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Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | >> (show all) Uggbits sage Reged: 04/28/10 Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Uggbits]       #4819389 - 09/21/11 01:08 AM Attachment (71 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here's the M33. I'm not terribly happy with either of these, but they'll have to do for now! Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Uggbits]       #4819510 - 09/21/11 05:56 AM Attachment (67 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Uggs, Strangely enough I too tried for M33 recently (17 Sept), and I'm also not that happy with my image either but then again, the Moon was almost full which didn't help. I was also trying out my new, (just bought) "Hitecastro" guider which proves to be working well. This image represents 12 subs X 3 mins. dark subtracted. No flats. Captured in "Nebulosity" and processed in P/Shop CS2. Equipment: Imaging 'scope Cheap f/5.9 4" Phenix achromat OTA with Baader "Semiapo" filter attached. Camera: Unmodified Canon 350D. Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro GEM "Hitecastro" guided via a Meade DSI. PHD software. Guiding 'scope: Nexstar 8i OTA. f/6.3 FR in place. Both 'scopes are mounted side by side on a Astro Engineering "Gemini" bar. (dual vixen dovetails). Thank you for looking, Any advice for improvement is most welcome. Best regards, Tel Post Extras:       Uggbits sage Reged: 04/28/10 Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Tel]       #4820046 - 09/21/11 12:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Tel, you got really well defined spiral arms. This galaxy is a weird one, because as you can see in my image if you go deep enough there is almost a cloud of stars blurring the arms from below. The moon probably offset that a bit (crazy target with the moon up by the way!). I would say that this target needs a larger field, and lots of time (contrast especially). Really tough. Come to think of it the moon was probably rising for most of my image, so that might be why it doesn't appear that great. I figured even with hyperstar a 14'' would have a higher resolution than this one is showing. Must have been the poor transparency (1/5 on the scale). Oh well. Great shot Tel, cheers! Dan Post Extras:       Skip Starlifter Driver Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas, USA Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Uggbits]       #4820185 - 09/21/11 02:07 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Uggs, M101 - I like your earlier one much better. The arms are more resolved and the colors are better (IMO). Looks like the Hyperstar goes so deep that the really dim star fields in the galaxy sort of mush together. M33 - I like Tel's image best. Once again it looks like the Hyperstar overexposed the dimmer star fields. Although you can clearly see the spiral arms in your M33. Just too much "stuff" in the backgorund. But keep at it. That Hyp might be a bit difficult to master. Once you get it though, I'm sure there will be some stunning images! Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Skip]       #4820289 - 09/21/11 02:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   "Tel, you got really well defined spiral arms." I have it on good authority he has well defined spiral legs as well. They help him stay one step ahead. Regards. Peter. Post Extras:       Arthur Dent Galactic Hitch-Hiker Reged: 10/23/08 Loc: South Yorkshire, UK Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Peter9]       #4820408 - 09/21/11 04:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Peter. I know a man with a wooden leg called Smith. Dunno what the other leg is called though. Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Arthur Dent]       #4823074 - 09/23/11 04:57 AM Attachment (77 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Winter's coming folks ! This sign of it, M45, The Pleiades, is rising ever earlier these evenings ! 12 X 5 minute subs. Dark subtracted: no Flats. Canon 350D / "Cheapo" Phenix 4" f/5.9 achromat. Guided by Meade DSI/Celestron Nexstar 8i @ f/6.3. Scopes side by side,(Vixen tandem bar), on a Skywatcher HEQ5 Mount. Captured in Nebulosity: Processed in Nebulosity and P/Shop CS2. Comment: The nebulosity is nice in my view but some, as yet unexplained, ovalidity in the stars. (Or is it my astigmatism) ? Thank you for looking. Best regards, Tel Edited by Tel (09/23/11 05:14 AM) Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Tel]       #4823112 - 09/23/11 05:40 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes, it will soon be "Long John" season. I never tire of looking at M45. Thats a nice image Tel. Thanks for posting. Regards. Peter. Post Extras:       Skip Starlifter Driver Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas, USA Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Peter9]       #4823511 - 09/23/11 10:59 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Tel, Love the image. Looks like some noise in the DSO or maybe it's color gradient. One thing you might try. You can get 30 days of free usage of Gradient Xterminator if you download it. It might be useful on the image. It also could be that in stretching it to bring out that great nebulosity, you couldn't avoid the noise. Noel Carboni's Astro Actions probably could be put to use to help that situation. Don't know which one (or ones) off the top of my head that might help though. Carboni's actions will cost you some poundage ($22 US). I know his Reduce Stars action will reduce some of the slightly bloated stars. Just some random thoughts. M45 is a great target and you got it very well. Post Extras:       MushroomBill super member Reged: 02/26/09 Loc: Oxfordshire. UK. Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Skip]       #4823807 - 09/23/11 01:59 PM Attachment (67 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Had a tinker with Mr Carboni's tools - hope you don't mind me tinkering with your image Tel (always wanted to say that!) Andy Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: MushroomBill]       #4824652 - 09/24/11 03:29 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Feel absolutely free to "tinker" by all means, Andy ! I'm not at all familiar with the workings of Carboni but it seems to have given the image a softer look which is very pleasing, at least to my eye. I would however prefer to lose the "blueness" of the background stars. Any chance of doing this ? Best regards, Tel Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Skip]       #4824661 - 09/24/11 03:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Hi Tel, Love the image. Looks like some noise in the DSO or maybe it's color gradient. One thing you might try. You can get 30 days of free usage of Gradient Xterminator if you download it. It might be useful on the image. It also could be that in stretching it to bring out that great nebulosity, you couldn't avoid the noise. Noel Carboni's Astro Actions probably could be put to use to help that situation. Don't know which one (or ones) off the top of my head that might help though. Carboni's actions will cost you some poundage ($22 US). I know his Reduce Stars action will reduce some of the slightly bloated stars. Just some random thoughts. M45 is a great target and you got it very well. Hi Skip, Thank you for your kind and helpful comments. I like the idea of downloading that "Gradient Xterminator" as gradients are one of the most unwanted but prevalent features, certainly of my brand of imaging ! Of course there might also be a little noise there as I "upped" the ISO setting in this instance. I normally use a low ISO 400 in order to keep noise to a minimum but in this case increased to ISO 800. I did take five darks though immediately following the session ! Perhaps I should take more trouble to take "Flats" although even these don't appear to have the desired effects of gradient reduction. I'm therefore open to all suggestions ! Apologies all round for the late reply. I've only just got back into the land of the living after being active from 7:00am Thursday through to about 5:00am Friday following the night's imaging ! Best regards, Tel Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Tel]       #4824734 - 09/24/11 06:17 AM Attachment (53 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Another attempt Skip. I haven't done anything about your gradient sighting, (I need to examine the "Gradient Xterminator" yet), but I think I've removed much of the star "blobbing" in the image. There's a mechanism, (feature), within the "Nebulosity" software I'm using for capture and minor degrees of processing which I think is quite effective. It does tend to remove some of the fainter stars but I find the overall effect more than compensates for this. What d'ya think ? Best regards, Tel Post Extras:       Smittty692k4 scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 07/05/11 Loc: East Bernard, TX Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Tel]       #4824810 - 09/24/11 08:15 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   To be honest Tel, I just like looking at The Pleiades. I always can show it to people cause it looks like a blue ? in the sky. HAHA Post Extras:       Arthur Dent Galactic Hitch-Hiker Reged: 10/23/08 Loc: South Yorkshire, UK Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Smittty692k4]       #4825139 - 09/24/11 11:52 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice image of the Pleiades Tel but just one observation. In both the original and the subsequent images, the sky seems to be a little "washed out" ie a shade of grey and not black. Have you tried any processing to reduce the sky to black? How's this? Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Arthur Dent]       #4825301 - 09/24/11 01:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Art, Good effort, but where have you hidden all the lovely nebulosity?. Regards. Peter. Post Extras:       Skip Starlifter Driver Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas, USA Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Tel]       #4825362 - 09/24/11 02:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Tel, I don't know if I mentioned this, but Gradient Xterminator is a Photoshop plug-in. Once it is in PS, you select the Filter menu item, then RC-Astro, then Gradient Xterminator. So if I gave the impression that it is a stand-alone program - my apologies. I believe it will work with CS2 - I have CS4, but there is little difference from CS2 to CS5 for AP applications. OK, just checked and GXT works with all versions of PS from PS 5.5 all the way up to PS CS5, so you are covered. I'm going to send you a PM about this and some other issues. Wait for it! Post Extras:       Tel Postmaster Reged: 03/31/06 Loc: Wallingford England Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Skip]       #4825414 - 09/24/11 03:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks, Skip ! Is it a "freebie" ? (Not that I'm mean, you understand)! Best regards, Tel Post Extras:       Smittty692k4 scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 07/05/11 Loc: East Bernard, TX Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Tel]       #4825669 - 09/24/11 05:49 PM Attachment (54 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well this is my 1st try... dont go too hard on me guys. Post Extras:       Smittty692k4 scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 07/05/11 Loc: East Bernard, TX Re: NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions [Re: Smittty692k4]       #4825671 - 09/24/11 05:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Now that I see it compared to others on here, looks a tad bit reddish... And by a tad, I mean its red. D'oh. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | >> (show all)

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