My First Attempt at Photographing the Pleiades (M45)
As a newcomer to the captivating world of astrophotography, I'm thrilled to present my maiden voyage into capturing the iconic Pleiades star cluster, also known as M45.
The Challenge: Capturing the Seven Sisters
The Pleiades, a beautiful open star cluster located in the constellation Taurus, is a popular target for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers alike. Its ethereal blue glow and the surrounding dusty nebula make for a truly breathtaking sight.
My Setup for the Cosmos
To bring M45 into focus, I utilized the following equipment:
- Telescope: TSMPT60 60/360 Doublet apo refractor
- Camera: Stock Canon 550D
- Mount: HEQ5 - Pro synscan goto
Imaging Parameters
Here are the settings I employed for this capture:
- ISO: 1600
- Exposure: 45 seconds per subframe, 125 subframes total
- Focus: Manual focus
For calibration frames, I captured 15 dark frames. I did not use flats or bias frames for this initial attempt.
The Workflow: From Capture to Polish
The post-processing pipeline involved:
- Capturing: Sharpcap (for both light frames and dark frames)
- Stacking: DeepSkyStacker (DSS)
- Post-Processing: Siril and Gimp
The Result
I'm quite pleased with the outcome of my first Pleiades image, especially considering it's an early step in my astrophotography journey. I'm curious, however, if there should have been more of the surrounding nebula visible. Any feedback on how to achieve that, or general advice for improving my shots, would be greatly appreciated!
Let's capture the cosmos together!
