1239 replies to this topic

[unixunited]

@Tel
How hard would it be to get a photo like the one from the UK Magazine or your photo of the "Running Man" (By the way it's brilliant) with an 8SE or a 10" Newtonian (equatorial mount)?

Just curious. I'm thinking about trying some astrophotography on some planets for starters, maybe with a webcam on an 8SE.

[Tel]

Hi Unixunited,

Firstly, many thanks for the compliments regarding my image of the "Running Man". They are very much appreciated !

As to your question, I'm not sure in terms of technical difficulty, but to have captured that image, depicted in that UK magazine, I think I would have had to remortgage my house !

No detraction at all from the superb quality of the image itself and the effort that obviously went into producing it, but to put things in perspective, the astrophotographer concerned was using a Takahashi FSQ 106ED Astrograph Telescope; which in US $ looks to cost somewhere in the region of $4395, while his camera is a Starlight Express SXVF-H36 CCD unit.

I couldn't find a US price for this CCD camera and it will be no doubt a lot cheaper in the US rather than here in Europe, BUT its cost here in GB-£ appears to be about £4500 (direct conversion ca.US$6750) ! ! !

By comparison, that image of the "Running Man" was captured with a Canon 350D DSLR using a Nexstar 8i OTA plus 6.3 focal reducer, mounted on a Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro, German equatorial ! Cost ? somewhat unknown but nowhere near the above outlay !

In terms though, of what you yourself might do given the equipment you've described and assuming your equatorial mount is sturdy with a reliable drive, then for deep sky objects, particularly those which occupy a wide field, I would be inclined to use the 10" Newtonian mounted on said equatorial.

Also, given that your EQ mount may, or could be equipped with a Vixen dovetail shoe, you could always use its versatility to interchange your 8SE OTA with the Newt. according to the subject matter you wish to image. You will of course require a suitable camera such as a DSLR, Meade DSI or whatever for the purpose.

You can of course use your standard alt./az. mounted 8SE for some limited DSO imaging, (using either a DSLR or DSI), of the brighter ones where exposure times need only be short, particularly if you use a focal reducer, but for longer exposure times you are always going to run into the problem of field rotation in attempting to image from the alt./az. mount.

Additionally though, the alt./az. mount has no significant influence on webcam imaging of the Moon and planets and in all respects this is probably the best imaging discipline to undertake when initially making in-roads into astrophotography.

Hoping this goes some way to answering your question but if I can help you any further please let me know.

Best regards,
Tel

[flboy]

Hi Tel,

No, it's not that important

But please continue to post your images.

Oh yea, what's the catalog number for running man? This is the 1st I've seen or heard of it.

[Peter9]

Hi John,

It's NGC 1977 in Orion.

Regards. Peter.

[flboy]

Thanks Peter!

[haytor]

Hi all,

Firstly let me thank all those who have put input and opinion into the question about colour intensity in our images, whether vivid or more muted!

Thanks also to Tel, for his pointing out that neither of us are at loggerheads over this issue. Our personal views may differ in some respects, but its all in the interest of understanding what you as individuals think about this question.

For my part, its more a question as to why any of us image at all, is it to be able to see more detail than we can ever see in the eyepiece, in that, we capture, or at least try our very best to capture,that finer detail that shows true structure, whether that be dust lanes or filiments within nebulea and galaxies,or indeed planetary surface features.

My point therefore, is simply that if this is the case, then i often find images, that to my mind are over saturated with colour can over burden that detail, thats why i contend, and would still sacrifice, vivid colour in order to keep that detail.

For those with very large apertures and very expensive CCD `s that are able to gather exceptional detail and are still able to produce vivid colour it works very well, But, for those of us with more moderate equipment, i think in my case i would sacrfice the vivid colour for detail any day!, but thats just me.

Tom.

[Alex Post]

@Tel
How hard would it be to get a photo like the one from the UK Magazine or your photo of the "Running Man" (By the way it's brilliant) with an 8SE or a 10" Newtonian (equatorial mount)?

Just curious. I'm thinking about trying some astrophotography on some
planets for starters, maybe with a webcam on an 8SE.

8se can't be used for imaging!

[FebStars]

Hi Guys,

While we are dicussing color, I' m going to slip in an image I took Wednesday night using the DSI 2 Pro ( mono) through a 180mm lens, on the Nexstar mount.

14 42second exposures. Darks &Flats and processed in Images Plus.



Why is it that sometimes I can get a larger image to get through and other times I have to post these little buggers?

[Arthur Dent]

Probably depends on the direction of the wind Tom

Art

[haytor]

Hi Tom,

hope you dont mind, but i thought there was more to be seen in your Horsehead image, with just a tweak on curves i think this shows more, other than that i have not messed with it, nice image BTW!

Also, nice to see a mono image!



Tom.

[haytor]

One more Tom,

my attempt at adding colour!i`m not saying its a good attempt though !



Tom.

[TonyDralle]

Very interesting discussion about color intensity, image detail, and what it takes to get started in this business. I would be thrilled to have captured any of the images displayed here.

- Tony

[haytor]

Very interesting discussion about color intensity, image detail, and what it takes to get started in this business. I would be thrilled to have captured any of the images displayed here.

- Tony

I agree with you Tony, i too would be very happy to capture images like these, i seem to get very little chance from my location here in the midlands of the UK, Tel, being further south tends to get more clearer nights than i.

The targets shown here such as the Running man and the Horsehead are among my targets this winter if ever my skies improve!

Tom

[flboy]

Tom(FebStars),

Nice image!

How do you take this image via the DSI II Mono via the 180mm lens? I can not picture this set up.

Tom(Haytor),

I like how you adjusted the curves. The Horse Head really stands out.

[Alex Post]

Even a mere thought of me upgrading my imaging rig brought a blizzard to Iowa. It's official: I got an authorization from my CFO to buy an equatorial mount. I am intending on moving my existing rig onto either Atlas EQ-G or CGEM. I will order one today.

I hope you guys don't mind if I keep posting here. It's the same scope and camera after all

[haytor]

I hope you guys don't mind if I keep posting here. It's the same scope and camera after all

Hi Alex,

if anyone is an interloper to the Nexstar forum, then its me, i dont own an Nexstar OTA or ALT/AZ,mount

congrats BTW for your up coming purchase!

Tom.

[FebStars]

Hi Guys,

I love this time difference across the pond. I post an image, then go to bed. You rascals wake up and start messing with my work while I'm asleep.

Very nice work on both the curves AND color. I get lazy at that point between Images Plus and PS ( I only have PS Elements 6 and so no curves), and I should have erased those bad pixel marks as well. But I love what you did. Thanks!
And I encourage you to continue your stealthy endeavors.

Tom

[Peter9]

I hope you guys don't mind if I keep posting here. It's the same scope and camera after all

I'll mind if you don't.

Congrats on the new mount.

Regards. Peter.

[flboy]

Wow Alex,

I only can imagine the quality of images that you'll be posting, considering how well you have done with the Alt/Az mount.

Gotta love those CFO's who are willing to feed this habit

[Arthur Dent]

I second Peter's sentiments Alex

If you were to post in another forum, it would be our loss (and a big one at that).

Stay part of the "family"

Art

[FebStars]

Alex,

I just saw your post. I have the EQ-G mount and I love it. I haven't been using it lately because of my wonderful distraction with the Nexstar, and some practice time tuning my LXD75 for a road trip. the pictures I've been posting have been through either one of my scopes or lenses on the Nexstar, or the C5 or C8 on the LXD75 ( an EQ mount). I feel that's completely legitimate until told otherwise.

But more importantly, as others have mentioned, it would be our loss if you did not at least divide the better portion of your posting time to this Forum. Although I have known you for a relatively short time, I feel you have become a friend. You can see I have a fair number of posts on CN, and have never felt the sense of comraderie that seems unique to this forum. Your absence would be a serious rent in the fabric of our harmony.

Tom

[Alex Post]

We may need to expand the name of this sub-forum Something like "NexStar and its friends".

I decided to go with the EQ-G. When I tried to order I discovered that it was impossible to get them in USA before mid-January. Since I have a paid company Christmas break, I was going to start playing, setting up in the next few weeks. Also, since EQ-G and CGEMs are so similar and CGEMs are in stock in a few places, I just placed an order with the Optcorp for a brand new CGEM. Free shipping, yaay! I also placed an order for the Orion StarShoot AutoGuider, and for the Orion Deluxe Off-Axis Guider.

2011 will be an exciting year!

[ftrobbie]

Tel

Thanks for the capture and the original posting but

Tom

Personal preferences, I'm more with you than Tel's colour rendition because that's the way I see it rather than the way the electronic equipment sees it, no offence Tel, just personal preference.

Alex, please continue to post, you are the main reason, plus a little encouragement and chiding from Tel that I started in AP, although not got very far, different story.

Continue the image captures guys

KR

Rob

[Alex Post]

Indeed, I credit Tel with my sticking around a bit longer and a bit longer, till I can't leave this place. Will keep them coming.

[Skip]

@Tel
How hard would it be to get a photo like the one from the UK Magazine or your photo of the "Running Man" (By the way it's brilliant) with an 8SE or a 10" Newtonian (equatorial mount)?

Just curious. I'm thinking about trying some astrophotography on some
planets for starters, maybe with a webcam on an 8SE.

8se can't be used for imaging!

In fact, that is flippin' hilarious Alex. :rofl5: :rofl2:
This from the guy that blew that myth out of the water. Am I the only one that caught Alex's humor?