ngc 253

[Somnium]

First image of NGC 253

I am pretty happy with the result.

[DavidU]

Very good image. Whats your setup?

[Somnium]

This was taken with

Scope: BT250
Mount: NEQ6 pro
Camera: Canon 600D
Guide scope: orion scope with QHY5lii
Using, Back Yard EOS, PHD2, DSS and photo shop

30 subs 120 seconds iso 800

[Rex]

Hi Aidan, really nice detail, and especially good for a first attempt. Not sure if you have already or not, but your image could possibly benefit from applying some flat field subs? Did you take any flats? Your guiding is superb.

[Somnium]

Hi Rex

Thanks for the feedback. This is the thing that is bugging me most. I started shooting after dark so I couldn't take good flats, I tried taking a picture of a wall saturated in light . But when I applied them it looked worse. I also need to clean my secondary mirror. Any tips on getting good flats ?

[Rex]

Aidan, the most important thing with taking flats is that you leave the system as it was when you took the light frames, and to take them as soon as practicle after the images. What I mean by that is as long as you haven't moved your focuser or rotated your camera, or added any extra filters or anything into the image train you can take them anytime. I like to take them as soon as is possible after the image frames, and I don't have a light box, so what I do is similar to what most people call T'shirt flats. I have a piece of white material that I keep clean, wrinkle free and a strip of elastic. I like to take my flats after the light frames because that ensures that any dew droplets or smudges of dust that appeared during the night will be included in your flats. The early morning after an imaging session, about 5.30 or so, so that the sky is starting to lighten up, I park my scope, which for me is pointed at the SCP, cover the scope end with my material using the elastic around the end of the scope to make sure no wrinkles are in it as they will show up in the flats. I use the same ISO as my images and put the camera into AV mode and take 50 to 100 shots. They are normally less than a second duration each so they don't take long, and that's it. That's all I do. The only suggestion that I have would be make sure the material you use has a very fine weave or else the weave can put a pattern in your flats. I tried t'shirts and many other different types of material that added the pattern, so didn't work. What I ended up using is an old cotton sheet that we had. Works a treat, and like I said makes a big difference. Good luck and let us know how you go.

[Somnium]

Hi Rex.

I like everything you said except for the part where I have to be up at 5:30 ... :) anyway of avoiding that ?

[Rex]

Lol, it actually doesn't have to be that early. I do it then because that's when I cover everything up for the day before work. As long as you are pointed away from the sun and at a patch of well illuminated sky it could be more or less any time. ;)

[Somnium]

yeah but I generally pack up at about mid night, I don't have a permanent set up. if I put a sheet over the scope and take a picture of a white wall, will that work ? maybe I should just build a light box ...

[Rex]

A properly built light box is the best solution but sometimes we have to make do with what we have. The wall might work, the trick is to make sure it is evenly illuminated or else you will induce gradients into your images. You could take them of an afternoon before u start? What i said about after is best case but even illumination is more important. Just remember to point away from the glow of the sun otherwise the flats will be brighter on one side than the other, and once again induce gradients. All I can say is try it and see how goes. Good luck and let us know.

[Flugel88]

Nice natural detail much more vibrant than my first attempt. Round stars your tracking is perfect well done Aidan

[Somnium]

Thanks :)

[Somnium]

I uploaded another version, to see if I could eliminate some of the issues I have by not taking flats, not sure if it is better.

[SimmoW]

Much prefer the original, pretty nice from where I sit.

[Somnium]

Thanks Simon, the problem with looking at your own stuff is you only see the issues ...

[Mckechg]

I like both the first one is my pick as well. the second seem to lack the clarity of the first. What workflow did you do?

g/.

[raymo]

Much prefer the first one too.
raymo

[Somnium]

I just adjusted the curves, saturation etc. in photoshop

[andyc]

That's a very good first effort, very much prefer the first version though. Looks like you'll get a lot out of your set-up!

[rustigsmed]

great effort,
I like the core of the second and the outer regions of the first :D

[Somnium]

How about this? trying to get the best of both worlds

[Flugel88]

what about this one Aidan with some layer masking used to adjust galaxy and then background topped off with a Gaussian blur.

[Somnium]

I like what you have done with it Michael