My First Glimpse of the Pleiades (M45) Nebula
As a newcomer to the captivating world of astrophotography, I'm thrilled to share my initial attempt at capturing the magnificent M45, also known as the Pleiades star cluster. This celestial jewel, visible to the naked eye, presents a unique challenge and reward for those looking to dive deeper into the night sky.
The Journey Begins: Equipment and Settings
My setup for this adventure included:
- Telescope: TSMPT60 60/360 Doublet apo refractor
- Camera: Stock Canon 550D
- Mount: HEQ5 - Pro synscan goto
For the capture, I opted for the following settings:
- ISO: 1600
- Exposure: 45 seconds per shot, with 125 total exposures.
- Focus: Manual focus
To ensure the best possible data, I captured 15 dark frames. While I skipped flats and bias frames for this initial outing, I recognize their importance for future improvements.
Processing the Cosmic Dust
The captured data was processed using a suite of powerful tools:
- Capture & Stacking: Sharpcap for capturing light and dark frames, followed by DeepSkyStacker (DSS) for stacking.
- Post-Processing: Siril and Gimp were used to bring out the details and color from the stacked image.
Initial Impressions and Future Directions
I'm quite pleased with the end result of this first attempt. The Pleiades cluster shines brightly, and I'm excited to have captured it. However, as a keen observer, I'm also wondering if there's more nebulosity that could be revealed. The feedback I've received suggests that the surrounding dust, a significant part of the Pleiades' beauty, might be more prominent. This is a great learning point!
I'm also advised to explore calibration frames like flats and bias for better image quality. Suggestions for software like NINA for capture and PixInsight for processing are also on my radar. Furthermore, investing in an auto-guider is something I'll definitely consider for more precise tracking and potentially longer exposures.
This is just the beginning of my astrophotography journey, and I'm eager to learn and improve with each celestial target I aim my telescope at. Any further advice on bringing out more of the nebula or improving the overall image is highly appreciated!
