Orion Nebula

Comment

Comment by Eric Hughes on November 7, 2012 at 7:57pm

Sweet!! Thanks guys. I gotta find time to play with all this stuff now, :)

Comment by Greg Marshall on November 7, 2012 at 7:36pm

And here's the software I mentioned: http://www.njnoordhoek.com/?p=660

I really recommend this software because visual inspection of the diffraction pattern doesn't get nearly as close to critical focus as this software does.

Comment by Steve Coates on November 7, 2012 at 7:31pm

I agree, you are getting closer! This image is a far cry from your first image. You stars don't look too shabby. As for a mask this is what you are looking for. Nice job in getting started!

Comment by Marc Basti on November 7, 2012 at 5:36pm

Eric, that looks like a nebula!! Sweet. DSS for the stack?-great program. I've been using b-mask for years, they work great, easy to use and relatively cheap. Neb3 has some good focusing aids in it too. Marc

Comment by Eric Hughes on November 7, 2012 at 7:53am

I don't even know what that is so I guess not lol. I'll look into it though.
This was taken just as Orion cleared my roof, so I'm sure there was some thermal distortions that kept me from getting better focus. I wanted to wait a bit longer, but I have class early so I have to get what I can. Also, I was using the live view option from the camera software to focus, but I can usually get pretty tight stars. Or at least tighter than these. But that's the fun, right? Learning all this stuff? :)

Comment by Greg Marshall on November 7, 2012 at 7:05am

Eric, are you using a bahtinov mask for focus? They work great, especially with "bahtinov grabber" software. But be aware that focus will shift as the temperature changes - you need to check focus whenever the temp has changed a couple of degrees C (and why is it that the temperature always seems to go DOWN? ;~) ).

Comment by Eric Hughes on November 7, 2012 at 6:13am

Oh yeah, Orion 80 ED, Canon T3, Orion field flattener. How can I get better at focusing?