Processed M104 (Sombrero Galaxy)

Dave,
thats a much more natural image. Maybe a longer exposure would bring out a sharper image?

Seanie - for example, take a look at *this* blackeye galaxy - taken with the DSI. Compare it to mine and you can see I've a long way to go. But the DSI can do it with the right navigator
jemar.ldmi.net/astro/M64.htm

Wow! I take back what I said about the camera so!

Dave Lillis mentioned about increasing the exposure time on your shots Dave McD - would this not swamp some of the frames a little? Perhaps, and an idea, take multiple-second exposures and allign e.g. 2 X 15 seconds, 2 X 5 seconds, 2 X 30 seconds etc and stack etc.? Would that not help with noise AND saturation at the same time guys?

If the Toffees can get into hte Champion's League (yippee!), then I guess a promotion to the Prem is cool!

I'm still finding my feet with the mount. I'm just back in after a 90 minute polar alignment :shock: and guess what, I centered vega and it didn't move a fraction in 200 seconds! So, perhaps tonight is the night for real long exposures.

Keith - you're right about the M64 - some of these guys have better kit than me. I've started off with the mount and the camera is next. Then hopefully I'll be able to afford the 6" Starfire when my name comes up

Only one thing on my mind though, photometry is my ultimate goal and I 'heard' that refractors may not be the best for that... Anyone know?


Dave L and Seanie - exposure length is king. The longer the better. Hopefully tonight... a one minute exposure *is* better than 10 by 6 seconds, so where you have a choice, the longer single exposure is best, especially for deep sky. I've seen images posted where they are taking 2 hour or more single exposures :shock: But then the Hubble ultra deep field was 10 days or thereabouts wasn't it? :shock: :shock:

I'll keep going and hopefully be able to show you something really good tomorrow... Watch this space!

Cheers

Dave (Moyes is King) McD

I've seen images posted where they are taking 2 hour or more single exposures :shock: But then the Hubble ultra deep field was 10 days or thereabouts wasn't it? :shock: :shock:

The UltraDeepField picture Hubble took a little over a year ago was 28 DAY EXPOSURE!!!

:shock:

The UltraDeepField picture Hubble took a little over a year ago was 28 DAY EXPOSURE!!!

:shock:

:shock: What did it do when the sun came up? :lol: :lol: :lol: