NexStar Imaging Showcase
#1201
Posted 15 October 2011 - 01:56 PM
BTW welcome to the Asylum that is the NexStar forum.
Glad to have you aboard.
#1202
Posted 15 October 2011 - 05:25 PM
Thanks for the BIG welcome!
Carl
#1203
Posted 13 December 2011 - 12:03 PM
#1205
Posted 13 December 2011 - 01:23 PM
#1206
Posted 13 December 2011 - 02:05 PM
Thanks for the encouragement. I think there is hope. This is without a GEM. I think tonight I will increase the ISO and cut the exposure time. I think I can set the camera to take multiple exposures automatically. I wish I could focus better in the Canon viewfinder. Have to stand on my head to see...looks great.
#1207
Posted 13 December 2011 - 02:07 PM
As I'm sure you know, increasing the ISO setting to 3200 will increase the amount of noise present in the images - mitigated to some extent by stacking. Even at ISO 800 there will be more noise "Amp Glow" than at lower ISO settings. Perhaps better, if you can, to use a lower ISO - say 100 or 200 and increase the number of images available for stacking.
As regards using the 500d's LCD for focusing, again I'm sure that you know that you can output the image via a USB cable to a laptop and use the supplied Canon EOS disk (can't remember the program name atm) to display on the laptop's screen. The camera's LCD is optimised for daylight use so with dim astronomical objects - unless they are quite bright like the Moon or Jupiter, is pretty useless.
You may find a Bahtinov mask useful for focusing. Focus through the camera viewfinder with the Bahtinov mask in place, the images should be sharper without having to pipe the image to a laptop. The following link takes you to a website where you can print off a template to make your own for a few $$. You could buy one if you prefer for around $20. Here's the link: Bahtinov Mask Template Generator
Hope this helps,
#1209
Posted 14 December 2011 - 12:45 AM
#1210
Posted 14 December 2011 - 06:54 AM
A fine start to your imaging career !
Assuming the "lease time" on your friend's Canon 500D is somewhat open-ended, may I perhaps recommend downloading Stark Labs Nebulosity 2 as supportive software for this Digic 4 camera ?
http://www.stark-lab...nebulosity.html
A trial package is freely available for downloading which will allow you to focus the camera accurately, capture your sub-frames and carry out some basic processing.
The final image will however be degraded since you are of course invited to buy the software, (at ca. $60) but at least the trial version will give you an insight into its capabilities and at least aid your focusing.
I have been using Version 1 of Nebulosity for both my Canon 350D and Meade DSI CCD cameras for about two years now and can highly recommend this Stark Labs product. I have no doubt that Version 2 is equally recommendable.
Can I also say that I agree with Art. I'd certainly be inclined to reduce the ISO setting to perhaps something around 200-400 and take a few more sub-frames.
Additionally, I took the liberty of pushing your image of M15 in Photoshop just to see whether there was more data within it "to be had" and came up with this: I hope it meets with your approval.
Hoping these comments help.
Best regards,
Tel
#1211
Posted 14 December 2011 - 07:46 AM
Really nice re-processed image Tel.
Now, if only I could see it like that visually.
Perhaps when I finally up-grade to a CPC1100
Regards. Peter.
#1212
Posted 14 December 2011 - 08:03 AM
#1213
Posted 15 December 2011 - 11:07 AM
It appears that I can go to ISO 3200, which should cut down the exposure time to 7.5".
Increasing ISO when astro imaging does not change the required exposure time, as the signal-to-noise is fairly independent of ISO (actually, on Canon DSLRs higher ISOs have lower read noise, so you may get a little improvement when using short exposures.)
NigelM
#1214
Posted 16 December 2011 - 10:08 AM
#1215
Posted 16 December 2011 - 11:12 AM
#1216
Posted 16 December 2011 - 12:00 PM
#1217
Posted 16 December 2011 - 12:03 PM
Regards. Peter.
#1220
Posted 16 December 2011 - 01:07 PM
Regards,
Tom
#1222
Posted 16 December 2011 - 01:20 PM
I think you mean M15, not M45
Regards,
Tom
Yup, too fast with the typing this AM.
#1223
Posted 16 December 2011 - 04:38 PM
As set up by Alex Post - images taken using the original SE were to be posted in the "AP Images Taken with Original NexStar" - here.
Images taken with non SE mounts and OTAs were to be posted on the "NexStar AP Graduates Images and Discussions", here.
Or did I miss something? I just hate to see a good plan go astray.
Doug
#1224
Posted 17 December 2011 - 11:16 AM
It appears I must be posting in the wrong place, sorry. Imaged the Ring and Dumbbell for the first time last night. I am using the original 8SE and a Canon 500D. Where should I go for help improving these images. I expect to get a GEM mount but need more research on that.
Cheers
#1225
Posted 17 December 2011 - 11:33 AM