Jeff, If you go to http://www.azstarman.net At the bottom you can right click on any of the M31_00x.fits files and see my RAW Monochrome images if you have Maxim DL or Nebulosity. Unbelievable amount of noise or graininess. I can see the galaxy, but if you look at M31_processed.fits you will see the result of stacking and color converting the ten images. I am hoping it is just that there is too much light pollution to get good DSO photos, but I suspect there is probably camera and/or telescope setup issues. If you have the time to download one of the images and let me know what you think, I would appreciate it. You can use a DSLR with Hyperstar if you have at least a 10 inch scope. Mine is 11 inches and the DSLR only extends maybe an inch or so past the secondary mirror blockage. If you go to the Starizona WEB site there is a link to images a guy by the name of Rich something took of the Messier objects with a DSLR. Thanks for any help you can give. Bernard -----Original Message----- From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jeff Hopkins Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2009 7:17 PM To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: New to astrophotography. Need help! Hi Bernard, Don't feel discouraged. Like anything worhtwhile there is a learning curve. What you might try as a start is just piggybacking hte Camera to the telescope and using the longest lens for the camera you have. The telescope can provide the tracking and then the Camera the imaging. The hyperstar adds some complexity to the system. Once you have taken some images that way, then advance to using the telescope as the main objective for the camera. BTW, I have has some experience with the hyperstar system, but did not know you could use a DSLR CCD camera with it. I thought you needed as dedicated astro camera. Because the camera in in front of the telescope with hyperstar that is a fairly large obstruction. What do you see as the evidence of problems? What are you trying to image? Be aware objects like M31 and M42 are very bright and you can over expose easily. M13 is a good deep sky object. The Moon and planets will be too bright for your system unless you take some measure to reduce the brightness. Do not worry about darks, flat field or bias until you get further along. DSLR cameras do a good job of imaging with minimal effort on your part. Until you have more experience most anything else youdo you are just most likely going tomake the image worse. Everyone goes through that stage. Tell me more and I will try to help. Jeff On Oct 18, 2009, at 6:30 PM, Bernard Miller wrote: > Hi, > I finally took the plunge and am trying to get started with > Astrophotography. My equipment is > Telescope: Celestron CPC-1100 on Fork Mount with Hyperstar Lens and > Microtouch AutoFocuser Camera: Canon EOS Rebel XS (1000D) Software: > Maxim DL Version 5, Nebulosity > I have taken a few pictures but so far the results aren't very > impressive. I > can't figure out if this is due to > 1. Too much light pollution (I have taken my first few shots > from my house in Gilbert) > 2. Poor Telescope or Camera Setup > 3. Poor Image Processing > 4. All of the above > If anyone has advise on or knows of good WEB sites for > 1. Proper settings for my camera > 2. Focusing tips in Maxim and/or Nebulosity > 3. Image Capture Tips > 4. Image Processing Tips > 5. Dark, Flat, and Bias capture tips > I would greatly appreciate it. If any kind and brave soul would be > willing > to spend a night helping me setup, capture , and process a few > images that > would be even better. I can bring my equipment to a dark site, your > house, > or you could come to my house. If anyone is willing to go this far > to help, > you can contact me offline at bgmiller011@xxxxxxxx > > Thanks, > Bernard Hopkins Phoenix Observatory Phoenix, Arizona Counting Photons www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list. -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.