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Vespera II First Images

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#1 Brownie2k

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Posted 14 April 2024 - 01:17 PM

Hi Guys,

 

Got my Vespera II a month or so ago, and due to the great weather here in the UK, had a grand total of 2 clear nights since getting it! I've managed to get a few images but i think i've got an issue with my CLS filter. Seems on most, if not all images, i've got a white streak running down them. Without the CLS filter on there, theres no streak but obviously a lot of LP. I've tried cleaning the lens and it's not helped much so i'm guessing it's a defect perhaps? I'll attach the images for opinions.

 

Also, i've attached links to my raw TIFs. I'm extremely new to post processing so i'm just wondering if theres anyone who could give my pictures a quick process to show what kind of data i'm getting. I'm currently in a Bortle 7 area (Well, 6/7 - so i'm not expecting miracles) and just want to know what i could be achieving. I do plan on buying and learning Pixinsight as i understand that whilst it's difficult to learn, it's the best there can be (or so i read).

 

Thanks guys!

 

Links to Tifs:

 

M51 - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...djH2Zw?e=usYQce

M51-2 - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...c_0dtg?e=84nhZS

M81 - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...Hjprtg?e=55nuww

NGC 2281 - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...Y8zVsg?e=kB1cYA

NGC 5466 - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...lrMdyw?e=rSbWtH

 

img-0454-output.jpg

 

img-0270-output.jpg

 

img-0327-output.jpg

 

 



#2 Psion

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Posted 14 April 2024 - 01:54 PM

You're right, you can see the streak there. Is there something on the filter glass? Otherwise, the pictures are pretty nice, and you are right, PixInsight is the best you can have.

Attached Thumbnails

  • M51_CN.jpg
  • M81_CN_1.jpg

Edited by Psion, 14 April 2024 - 02:09 PM.

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#3 Brownie2k

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Posted 14 April 2024 - 02:20 PM

Hi Psion,

I've checked the filter and cleaned it several times, but it just doesn't seem to vanish at all. When I don't use the filter there's no streak, so I'm certain it's the filter causing the issue. I've emailed the company I bought from and included images so hopefully they'll get back to me.

Yep I'm experimenting with a free license on pixinsight but it's so confusing. Just time and patience I think.

I must say, your M81 is absolutely gorgeous! What Bortle is that from?

#4 Psion

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Posted 14 April 2024 - 04:29 PM

This is your M81 image that I downloaded and processed in PixInsight.

 

It's really strange with the filter. Apparently, the filter layer is damaged, i.e. it's not visible to the naked eye; I would send it in for a complaint.


Edited by Psion, 14 April 2024 - 04:31 PM.


#5 Brownie2k

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Posted 15 April 2024 - 04:03 AM

That's amazing! I didn't realise there was so much data that could be gotten out of that Tiff. I'm watching some YT tutorials on pixinsight, and I've seen stuff like blurxterminator and the sorts, is it worth investing in them also?

Yeah I've emailed to see if I can get an exchange, but going through some posts on here, I've read that light pollution filter shouldn't be used when imaging clusters and galaxies, so I'll try without it next time.

Thank you so much for processing that image and showing what can be achieved!
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#6 Psion

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Posted 15 April 2024 - 05:41 AM

It is definitely worth investing in XTerminator technology, i.e. StarXTerminator, BlurXTerminator and NoiseXTerminator. I still use GraXpert with success to remove gradients from the image.



#7 Brownie2k

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Posted 15 April 2024 - 07:43 AM

I'll look into the XTerminator technology and look to buy it when my pixinsight free trial runs out along with PI too.

The company agree with you about there being an issue invisible to the naked eye on the filter, and have sent out a replacement. I'm sending the faulty one back Wednesday, so hopefully the white line issue will be sorted.

#8 Brownie2k

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Posted 16 April 2024 - 05:40 PM

So i tried the mosaic mode tonight, and it appears that i had a lovely invasion of clouds that i had no idea were approaching, as when i started imaging, it was crystal clear! Is there anything i can do to this image to crop M51, which looks like it was relatively untouched by the clouds and process it somewhat? To be honest, is there anything at all salvagable from this file?

 

This was take with no CLS filter too, so no white line issue, which is lovely to see! Surprising too was that even though i had clouds approaching, the Vespera II seemed to still be able to image, as is evident by this image of M38, which was somewhat cloud affected too!

 

M51 Tiff - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...b9wMug?e=2ue8pn

 

I've got some time off work/uni soon, so i'm going to take some time to learn about Pixinsight and processing in general. I've tried Siril too, but i just don't seem to get good results from it

Attached Thumbnails

  • img-0269-output (1).jpg
  • img-0058-output (1).jpg


#9 Psion

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Posted 17 April 2024 - 01:16 AM

I did a quick image processing in PixInsight and increased the resolution to double. For small objects, it's a good idea to set CovalENS to the smallest field of view possible.

Attached Thumbnails

  • M51_CN_enhanced.jpg

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#10 Brownie2k

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Posted 17 April 2024 - 05:05 AM

Psion that looks amazing! 

 

Do you have any tutorials that you recommend? I've got a playlist i'm creating on YouTube that shows how to process etc, but if you could give any hints/tips/tutorials that you recommend that would be great!

 

Next time we have a clear night, i'm going to try some more clusters etc. For globulars/small galaxies/nebulas, would you recommend just a straight observe or is mosaic always the best choice but a very small FOV?


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#11 AGrayson

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Posted 17 April 2024 - 05:16 AM

Psion that looks amazing!

Do you have any tutorials that you recommend? I've got a playlist i'm creating on YouTube that shows how to process etc, but if you could give any hints/tips/tutorials that you recommend that would be great!

Next time we have a clear night, i'm going to try some more clusters etc. For globulars/small galaxies/nebulas, would you recommend just a straight observe or is mosaic always the best choice but a very small FOV?

I'm not great with PI, but Peter Zelinka's tutorials on YouTube are fantastic, he is amazing at slowly explaining everything.

Edited by AGrayson, 17 April 2024 - 05:17 AM.

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#12 Psion

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Posted 17 April 2024 - 05:28 AM

I agree, this tutorial includes everything including the XTerminators software and the latest version of PixInsight.

 

https://www.youtube....el=PeterZelinka


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#13 Brownie2k

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Posted 17 April 2024 - 06:51 PM

Looks like we're being blessed with some clear skies in the UK lately haha! Took the chance to experiment with mosaic mode tonight, working on M38 in Auriga and M13 too.

 

M38 was around 510x10s subs, so around 1hr 20 mins or so of data, and whilst it's not visible in the resized image, i did get quite a bit of nebulosity around the bottom/top left of the image. I'm quite happy with it, but as it got lower on the horizon, you can definitely see some light pollution creep in! Still not too bad and tiff is provided if anyone fancies a mess around to improve it!

 

M13 was a quick 20 minute exposure (getting late, and i'm in work tomorrow frown.gif ) just to see what type of data i can get, and to be honest even for a quick capture, it's still really good actually! I'm really impressed with the Vespera II, and can't wait for summer to come round to get some of the summer nebulas! I seem to do quite well, even from a bortle 6/7 area!

 

M38 Tiff - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...kGoMlQ?e=EHwrVg

M13 Tiff - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...jpPi0Q?e=iap1Fr

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

  • img-0509-output.jpg
  • img-0124-output.jpg

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#14 Psion

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Posted 18 April 2024 - 12:58 AM

I processed the above M13. The image has a strong gradient, but I removed it very well using GraXpert. The short exposure doesn't show the fainter stars at the edges, but it does show the centre of the globular cluster nicely.

Attached Thumbnails

  • M13_CN.jpg

Edited by Psion, 18 April 2024 - 01:00 AM.

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#15 Brownie2k

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Posted 18 April 2024 - 04:21 AM

Absolutely gorgeous that Psion! I truly can't thank you enough for processing these images for me and showing what can be done! What do you think of my M38 image? Is there much to be taken from that, or is there too much noise due to being lower on the horizon?

I've been watching some of the videos on YouTube and seem to be getting a better idea of what I need to be doing in pixinsight.
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#16 Psion

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Posted 18 April 2024 - 11:04 AM

Here is M38 with part of the Flaming Star Nebula in the lower right corner.

Attached Thumbnails

  • M38_CN.jpg

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#17 Psion

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Posted 18 April 2024 - 11:09 AM

Second version....

Attached Thumbnails

  • M38_CN_1.jpg

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#18 Brownie2k

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Posted 18 April 2024 - 03:49 PM

Psion thats incredible and thank you so so much for processing my images and showing me what can be done!

 

Do you have a donation link or somewhere i can send a small amount too for all your hard work? Perhaps a drink for the weekend? I truly do appreciate it and you've given me huge motivation to learn how to process!


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#19 Psion

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Posted 18 April 2024 - 04:21 PM

You're welcome, I was glad to help for free!



#20 Brownie2k

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Posted 19 April 2024 - 08:59 PM

Really don't know how to thank you for everything Psion! I really do look forward to being able to produce the same style images!

 

So tonight is forecast to be the last clear night for a while frown.gif I decided to try get M35, but it was starting to sink low and unfortunately during imaging, it dropped close to a local house, and totally ruined the image... it is what it is!

 

However, Perseus and Cassiopeia were in clear view, so i decided to go for a favourite target - Double Cluster and i'm quite happy with the results! Just a short 20 minute exposure, or so, but i really like it!

 

I then moved on to my first real nebula attempt... IC1795 - Fish Head Nebula. Never tried for a nebula, as i'm a Bortle 7 area and currently i've got no CLS until next week, so this was a shot in the dark really. However i managed to get 434x10s images, for about 1 hour 12 mins expoure before i called it a night due to getting tired and not wanting to fall asleep with the unpredictable UK weather haha. I can see quite a bit of nebula in the image (however i'm sure resizing would have destroyed that).

 

Tiffs provided for anyone to mess with - there seems to be quite a bit of gradient, but i think i'd get rid of that with more data?

 

Double Cluster - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...e8ZWoA?e=SFXQuB

IC1795 - https://1drv.ms/i/s!...tHTIaw?e=6ZTC31

 

Fingers crossed for more clear skies soon!!

 

Attached Thumbnails

  • img-0119-output.jpg
  • img-0488-output.jpg

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#21 Psion

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Posted 20 April 2024 - 08:38 AM

Nice pictures!

Attached Thumbnails

  • NGC 869-884_1.jpg

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#22 Brownie2k

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Posted 20 April 2024 - 09:45 AM

Thank you!

I think they will be the last ones for now as we're scheduled for a few cloudy nights now.

Was there much to pull out of my Fish Head Nebula? It looked like I caught a lot of nebula for the time I was observing, some really nice reds and oranges it seems!

#23 Psion

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Posted 20 April 2024 - 11:14 AM

As for IC1795, it was really very challenging, the lower part of the nebula was completely lost in the gradient near the horizon. You really need good sky quality for these objects.

Attached Thumbnails

  • IC 1795.jpg


#24 Brownie2k

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Posted 20 April 2024 - 11:54 AM

That's still absolutely amazing Psion! Yeah unfortunately it's quite low to the horizon at this time of year, but come summer, generally, they're dead overhead which is good. Still that looks absolutely amazing and really shows your processing skill! Thank you so much.

I'd love to go to a bortle 1 sky with this scope. I do live 30 or 40 minutes away from a bortle 2, so I might go in the summer to give it a try.
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#25 Brownie2k

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Posted 20 April 2024 - 11:58 AM

One thing I really wish the Vespera had is the ability to resume a capture on a different night and continue with the image. That would be a really handy thing to have. I'd find it difficult to get the exact mosaic alignment correct, and imagine I'd need to save every individual FIT file too


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