Telescope Reviews: Oct 09 Beginner DSO Challenge Poll

We are very pleased and proud to present the October 2009 entries in the Beginner DSO Challenge. The poll will close on November 8th at Midnight EDT. The winner will be announced at our earliest opportunity after the poll has closed.

Here are Ocyober's's entries!

Fuzz
My 5th ever attempt at DSO imaging and second attempt at M31.

Scope: Celestron NexStar 8SE
Mount: Standard alt-az
Camera: Canon 40D (prime focus) at ISO1600
Frames: 18 x 30-sec lights, 15 x 30-sec darks
Capture: Nebulosity
Stacking: DSS
Processing: Photoshop CS3

thyrymn
My M31 from Early October '09.

Bitfodder
First light with my APM 80/480 (needs flattener)
Hap Modified 40D
CGE guided PHD
30 four minute lights
20 darks
20 flats
20 bias
Stacked/Processed ImagePro 3.8
Finished in PS CS4
[url=http://www.eyelinemedia.com/Astro/m31big.jpg]Bigger image[\url]

Phil Hosey
Taken 10/18/2009 from my backyard near West Point Lake, GA.
Stellarvue SV102ED with WO FF/FR II (f/5.6)
Canon 450D, self modded.
Autoguided with WO SZ70ED and Orion SSAG, PHD.
10 x 4 minutes stacked in DSS with darks and flats.
Levels and curves adjusted in Photoshop CS4.
Larger image can be found here

Templec
Taken Sept. 28 & 29, 2009 with a self-modified Canon Digital Rebel XT on an Orion 80ED f/7.5 refractor (at f/6 with a William Optics 0.8x FR/FF vII); Orion Atlas EQ-G controlled by EQMOD, Guided with an Orion StarShoot AutoGuider on William Optics ZS66; Astronomik CLS-CCD EOS Clip; 92 x 240sec @ ISO 800; ImagesPlus 3.75, Photoshop CS4, Gradient XTerminator, Noise Ninja, Noel Carboni's Tools
- Craig & Tammy

balou
Taken: 10/16/09
Equipment: Orion Eon 80mm refractor on Orion Sirius EQ-G mount
Exposure is 1 hour 42 seconds
Camera: Unmodded Canon 40d
Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and processed in Photoshop CS3

jmX
Skywatcher Equinox 80 with AstroTech 1.0x flattener
Unmodified Canon 50D
21 x 2 minutes (42 minutes total)
+
Celestron C6N
Unmodified Canon 50D
52x60sec (52min total)

The C6N data is used to help add details to the dust lanes, while the widefield image is used for the majority of the image.

Large version here

Tomal
Scope: Meade Series 5000 80mm ED APO
Mount: CG-5 GT
Camera: Canon 40D
Frames: 31x3min = 1hr 33min. Darks, Flats and Bias used.
Stacking: DSS
Processing: Photoshop CS4

Psyire
Tough Competition! Here's my entry into the fray.

Equinox 80mm F/5 (Televue 0.8 FF/FR)
Canon 450D (Baader Modded)
14x300sec (70 mins), iso 800, 30 Darks
Hutech IDAS LP2 Filter
Piggybacked on Wedge Mounted CPC11
Guided with PHD & SSAG
Stacked in DSS, Processed in Photoshop
Click here for higher resolution

Zad
Celestron Omni XLT 150 Reflector (f/5 750mm)
Celestron CG-4 mount with drives
Unmoded Canon 350D
Manually guided
9x5min exposures taken 9-20-9 in beautiful West Virginia
10 Dark Frames
Processed with nebulosity