Messier 45 - The Pleiades open cluster and reflection nebulae

This is a combination of all 3 sessions using my 480mm scope. Two different cameras were used; a Canon 60Da and an astro-modified Canon 80D but PixInsight can scale the images and integrate them together.

 

In total 34 x 5 minute sub-exposures, taken over 2 years.

 

Tried some new ways to use noise reduction techniques in PixInsight using low contrast masks with TGVdenoise and Multiscale Median Transform rather than luminosity masks which seemed to work well.

 

I will copy and paste my technical card from my last session:

 

480/80mm f/6 Altair Starwave refractor

Astro-modified Canon 80D at ISO400, IDAS LPS D1 filter, 21 x 5 minute subs.

NEQ6 pro mount with Rowan belt drives.

Mini-PC with WiFi

Mount WiFi control with ASCOM/AstroPhotography Tool

Camera WiFi control with Backyard EOS

 

30 dark frames

40 flat frames (electroluminescent panel @ 1/40s)

31 bias frames

 

Post processed in PixInsight 1.8 and Photoshop

 

Local parameters:

Temp: 3.7 - 3.9c

Humidity: 74- 79%

Pressure: 998.5 kPa

 

Camera Sensor Temp: 12-17c

 

Light Pollution and Weather:

SQM (L) at start of session (2305 hrs UT) =20.14 mag/arcsec2.

SQM (L) at end of session (0130 hrs UT) = 20.2 mag/arcsec2.

 

Clear, moderately windy at end.

 

Polar Alignment:

QHY Polemaster alignment -

Error measured by PHD2=0.1 arc minute.

RA drift + 1.93 arcsec/min

Dec drift -0.02 arcsec/min

 

Guiding:

PHD2 guiding with ZWO ASI290mm/Altair Starwave 206/50mm guider. Dithered.

RA RMS error 0.76 arcsec, peak error -2.73 arcsec

Dec RMS error 0.63 arcsec, peak error 2.94 arcsec

 

Astrometry:

Center (RA): 03h 46m 19.894s

Center (Dec): +23° 58' 37.974"

Size: 70.4 x 55.9 arcmin

Pixel scale: 1.59 arcsec/pixel

Done