Trifid Nebular - 3 hours

[John K]

Hi guys,

Had 2 great nights at the ASV's Leon Mow Dark Sky site the last 2 nights.

This is my first attempt at M20 with my rig - 3 hours of 5 x minute exposures at ISO800 with a modified 400D and a 12.5" f/5 scope.

Higher res here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkazanas/14818554658/in/photostream/lightbox/

Just my first run on processing this - colour balance and halo issues could be resolved with more work.

Great to be imaging in what feels like spring weather in Vic.

Clear skies,
John K.

[Paul Haese]

Nicely composed image John, colours are ok except for the green cast to the background. You might like to download HLVG which gets rid of green and is a plug in for PS. Not sure if it is plug in for any other processing programmes.

[DrWho]

A little bit noisy (in greenish background) .
Paul mentioned HLVG plug-in for PS, I think in PI its SCNR.
So far so good, what I don’t like though are the artificial star-spikes :screwy:

[strongmanmike]

Not bad John, not bad at all, a few processing tweaks could make it even better I guess but overall still a fine looking Trifid :thumbsup:

Mike

[atalas]

In your face good effort John.

[John K]

Thanks for comments all.

Removed the green cast and shrunk some of the stars as well as reducing the yellow stars/dust that occupies this part of the sky.
Reasonably happy with the result considering age and OSC equipment.

High res here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkazanas/14829013109/in/photostream/lightbox/



Thanks Mike - actually one of your Trifid images was one of my benchmarking images for the Trifid to aim towards (if only I could!)



It's a reflector - so they are natural spikes I'm afraid



Thanks Paul - looks like I had HLVG in Photoshop so as per advice used it to effect.

[RickS]

Very nice, John, especially with the suggested improvements.

[strongmanmike]

Well, nice to hear :)

I think the star shrinking hasn't been your friend here though :question: but the colours look lovely :thumbsup: although I do like images of the Trifid that show a little turquoise green or teal in that outer blue-white dusty halo.

Mike