Horsehead (B33) & Flame (NGC 2024) using 2 cameras

[Dusty]

Here's my latest effort of the Horsehead and Flame nebulae in the Orion belt region.

I wanted to try something a little different this time to maximize my exposure time so I used two cameras, the 20Da and a standard 20D.
This allowed me to image through one while the other was taking darks and then swap them over and do the same again at 5 frame intervals.
I was thus able to take as many dark frames as light frames for each camera in that space of time.

In the end a total of 20 x 9 min subs were combined (3 hours) at ISO 400, 10 from each camera.
Using the two cameras gave a nice colour balance in the end I think.

The scope used was the TOA 130 guided by PHD using an ST80 and Orion Starshoot autoguider on an EM400 mount.
Stacking was done in Deep Sky Stacker and processed in PS CS3.

Medium size image (900K): http://www.astro-image.org/page/ds/hh.htm

Large size image (1.4MB): http://www.astro-image.org/page/ds/hhlarge.htm

Hope you enjoy.

[NovaTJ]

Wow!!! I'm new to all this but have been lurking here for some time listening and observing... that has got to be the most awesome shot I have ever seen!
Congrats on a great shot!

[WGK]

Well done!!!

[Nighthound]

VERY impressive work Dusty. Great detail and the color is excellent.

You're killing me, it's was four months before this past Saturday since I was last out. I gave an instructional/demo to the local nature photo club and managed a few shots afterward. It was great just to be out but not many subs to work with from a short night.

Great work, you're on to something very cool combining the two 20Ds.

[chris.bailey]

Awesome. Flame area is just wow! 9 minute subs give that extra depth that I never feel you get from stacking up shorter ones. You must have decent dark skies to be able to stretch to 9 minutes.

[Dusty]

Wow!!! I'm new to all this but have been lurking here for some time listening and observing... that has got to be the most awesome shot I have ever seen!
Congrats on a great shot!
You're too kind, thank you so much !

Well done!!!
Cheers glad you enjoyed the image.

VERY impressive work Dusty. Great detail and the color is excellent.

You're killing me, it's was four months before this past Saturday since I was last out. I gave an instructional/demo to the local nature photo club and managed a few shots afterward. It was great just to be out but not many subs to work with from a short night.

Great work, you're on to something very cool combining the two 20Ds.

G'day Steve, thanks for your kind words mate.
Glad you liked the image.
I too have been unable to take many images lately, I started to forget the procedure !
Hope you get out there again soon, looking forward to seeing your wonderful work again.

Awesome. Flame area is just wow! 9 minute subs give that extra depth that I never feel you get from stacking up shorter ones. You must have decent dark skies to be able to stretch to 9 minutes.

Hi Chris, thank you, yes I was amazed how the flame area turned out too.
I'm lucky I live in a rural area, even though light pollution is getting noticeable, I can still take longish subs which helps a lot.

:D

[MidnightSun]

:cool::cool::cool:Whoa....I'd say you are on to something there....Fantastic!!!

[poppie guy]

Great photo!

[hammmerhead]

Wow! Was that taken from the Hubble? :lol:

[Rrdstarr]

Wow! Simply Wow!

[dpastern]

That's a fine shot Andrew!

Dave

[Dusty]

Cheers everyone, thanks for your kind words.
I really enjoyed working on this one and am very happy with the result.

:D

[ArcticShooter]

Amazing image. Is there anybody that can beat this?