Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 9946
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
|
|
I want to try something... I want to try a thread where everyone tries their hand at imaging the same object and posting our results, along with some details as to how we accomplished it. These won't be difficult, primarily eary Messier objects.
This will give us an opportunity to compare capabiliities of some low-end imagers, and also to share useful processing tips.
Comments welcome!
Since we already seem to have a number of M42 pics, let's start with that. Post your M42 pics and details here!
--------------------
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ w/ Autostar
15x70 Celestron SkyMasters
Orion 90mm Mak
|
Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 9946
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
|
|
Here's my only real attempt at M42, I'm sure I could do a bit better now:
This is shot with a SC1 modified QuickCam 4000 Pro using an 8" f/4.9 scope. Since the FOV is so narrow I had to make this as a mosaic of four seperate images.
Each quadrant image was created from a separate AVI captured with K3CCDTools, and stacked in Registax 2.
I stitched the images together using Photoshop CS, but PS Elements or some other imaging software could due the same. The final result was level adjusted in Photoshop and reduced to 640x480.
--------------------
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ w/ Autostar
15x70 Celestron SkyMasters
Orion 90mm Mak
|
WFieldPhotoGuy
super member
Reged: 09/05/04
Posts: 127
Loc: Texas, USA
|
|
Question? This section of CN is titled "Beginning Imaging." and that describes me, but I'm not using digital. I'm still in the dark ages of film. Could I also post here? I think I could learn quite a bit from everyone.
--------------------
Home Made Barn Door Mount
Apogee HD Mount (CG5 Clone)
Apogee 80mm AT
|
Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 9946
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
|
|
Feel free to post here, but I think you'll get a lot more help with film specific questions in that forum.
--------------------
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ w/ Autostar
15x70 Celestron SkyMasters
Orion 90mm Mak
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
This is my 1st dso attempt with a dsi,M42 sorry but I dont remember too many details,exposure 2 sec. 20 frames,IR filter F/6.3.
I have been trying to get saturn every nite since then and have learned alot,(planets seem much harder w/DSI)Ill post a better M42 as soon as I get a chance(we have rain coming tomorrow nite)
BTW,sorry for such a crummy image it really is my 1st try.
Bill
Edited by Sprintcar Driver (02/10/05 02:24 AM)
|
WFieldPhotoGuy
super member
Reged: 09/05/04
Posts: 127
Loc: Texas, USA
|
|
Thanks. Looks like constant cloud cover until at least sometime next week, so nothing to show for a while anyway.
--------------------
Home Made Barn Door Mount
Apogee HD Mount (CG5 Clone)
Apogee 80mm AT
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Constant Cloiud Cover??you guys arent in the Uk are you?? we got some of the longest, darkest, moon free nights of the year, and what do we get ?? sunny days and 8/8 CLOUDY NIGHTS all night, every night !!!.. I try not to be peeved, but its nice to know we are not suffering alone...
|
ELR2
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/11/04
Posts: 594
Loc: Greenbrier Co. WV.
|
|
2nd real attempt at this object. Tips from posting the 1st attempt improved the 2nd. Exposure Info is on the pic 
Ed
--------------------
8" Orion Skyview Pro
Orion ED80 & ST80
LXD-55 Head on SVP Tripod
DSI
Rebel(IR-Removed)
|
Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 9946
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
|
|
Really nice, Ed. Have you tried M42 with the DSI yet?
--------------------
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ w/ Autostar
15x70 Celestron SkyMasters
Orion 90mm Mak
|
ELR2
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/11/04
Posts: 594
Loc: Greenbrier Co. WV.
|
|
Quote:
Really nice, Ed. Have you tried M42 with the DSI yet?
Thanks and yes.
I've tested it out a bit on this region (flame, horsehead, running man, M-43,43). I was surprised that I could see NGC1973,5,7 with just an 8 second exposure. 30 seconds showed blue nebulosity instead of grays. The Trap in M-42 was resolved very nicely at about 1/8 second or so. I've been exploring possibilites of doing mosaics using the DSI but haven't quite figured out how to get the exposures balanced out and get rid of all the ampglow which would be a dead giveaway. Do you have any suggestions for technique or programs that will help with this exposure balancing act?
Ed
--------------------
8" Orion Skyview Pro
Orion ED80 & ST80
LXD-55 Head on SVP Tripod
DSI
Rebel(IR-Removed)
|
Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 9946
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
|
|
I've been getting better at mosaics, I think the one I posted above is fairly seamless. It's difficult because each layer seems to be slightly off the previous one for color balance as the camera warms up.
Photoshop is nice for this, I usually do the following:
- create a big canvas and paste in each separate image as a new layer.
- choose the best layers to overlap the others - this can help cover up corner amp glow if you have enough overlap.
- Align the layers by setting the upper layer to 50% transparency and lining up a star or some other feature with the layer below it.
- I do some rough level adjustments (setting black and white point) for all images so that the histograms balance out. It's best to do any curves adjusments at this point too.
- Use the lasso tool with a 20px or so feather to select the edge of a layer where it varies from it's bordering layer, and use the level tool to adjust it till it blends. Sometimes two or three lasso selections per edge are necessary for each color. I edit each channel (RGB) separately for this.
- when layer edges are no longer apparant, flatten all layers and do any additional processing such as noise reduction or final color adjustments.
--------------------
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ w/ Autostar
15x70 Celestron SkyMasters
Orion 90mm Mak
|
Chris Graham
mmmm...Haggis
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 4869
Loc: Stirling, Scotland
|
|
Here was my first ever shot of the Orion Nebula with my Canon A60.
The image is pretty bad and was only a single shot. No star colour aswell.
When i get my motor for my scope i'll try more.
--------------------
-Skywatcher 8" Reflector on HEQ5 with Skyscan
-Orion ED80 Refractor
-70mm Guidescope/grab and go scope
-Canon EOS 350D
-Toucam Pro 2
Astronomy & Veggies
|
Uncle Burnout
super member
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 105
Loc: California (Bay Area)
|
|
I tried M42 again tonight with/DSI and ST80 (with .56 focal reducer & skyglow filter). Nothing to write home about, but I got some practice before the clouds rolled back in. Focus may be a little soft, again.
averaged stack (levels equalized) of:
25x15s
20x30s
15x42s
10x60s
5x85s
Tweeked in the Gimp ( mild unsharp, curves, levels).
|
Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 9946
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
|
|
That's a really nice field of view you're getting with the focal reducer.
For focusing you might try a Hartmann mask or create diffraction spikes using string across the objective - when the spikes converge, you are focused.
--------------------
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ w/ Autostar
15x70 Celestron SkyMasters
Orion 90mm Mak
|
Uncle Burnout
super member
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 105
Loc: California (Bay Area)
|
|
Greg,
Focal reducer is a must for M42 and DSI -- mines a finder scope objective in its other life. Given the chip size, a camera lens would be ideal instead of a telescope. Can't wait for M27 and M57, though!
Hartmann mask is on my list of things to do: there was only two hours b/t nightfall and cloud cover, so this shot was a make the best of it situation. Anyway, I just want to see some more DSI shots; there's been much talk elsewhere re: star bloating. I hope its just my focus skills.
Burton
|
LordEd
super member
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 152
Loc: Goring-by-sea / UK
|
|
Heres my attempt at M42.
Its done with an LX90 alt az.
20x22 sec exsposures at f3.3 and a DSI.
Regards
Ed
--------------------
Mead LX90 UHTC,Antares Sentinal 80mm semi Apo,Orion Starshoot,ToUcam pro 2,LPI and DSI
|
Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 9946
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
|
|
Very nice separation of the trapezium!. Try taking some longer exposures to get more nebula details and maybe combining them..
--------------------
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ w/ Autostar
15x70 Celestron SkyMasters
Orion 90mm Mak
|
Charlie Hein
Postmaster
Reged: 11/02/03
Posts: 6534
Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
|
|
Okay, here's my first serious shot at long-ish exposures with my SAC7b. Before now I really only shot solar system stuff! Now I'm feeling a little better about getting my feet wet!
10 frames, 30 seconds each, darks added and stacked, histogram stretched with Registax3. Noise reduction (due to lack of data, definitely need more frames) done with SBGNR in Pixinsight. Reduced to 8-bit/channel, captioned and saved as a web JPEG in PS7.
EDIT: shot through an ED80 on an Atlas mount.
I think the result isn't half bad, considering. However, can someone talk about how to remove those pesky artifacts around the stars?
Charlie
--------------------
Weston CSC:
Edited by Charlie Hein (02/16/05 02:13 PM)
|
Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 9946
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
|
|
Charlie, that's caused by the image processing on the camera. Look for the NON RAW mod to remove the "ears" on the stars. A SAC7b should be seen as a QuickCam 3000/4000, right?
http://www.astrosurf.com/astrobond/ebrawe.htm
--------------------
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ w/ Autostar
15x70 Celestron SkyMasters
Orion 90mm Mak
|
Charlie Hein
Postmaster
Reged: 11/02/03
Posts: 6534
Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
|
|
Quote:
Charlie, that's caused by the image processing on the camera. Look for the NON RAW mod to remove the "ears" on the stars. A SAC7b should be seen as a QuickCam 3000/4000, right?
http://www.astrosurf.com/astrobond/ebrawe.htm
Yeah, I was going to do the mod, but a guy from SAC pointed out that it is possible to wreck your camera doing the mod, and that this kind of damage is not recoverable, and definitely not covered under warranty. So, until I get another DSO capable camera, I'm sorta nervous about the prospect of blowing it up, especially just as I'm really figuring out how to use it for DSO's.
Call me chicken if you feel the need! 
Charlie
PS - what did you think of the shot otherwise?
--------------------
Weston CSC:
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 