Ngc 253

[PRejto]

Imaged over several nights from November 25 - December 5, 2015

This is my first image using a "one shot" H694 Trius-c to capture RGB with my TEC140 which was then combined with luminance taken with a Moravian G2-8300 on my TEC180. Although I used a Hutech IDAS LP-2 with the Trius-c I still had pretty horrible gradients of which I've only been partially successful in removing.

I used Optec's Sharplock/ONAG-XT automatic focusing for all luminance.

Lum: 30 x 480 sec, 32 x 720 sec. / RGB 33 x 15 min

Full Size Here: http://www.pbase.com/image/162104666

Thanks for looking.


Peter

EDIT: Thanks to Greg Bradley for assisting me to get a better background! Image replaced (use same link)

[RickS]

That's very nice, Peter. Definitely has the trade mark KAF-8300 stars though.

[astronobob]

Mighty Grouse in my books Peter. Great how this Galaxy has the 'inner tidal updrafts' or what ever there called when imaged at the level, Great stuff ! ! !

[Paul Haese]

Looks pretty Good Peter. I like the colour (it looks like mine, hence why I like it :)). Scale is good too. The gradients have spoiled the back ground but the rest looks good.

[Slawomir]

Looks good to me Peter :thumbsup:

Congratulations on successfully combining data from two different scopes and two different cameras!

[Placidus]

Excellent detail and contrast in the bright bits. Those "galactic fountain" streamers have come out very nicely. Lots of little fellows in the background too. Well done.

[willik]

Plenty of detail Top image.

[PRejto]

Thanks Rick! Well those microlenses "flares" are my refractor's version of diffraction spikes.



I think those updrafts are very cool. I worked hard to bring them out. Thanks for commenting!



You know what, Paul, they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Re the bloody background I never should have moved on in processing until I solved the issue pre-stretch. Then I got so invested I couldn't bring myself to start over. So, here we are 10 days later. That's how long I spent. Maybe I'll revisit this data in another life. I do appreciate your comment! I often looked at your version for guidance!




I don't know about "successful" but your remarks are highly appreciated. The galaxy was "easy" but the stars gave me fits with alignment and size differences between the two cameras. I'm still not sure of the best way to deal with this.



Thanks Mike and Trish. I'm always surprised that I can drag out the "little fellows" from my light polluted sight!



Many thanks!!

[multiweb]

Superb shot! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Camelopardalis]

Beautifully detailed, well done Peter :thumbsup:

[Atmos]

You have some wonderful resolution in there Peter, some nice fussies in the background too :)

[marc4darkskies]

Very nice job indeed Peter! :thumbsup: Good detail & colour!

[gregbradley]

That's a beauty. Love the colour and sharpness. There is some light pollution gradients left. They would handle easily in PixInsight using the dynamic background extraction tool.

Greg.

[PRejto]

Thanks all for your kind words!

Greg, my mistake was not invoking DBE correctly while the image was unstretched. I got a partial result on the background and then moved on. I think DBE is limited in it's ability to deal with a stretched image. Believe me I tried but results were disappointing. I'm not satisfied with the background so when I get a bit more motivation I will start over. I want the stars a lot better too.

Peter

[PRejto]

Thanks to Greg Bradley for giving me a technique to greatly help the background. It's posted in the first post replacing the original image.

Peter

[strongmanmike]

Yes that does look better Peter, the rising smoke chimney's look particularly noticeable in your image too, nice work :thumbsup:

Mike

[g__day]

Simply amazing!

[gregbradley]

Yeah that worked well. Its a great image. It does give the feeling of being very well focused as well so a testament to the autofocus system you are using.

Greg.

[PRejto]

Thanks very much Mike. I did pay particular attention to those so I'm glad you noticed. Every time I get a nice result from my two scopes I thank you for encouraging me. When they prove recalcitrant you probably should go into hiding. ha ha.



Many thanks, Matthew. A lot of help from the ONAGs and FocusLock software.



Huge thanks to you Greg. It was a simple technique that I could not get to work properly and had given up. You pointed out exactly where I went wrong (offset control in Photoshop). It's made a huge difference. Yes, every night I use the FocusLock software I'm amazed at the easy and complete consistency of my subs. As long as the seeing holds, or I'm not tracking too low, the FWHM values just sit the same image after image with no lost time going off to focus. When/if it comes out for OAG it's going to revolutionize focusing.

[strongmanmike]

:lol: Once you have it all working well you will want to sleep with me...:question: ok well maybe not but you will owe me a beer at least :D

Mike

[PRejto]

Mike, you draw a long bow. A beer, for sure and we will call it a day.

Peter

[strongmanmike]

Deal ;) I recently bought a case of fantastic WA beer from the Nail Brewery, called Nail Red Ale, $100 a case but bloody sensational :drink:

:thumbsup:

[rustigsmed]

Beautiful work Peter!!

Russ

[Shiraz]

A bit of work behind this image?

It has turned out really well and is up there with the very best.

[PRejto]

Thanks Russ! Much appreciated.



Hi Ray. You could say that. I'm a bit weary. But, really I don't think I'll be "happy" until I can get the stars better. I just have not figured out how to best combine the two data sets. Stars from the KAF8300 just look really different compared to stars from the Sony chip. I've not tried excluding the KAF8300 stars all together. I need a break. But, shucks, thanks for your comment. I really appreciate it!

Peter