This is mind boggling. I have been out of imaging for over 4 years and just returned, purchasing a ASI224. No planets to see before midnight, so I just was practicing using the camera with Sharp Capture version 2.9 and my Meade LX200 10", getting used to the controls. I have installed an Antares focal reducer to widen the field with the scope and camera. Thought I would try M-51. In the old days (4 years ago) M51 took me hours to image, using RGBL filters on my Meade DSI Pro.
So, because I was just learning the controls and capabilities of Sharp Cap and the 224, I just went to live stacking, not bothering with darks or flats, just to see what kind of image was possible.
Now I know this image is fairly rough but here were the parameters I used.
12.5 minutes total exposure at 8 FPS, Gain 381, Exposure 9.62. Seventy eight frames. This is one hell of an imager!
Next time out Ill capture and stack light and darks, be a bit more careful on black point settings, and amass way more frames to see if I can bring out more detail. Have an IR blocking filter on order.
Here is the result, after just a bit of tweaking in Photoshop.
