February Comparison. Sea Gull Nebula IC2177

PKay (Peter) · #1 03-02-2018, 01:53 PM

Last months target of the Horse Head Nebula ended with a great variety of images.
It's a great way to learn.

For the absolute beginner and the more experienced post your success's or failures in this thread.

Don't forget to add as much capture information as you can remember.
And stories about how you forgot to pack the camera are always good.

After a small amount of research we might need more than a few hours of integration time to pull out any detail.

To find the Seagull look for the brightest star in the sky and go down a bit... and take some chips

Happy hunting!

xelasnave · #2 03-02-2018, 03:06 PM

Good on you Peter for kicking things off.
So where is it do you have a chart you can post as it is beginers after all...can you see it in the finder?
Do you have any recomemdation for fl and camera settings. ..
Do I have a chance going for it in the city...
Alex

PKay (Peter) · #3 03-02-2018, 03:59 PM

See the map from WinStars. Time 16.00

IC2177 is circled. Find Sirius first.

Will be higher after dark.

I have a guided mount and GoTo capability.
Use high gain for locating and centering, then throttle back and use longer exposures.

Without GoTo use the 'it is so many degrees from Sirius method'. The way we all have done it for half a lifetime. Always a bit hit and miss.

Having said all of that, the word 'beginners' is a relative term.
To image the Seagull, you probably need to know the basics, and have some good kit.

xelasnave · #4 03-02-2018, 05:55 PM

Now just think of how many folk you have helped.
Wonderful.
Alex

rocco57au (Rocky) · #5 03-02-2018, 06:38 PM

I'll kick start things here seeing that I haven't posted anything in ages even tho I come here as often as possible

Not exactly a February image but taken only 10 days ago (doubt I'll have the time for any imaging for a while).

I did attempt this one a year or so ago and I felt that the small section that I was able to capture with my gear warranted an attempt at a mosaic image.

So, I gave it a shot... four panels stitched together.
Ha 7 x 300 seconds each per panel.

Very minimal tweaking in MaxIm DL5 and not much more in Photoshop. My processing skills are an absolute zero.

I am pleased at the fact that I was able to pull off a mosaic and I am sure that I could do better if I could apply myself and learn a bit more about processing

I'm pretty sure I have a few dead brain cells in this head of mine when it comes to learning new stuff

Scope: Orion ED80T CF
Camera: Atik 314L Mono
Filter: Baader Ha 7nm
Mount: NEQ6 Pro
Guiding: Orion SSAG and Orion ST80
Capture: MaxIm DL5

raymo · #6 03-02-2018, 07:07 PM

Your processing skills may be in their infancy, but there is very
little wrong with your acquisition skills. Nice job.
This object reveals more and more as your skills improve. Have you had a look at the stunning version of it that was posted in the main forum very recently; I think it was one of Strongman Mike's images. I apologise in
advance if it was someone else's.
raymo

rocco57au (Rocky) · #7 03-02-2018, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymo

Your processing skills may be in their infancy, but there is very
little wrong with your acquisition skills. Nice job.
This object reveals more and more as your skills improve. Have you had a look at the stunning version of it that was posted in the main forum very recently; I think it was one of Strongman Mike's images. I apologise in
advance if it was someone else's.
raymo

Thanks Raymo!
My acquisition skills aren't the best but they get me by as I have wasted many nights not being able to capture anything. A permanent set up would be nice but I don't have that luxury

I didn't use any software to capture the mosaic, just Stellarium Scope to move my telescope to where I thought would suit. I am sure that I have everything required to automate it

I've had a look at the image posted by Malcolm earlier today and can see the significant difference between his image and mine. He has done a fantastic job of his image. I may have all the data required but going the wrong way about processing... a very steep learning curve for me

But I am content to be able to spend time doing something that I truly love to do

Cheers

raymo · #8 03-02-2018, 08:36 PM

It was the wrong image; the one I meant was the ninth image down
the page, by Strongman Mike, have a look at the high resolution image,
which shows all the detail that you can reveal bit by bit as you improve.
raymo

PKay (Peter) · #9 04-02-2018, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocco57au

I'll kick start things here seeing that I haven't posted anything in ages even tho I come here as often as possible

Wow!!

The sort of image we all aspire to.

Thanks Rocky for sharing tech info and teaching.

raymo · #10 04-02-2018, 01:04 PM

Peter,
You asked us to post successes or failures, well, I don't know which
heading this comes under. This object [NGC 3918] is very small, about
12 arc seconds from memory, so requires a huge focal length to bring
out any shape or detail, so I stacked 3x and 2x barlows on my 8" f/5 Newt.
The final image is also hugely cropped. It actually bears some resemblance to images taken with large pro scopes.
For some reason the image has uploaded very large, best viewed with screen reduced to 50%.
raymo

PKay (Peter) · #11 04-02-2018, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymo

Peter,
You asked us to post successes or failures, well, I don't know which
heading this comes under. This object [NGC 3918] is very small, about
12 arc seconds from memory...

I say SUCCESS!
You have made a great start to image something so small.
Well done.

Personally I will leave this one to the experts (with very expensive telescopes).

Have a go at the Seagull.
That will be a walk in the park by comparison.

raymo · #12 04-02-2018, 04:43 PM

For various reasons I sold all my deep sky astro gear a while ago, so I'll
have to leave the seagull to someone else.
I managed approx 54 yrs of film astro imaging, but never got my head
properly around digital, so gave up after about 10yrs.
raymo

LightningNZ (Cam) · #13 04-02-2018, 05:19 PM

For an ultra wide perspective, here's my take on Canis Major. The Seagull is in top right.

Taken at f/4 with a Nikor 55mm lens on Nikon D5100 camera. 30x 90 seconds at ISO 200 on HEQ5 Pro mount. Processed with DSS, StarTools and Photoshop. Taken from Nangar National Park, NSW in April of 2017 (sorry I haven't been out for a while).

Cheers,
Cam

PKay (Peter) · #14 05-02-2018, 07:50 AM

Good one Cam

Often we see Sirius totally white, you have managed to bring out the blue.
I guess a result of correct exposure.
It is amazing just how many stars wide field images reveal.

And yes the Seagull is there, albeit a long way out to sea.
Most close ups show it to be a red nebula and again your exposure has shown that as well.

Well done!

PKay (Peter) · #15 05-02-2018, 08:02 AM

[QUOTE=raymo;1356129...
I managed approx 54 yrs of film astro imaging, but never got my head
properly around digital, so gave up after about 10yrs.
raymo[/QUOTE]

Funny, I am the total opposite.
Gave up trying with film and then embraced the digital era.
Haven been in the electronics industry all my working life I have patiently waited for it mature.
And that for me was mid last year!
It is truly staggering what is available to the amateur today.

LightningNZ (Cam) · #16 05-02-2018, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PKay

Good one Cam

Often we see Sirius totally white, you have managed to bring out the blue.
I guess a result of correct exposure.
It is amazing just how many stars wide field images reveal.

And yes the Seagull is there, albeit a long way out to sea.
Most close ups show it to be a red nebula and again your exposure has shown that as well.

Well done!

Thanks Peter. I always try to give my highlights plenty of headspace to keep the colours intact. I love colourful starfields, and Nangar had the darkest skies I've ever seen to help bring them out. Would really love to get back there this year. We also spent time in the Warrumbungles, which was more convenient and accommodating by far, but Nangar is really dark (and closer to Canberra).
cheers,
Cam

rocco57au (Rocky) · #17 05-02-2018, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymo

It was the wrong image; the one I meant was the ninth image down
the page, by Strongman Mike, have a look at the high resolution image,
which shows all the detail that you can reveal bit by bit as you improve.
raymo

Thanks Raymo... may take me forever before I can accomplish anything that good, if at all

Quote:

Originally Posted by PKay

Wow!!

The sort of image we all aspire to.

Thanks Rocky for sharing tech info and teaching.

Thanks Peter. I't far from perfect but I am pleased with the results

ChrisV (Chris) · #18 05-02-2018, 07:29 PM

Nice mosaic Rocky !
We will have to pick up our game. That's a hard act to follow

xelasnave · #19 05-02-2018, 08:41 PM

You guys are in for a battle.
I have just convinced my daughter to process my photos.
She is a perfectionists perfectionist.
And picks up how to use a program in only hours.
She builds houses in Sims and they have to be just right...the attention to detail does my head in...
She seems keen and U am very hopeful.

Its wonderful to see the interest developing here.

If you are looking but not submitimg your photos please join in...
Alex

ChrisV (Chris) · #20 05-02-2018, 10:24 PM

You had better credit her when you post!