Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Taurus (Tau)  ·  Contains:  Maia nebula  ·  Merope nebula  ·  NGC 1432  ·  NGC 1435  ·  The star 18Tau  ·  The star Atlas (27Tau)  ·  The star Celaeno (16Tau)  ·  The star Electra (17Tau)  ·  The star Merope (23Tau)  ·  The star Pleione (28Tau)  ·  The star Sterope I (21Tau)  ·  The star Taygeta (19Tau)  ·  The star ηTau
M45 totally processed using the DSLR-LLRGB method, ctron
M45 totally processed using the DSLR-LLRGB method
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M45 totally processed using the DSLR-LLRGB method

M45 totally processed using the DSLR-LLRGB method, ctron
M45 totally processed using the DSLR-LLRGB method
Powered byPixInsight

M45 totally processed using the DSLR-LLRGB method

Equipment

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Acquisition details

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Description

M45 is one of my first DSO images for 2014. I have produced two variations of this, but I have settled on the other one as the final image.

It was acquired using a Pentax KX with a Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135 mm lens @ f/4.5. ISO 800 and 10 exposures of 4 minutes each, and 20 exposures of 120 seconds each, stacked in Deep Sky Stacker, with final processing in Photoshop. I used this DSO as one of the test objects for testing out a Ioptron Skytracker I recently acquired. The Skytracker was mounted on a heavy duty tripod. The Skytracker's polar alignment scope is a real winner and made set up easy. However, sadly, the Skytracker's periodic error increased over several nights so only during its first night of use was I able to get 4 min subs (that's why there's 2 minute subs for night 2). The unit was returned but I am currently evaluating another.

For processing, I used only the DSLR-LLRGB method here. Although the method seemed to bring out more gas, I felt it left the image too soft to be finalized. I think I really need more subs if I expect to bring out more gas and sharper stars, but the method did offer good practice. All processing was done in Photoshop.

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M45 totally processed using the DSLR-LLRGB method, ctron