OK, yes I am since I’m interested in astrophotography! :-)
But more specifically, am I nuts for even trying to do astrophotography using a
DSLR (unmodified Canon SL1) during the summer in Arizona (Chandler)?
My signal to noise ratio seems to be approaching zero. If I increase the
exposure time to overcome some of the light pollution, my background noise goes
through the roof! If I keep the exposure short, then I have no signal. Here’s
an example of one of my subs from trying to do M13 last month:
http://www.mikemac.com/Astrophotos/M13-20180611-raw.jpg
It’s a 4 minute exposure using my Celestron C6 and Advanced VX. I have 22 subs
and tracking doesn’t look too bad (for me!). But I can’t get DSS to stack any
of them. And given the low SNR, I can understand why. 45-50C is probably
pushing the Canon sensor past its useful range?
An image I took in the fall of 2016 through the camera lens looks a lot better.
Much better SNR. A single frame (60s@f2.8, ISO800):
http://www.mikemac.com/Astrophotos/Pleides_0742_ABE.jpg
So, should I give up on the DSLR during the summer?
Mike McDonald
mikemac@xxxxxxxxxxx
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