Astrophoto: The Great Orion Nebula by Arturo Montesinos

[pokerfan]

Arturo Montesinos captured this photo of the Great Orion Nebula using 100 30-second exposures shot under computer control with a Nikon D40 camera at the prime focus of a Celestron NexStar 102 SLT 4-inch refractor.



http://www.universetoday.com/89060/astrophoto-the-great-orion-nebula-by-arturo-montesinos

[Permanut]

1. Amazing, unbelievable..

K & R, thanks for posting, Pokerfan!

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Beautiful !! this is where I'm going

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040704.html

[pokerfan]

5. M57

I'll never forget the first time I saw it through a scope. It was like seeing Saturn because it looks so "unnatural." In my ten inch reflector, it looks like this, more or less:

[Canuckistanian]

3. A 4-inch refractor?

That's amazing. Do you know how hard it is to get a shot like this on such a small telescope?

I know, and I've got a 4-inch refractor.

[pokerfan]

4. Yes, I do

We have a bunch of astro-photographers in our local club. It's insane the work they have to put in.

[laconicsax]

6. Aperture doesn't rule when it comes to astroimaging.

Increased aperture only means more detail. You should see some of the images people are getting with 65mm refractors.

Edit: Of course right after I post this, I remember what 10 more inches of aperture and a hell of a lot more focal length can give you...

[Canuckistanian]

9. That's true

But aperture sure makes light-gathering easier and faster.

[laconicsax]

7. Something here doesn't make sense...what's with the diffraction spikes?

:shrug:

[pokerfan]

8. sometimes masks are used as an aid in focusing

http://astronomy.qteaser.com/diffspike.html

Sometimes, they're used for esthetics:

http://www.astronomyforum.net/amateur-astronomy-forum/35998-please-no-more-diffraction-spikes-refractor-sct-shots.html

There are strong opinions on both sides but it's not as silly as CGI lens flares.

[laconicsax]

10. Focusing masks usually produce different spike patterns and are removed before imaging.

It's nearly impossible to achieve good focus with a mask that produces four spikes like that. There's just too much room inside and outside of focus before it splits into 8 spikes.

Could be effects--it just looks off.

(I spent about a month with the http://www.njnoordhoek.com/?m=200907">maskulator software designing a mask for fun.)

[pokerfan]

11. then it must be intentional

I guess some people just like the spikes.