtonian and Canon 300D

Hardware

  • GSO 150/750mm Newtonian with Paracorr coma corrector
  • Orion E80ED mounted side by side for autoguiding
  • Canon 300D unfiltered and unmodified
  • Toucam webcam for autoguiding

Software

  • Acquisition with Audela (freeware and open source)
  • Autoguiding controlled by GuideMaster (freeware)
  • Processing with Deep Sky Stacker (top image above) and processing with Iris (bottom image above)
  • Postprocessing with Photoshop CS (level and curve mainly)

Shooting Procedure

  • 54 5-minute subs with dark frames, bias frames and flat-field frames
  • Stacking using sigma-clipping method

Comments

I had tried with 12 10-minute exposures but was not really satisfied. So I re-tried with more exposures of a shorter duration. I would not say I am fuly satisfied with this image but find it more decent than my previous attempt. There is a weird diagonal reflection in the bottom right area and I do not know the cause of it. Also a darker horizontal line in the middle...

NGC1977 (the running man)

NGC1977 using GSO Newtonian and Canon 300D

Hardware

  • GSO 150/750mm Newtonian with Paracorr coma corrector
  • Orion E80ED mounted side by side for autoguiding
  • Canon 300D unfiltered and unmodified
  • Toucam webcam for autoguiding

Software

Shooting Procedure

  • 29 5-minute subs with dark frames, bias frames and flat-field frames
  • Stacking using sigma-clipping method

Comments

Fog started appearing at the beginning of the series unfortunately.

M42

M42 using GSO Newtonian and Canon 300D

Hardware

  • GSO 150/750mm Newtonian with Paracorr coma corrector
  • Orion E80ED mounted side by side for autoguiding
  • Canon 300D unfiltered and unmodified
  • Toucam webcam for autoguiding

Software

Shooting Procedure

  • 14 50-second subs and 22 5-minute subs with dark frames, bias frames and flat-field frames
  • Stacking using sigma-clipping method

Comments

The Moon was rising and fog started appearing towards the middle of the series. The shooting conditions were not perfect but I decided to try processing the images and here is the result. With M42, it is not easy not to overdo the processing and color saturation but I tried to keep values as low as possible while producing something pleasing to my eyes.

M45

M45 using GSO Newtonian and Canon 300D

Hardware

  • GSO 150/750mm Newtonian with Paracorr coma corrector
  • Orion E80ED mounted side by side for autoguiding
  • Canon 300D unfiltered and unmodified
  • Toucam webcam for autoguiding

Software

Shooting Procedure

  • 32 3-minute subs with dark frames, bias frames and flat-field frames
  • Stacking using sigma-clipping method

Comments

First time I have been rather satisfied with an image. At last! I still need to fine tune my telescope but this image is definitely better than my previous ones. Thank you Tonton for your help! I also need to center the target object better in the field of view and be more careful with the color adjustment. I think I will also try to shoot 10-minute exposures of M45 mixed with 3-minute exposures.