M81 Bodes Galaxy

I've been playing with the 'new' Canon XT. I'm starting to get the hang of processing now. I tried some 5 minute exposures the other night and got 7 of them to come out pretty good. (out of 12 taken). These were processed using bias and bad pixel mapping. Since I'm still working on getting my flats taken I just used a "false flat" layer in PS elements and subtracted it so I could remove the vignetting that I have using the DSLR. Anyway I'm pretty happy with the results.

Super Nova SN1120b

I thought I would give this a try as it's not going to be visible for much longer.

14 each 120 second images at ISO800.

1st attempt at Rosette Nebula

Here's my 1st attempt at 4 minute exposures with a Canon 350d (un-mod). 16 images stacked ISO200.

Orion Nebula

Well here's my 1st serious attempt with the DSLR. This is 20 each 10 second ISO 200 images that have been stretched about as much as I can to pull the data in and yet keep the contrast minimal. I also took some 30 second images but I like the results of these better. I now know just how bad I need the long exposure control. I ordered the parts today and should have it put together this weekend.

DSLR 1st light

Keeping in mind this is a first attempt and I was trying for a very dim object that is hard to capture with an un-modified DSLR.

If you look very closely in the upper middle of this photo you can just make out the horse head nebula. This is 15 each 30 second images so it was probably not the best first light object.

DSLR imaging is gonna be fun!

This years Crab Nebula (M1)

I had about 1/2 moon tonight and it was very close to M1 so it cast some "tube shadows" in the image. Tonight was more for doing some testing and getting set up for my new (used) DSLR camera. Should be here next week and if the sky's hold I will be ready to really do some new work.

 In the mean time here's the Crab: 37 images 30 second long stacked.

The Horsehead Nebula

I was playing with setting up the periodic error files on the telescope mount last night and just for the heck if it I pointed the scope towards the horsehead nebula in Orion. I have read this is a very hard object to image as it is basically a "backlit" nebula from a nearby star. Since I couldn't see any sign of the nebula in a 1 minute preview I just took a chance and shot 15 each 1 minute images. Imagine my surprise when I started to process the stacked image! There it was, just as I would have framed it in the photo! I'm hoping to try to get more data to add to it. But all things considered I'm really happy with what I got!

From Wikipedia:

The Horsehead Nebula (also known as Barnard 33 in bright nebula IC 434) is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion. The nebula is located just to the south of the star Alnitak, which is furthest east on Orion's Belt, and is part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. The Horsehead Nebula is approximately 1500 light years from Earth. It is one of the most identifiable nebulae because of the shape of its swirling cloud of dark dust and gases, which is similar to that of a horse's head when viewed from Earth. The shape was first noticed in 1888 by Williamina Fleming on photographic plate B2312 taken at the Harvard College Observatory.
The red glow originates from hydrogen gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. The darkness of the Horsehead is caused mostly by thick dust, although the lower part of the Horsehead's neck casts a shadow to the left. Streams of gas leaving the nebula are funneled by a strong magnetic field. Bright spots in the Horsehead Nebula's base are young stars just in the process of forming.