Sagittarius DSOs: My First Stacked Astrophotography Triumph!
Hello fellow stargazers and pixel-pushers! I'm incredibly excited to share my very first proper astrophotography photo. This image captures several magnificent deep-sky objects within the Sagittarius constellation, and it's a milestone for me as it features calibrated frames and stacking – a process I credit to a very helpful friend!
It's always thrilling to see these faint celestial wonders come to life, and I'm particularly pleased with how M8 (Lagoon Nebula), and M20 (Trifid Nebula), and M24 (Sagittarius Star Cloud) are all visible and distinct in this frame. It's a testament to the power of stacking and careful processing.
The Gear and the Journey
This image was captured using a Canon R5 with the RF24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at its 105mm focal length. I took approximately 300 light frames, each exposed for 2.5 seconds. The stacking and initial processing were handled using Siril, a fantastic open-source astrophotography software.
Here's the result of our collective effort:
What's Next?
This is just the beginning of my astrophotography adventure, and I'm eager to improve. I'm always open to constructive criticism and welcome any tips or ideas for other celestial objects that would be great targets for future shoots. What should I try capturing next?
Share your thoughts in the comments below! I'm excited to learn and grow in this incredible hobby.
