M8 first long exposure DSO.

[Gerald_db]

Many firsts for this new astrophotographer.
First use of NINA. First scope alignment by platesolving. First 5 minute guided exposures.
However no darks etc just 10 x 300 sec iso 800 lights.
Stacked in DSS and curves and stretching in PS. Not great I'm grassroots here. Focus a touch off but bortle 4 skies in my garden and directly overhead here in the southern hemisphere.
Intend to add another 20 lights and 10 darks etc and change to Pixinsight next.

[Bigzmey]

Good start Gerald!

[Juno16]

Nice Lagoon Gerald. Man, isn’t this AP stuff fun!

What capture software are you using?

Is your Canon Astro modded?

Looking forward to your new data.

Thanks,
Jim

[bladekeeper]

Wow! Impressive first DSO image, Gerald!

[STEVE333]

That's an amazing first DSO. And your first DSO includes guiding? You are one impressive dude! I didn't get up the nerve to try guiding for almost two years. Well done Gerald.

[Gerald_db]

Nice Lagoon Gerald. Man, isn’t this AP stuff fun!

What capture software are you using?

Is your Canon Astro modded?

Looking forward to your new data.

Thanks,
Jim

Used N.I.N.A. for full control and capture. It integrates with PHD2 however all other functions including platesolving and sequence control done by it.

https://nighttime-imaging.eu

Quite impressive software.

[Gerald_db]

Is your Canon Astro modded?

Not yet. Sending it away to be done in a week or so.

[Moreflying1]

Nicely done! I'm getting to try Pixinsight myself.

[bobharmony]

Nice detail, great first effort! More time on target and the addition of darks will help too. Looking good!

Bob

[Gerald_db]

Skies looking good here in KZN, SA, for Saturday night will add 20 more lights , darks and bias. Have not got away to make flats yet.

[Astrovetteman]

Be careful Gerald, this Astrophotography stuff will drain your bank account, cause you fits of frustration, change your sleeping patterns, and many other maladies too numerous to mention!! BUT DAMN IT’s FUN!!!! That’s an awesome image....especially since it’s your first DSO!!
Great Job!!
Tom

[pakarinen]

Very nice.

[MariusD69]

Great image! Well done, Gerald!

[dave_galera]

A really good start

[fatboy1271]

Congrats on the firsts!!! Looks great!

[BABOafrica]

That's you're first ??? And you're already clocking 300s light frames ???

Pretty good, to say the least.

BABO

[Gerald_db]

To be fair it's the first image I taken once I'd got to grips with my guiding. Spent a lot of time firstly researching the guiding combination for my 127 triplet with pixel size ratios critical. Then a few nights of fighting with dec backlash - it's a Celestron CGEM, backlash guaranteed - trick for me here is not to polar align too close and guide dec in one direction only. YouTube'd lots re PHD2 and then got to grips with NINA. Now NINA is a revelation. Its plate solving alignment is so easy to be perfectly on target for a noob like me.