AP Images Taken with Original NexStar

Posted 29 June 2013 - 12:16 PM

I'm sorry if this photo does not fit under this topic but since it was taken with my 5i I was hoping to get some additional feed back. The basic set up was 30X 30 sec.plus 20 Darks using Canon T3 I processed them in DSS then adjustments were made in Photo Shop CS2. This is my 1st real attempt at using PS and the photos were taken last summer 2 weeks of steady rain since the 15th has me trying redoing some of last years captures. I know that I missing the full extent of the arms of M031 so this is going to sound real "newbie" have I caught M032 to the lower right and failed to capture the outer arms of M031 or could that be M110 ( I'm feeling it's M032 and a lot of missing M031)
I'm really getting to feel "I have so much to do and so little mind."
Thanks for any help.
Be Well
Grey

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Posted 30 June 2013 - 06:52 AM

Thanks for the kind words Haytor. I dont have PS at this time. But after I get a new laptop, I will be accepting donations to purchase that ungodly priced program.

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Posted 30 June 2013 - 11:57 AM

Hi Grey,

Apologies for the late reply.

Not much to add really except to congratulate you on a piece of fine imaging ! :bow:

I too use P/Shop CS2 and tried a few of the "usuals" to see whether any significant change could be made to enhance, but concluded you'd just created something just about right ! :bow:

Well done !

Incidentally: I think that satellite galaxy is M32. It tends to lie fairly close to M31 and is round in shape. M110 is elliptical in shape, further from the main galaxy and fainter.

Best regards,
Tel

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Posted 30 June 2013 - 04:03 PM

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Posted 01 July 2013 - 03:23 AM

Thanks Grey, very kind of you !

But it sounds as if you're "enjoying" the same weather patterns as we are.

My last time "out" in my observatory was around the middle of June for one night only during a cloud respite, and before that, the end of May and beginning of June for, I think, two nights in row !

Still I suppose we must be getting used to the infrequency of viewing and/or imaging opportunity by now and if not, we soon will be. England has been informed that its Summers are likely to be like this for the next ten years !

Best regards,
Tel

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Posted 01 July 2013 - 11:45 AM

Makes a lot of sense since our weather seems to follow the Gulf Stream towards you. With the climate changes I'm afraid this old man will have to accept the rather cold winter temps it order to have any chance of improving on and enjoying this hobby. I have to build up resistance to temps in the 0 to 32F range. Then it is said as you get older you keep better in the cold, that's why you keep the meat in the refrigerator.
Be Well
Grey

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Posted 13 July 2013 - 12:26 AM

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Posted 13 July 2013 - 01:03 AM

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Posted 13 July 2013 - 01:24 AM

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Posted 13 July 2013 - 07:52 AM

Very nice Saturn Matt ! Your seeing must be better than mine. I went to a dark location in the Catskills over the 4th weekend and tried to get some better images. Unfortunately the increase in latitude and moist air worked against me. Glad to see someone is getting decent seeing.

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Posted 17 July 2013 - 12:55 AM

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Posted 17 July 2013 - 12:55 AM

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Posted 17 July 2013 - 09:03 AM

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Posted 17 July 2013 - 10:39 AM

Posted this in the beginning AP forum but it should probably go here. My first ever shot through a telescope from two nights ago:



Sorry if it seems a little soft but it's a small, compressed jpeg I uploaded to my photo account. The originals are nicer.

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Posted 17 July 2013 - 12:30 PM

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Posted 17 July 2013 - 08:24 PM

Nothing wrong with using Registax for stacking. I just prefer AS!2.

The color problem can/should be able to be fixed by doing the RGB Align in Registax after you sharpen as I explained.
When using FireCapture, make sure you turn the histogram on and all channels are around 50%.

Set the Gamma to around 50, and you can have a higher gain (70-100) and like I said, get the Histogram to around 50%.
This should put your exposure setting between 30 and 40 ms.

Once these clouds and rain get outta here, I need to have another go at Saturn. My last image doesn't seems to be focused right, even tho I recollimated with Bob's Knobs. I am almost certain my collimation was spot on, and the colors are there, but I was in a rush as Saturn was about to hide behind some trees.

Please share some images after you try those settings out Tim. Im glad I am able to help.

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Posted 20 July 2013 - 10:01 AM

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Posted 20 July 2013 - 10:02 AM

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Posted 20 July 2013 - 11:29 AM

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Posted 20 July 2013 - 11:33 AM

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Posted 20 July 2013 - 12:17 PM

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Posted 20 July 2013 - 03:45 PM

Those are some great moon shots. I wish the seeing would be better so I could get some shots in myself. The humidity is holding around 80 to 90%.

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Posted 21 July 2013 - 02:38 AM

Lovely images of the Moon nodalpoint.

Sorry for the delay, mistakenly thought all the above images where from the same source.

Thanks for posting.

Regards. Peter.

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Posted 21 July 2013 - 09:33 AM

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Posted 21 July 2013 - 05:11 PM

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