I've been making incremental improvements over the past 2 years, but this was my first time imaging the Orion Nebula (M42) with my motor driven
equatorial mount. I did a quick alignment (still trying to figure that out) but was able to get up to about 13 second exposures without star trails. Here is the resulting image:
![orion nebula m42 with canon t5i 300mm orion nebula m42 with canon t5i 300mm](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG6zU21DSzrW-lRyPn6FkqqZRYpTtliMWyO_N4qp6WH5GeutS585PIWRbqO8K2CxGfBpeVhGmE7kv4in5sXfIY6InOdDUaIJcxpzJeIoHjELICMKy7oE1Y4KUkyS_K0PSCExoS1ankZod/s1600/M42+DSS+process+first+then+PS.jpg) |
Canon T5i on EQ1 mount stacked in DSS, 159 subs, 28 darks, 25 bias, 20 flats, ISO 1600, f/5.6, 300mm, 13 sec, total exposure time about 27 minutes |
I did most of my curves in DSS, even though I hear doing curves in Photoshop is a lot better. I just can't get it, but I keep trying. I used Photoshop for a bit of contrast and saturation. I was so pleased with the original color that remained even after stacking in DSS.
![improvement in orion m42 photography improvement in orion m42 photography](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLR4UHo6rnNpnv6XWgv-nAVZelBM342h1FOCOFGkhgrxJjuqeq1zkoRP8jdWmJDbXgUDbrTEhfA0VBxgoZA5yosI1yOlnOSRnRtm5VVnkHCslyGYD2BzSkN6uo7dDkTyBYNHd67wDzmtS/s1600/improvement+in+orion+nebula.JPG) |
It feels amazing to look back on my improvement over the years - I remember being excited about each of these images at one point and now they seem so basic! |
I have a lot to learn in processing, but I did make some major progress using flats at my EQ mount for the first time on Orion. Yes that's right! Flat frames! I found
this article by BudgetAstro to be the most helpful, because I didn't realize the goal of flat frames is to get the histogram in the middle - unlike dark frames where you just slap the lens cap on and use the exact same settings. I tried using flats before but just used the same settings like dark frames and massively over-exposed my flats, which is pretty pointless because then no gradient or vignette remains.
![flat frames flat frames](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zcx7WtlVJB_Xvffk2J0XfOrloHefXRrFIqfx-EpZ3YP1oKVVUQQ0id-wRxSDvmUSK4C9rGbX4PoUIvK9fe8EaAHWnUFttI83LVbAdc4ObuI7zlNDMoVNS0tLl-m6ClGN4k4QCgMiS8dF/s1600/histogram+for+flat+frames.JPG) |
Me taking flat frames in my family room, trying to get the histogram just barely to the left of center. Adjusted exposure time and kept f-number, focus, and ISO the same as my light frames. |
![flat frames flat frames](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnsb5BCbntv3Up20VCKSEEtP2im37FIeAVFq_xescm5JRmSDgrQq1w3le0VHK2jwI6dQeZ-Z0u3Kl9Zkjb8_UQqaCxn2JXV2wyH8CnuL6b5zLSpKWYUSdVJi6RQ5n9D-AkdVXfmxjHw7h/s1600/how+to+take+flat+frames.JPG) |
Tried to get the screen as close to the lens as possible, and moved it around slightly while snapping frames to try to get even lighting |
I had
massive hot spots in the center of my deep sky images last time, and with the flats this time I didn't have that issue with vignettes. Not saying I had a perfectly gradient-free field, but it was way better than a right gray hot spot.
More gray November skies in the forecast, maybe I'll get some more time to practice my Photoshop curves - but either way I'm extremely proud of my big leap forward in M42!
![canon t5i on orion EQ1 canon t5i on orion EQ1](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmA3RqlBpOYoMNJp6-IP3gaBO38Pp7kUPHU2EC-RFMDcNg6acY7adf_CnCGaBn-JiFNNxSWFe_NXR8tKYMywMEWkjs9v58JSyp4xFjAVzc97blAz85FKYibqCADKpXy3JeAoc5yOLgYx6U/s1600/canon+t5i+on+orion+eq+mount.jpg) |
A rather blurry shot of my setup, Canon T5i on Orion EQ-1 mount |
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