Sombrero

[DiscoDuck]

The Sombrero. 18 x 20 minutes with an RC8 and QHY8 on an EQ6 from the Adelaide suburbs.

I was hoping the longish total exposure for what is a relatively bright object would allow some processing to capture detail in the dust. Partially happy with getting some of that at least. Comments/tips appreciated.

Higher quality available on Astrobin (http://www.astrobin.com/245528/).

Thanks,
Paul

[Atmos]

It looks like you have some quite nice data Paul, nicely resolved. To me it does look like you have gone a bit too heavy on the noise suppression however.

[alpal]

Hi Paul,
great data with much detail & it would look a lot better with some reprocessing.

cheers
Allan

[Bart]

Totally agree on the heavy noise supression there. Is there a lot of noise in the background that you needed to smooth over? Sometimes it is a bit better to show some noise than try to smooth it away.

Nice detail, would look good reprocessed.

[Placidus]

Ignoring the background smoothing issue, the galaxy itself is crispy crunchy! Well done.

[RickS]

Nice detail, Paul! Definitely worth a repro.

Cheers,
Rick.

[DiscoDuck]

Thanks all. Hint taken!! I thought I'd learned to curtail my heavy hand when it comes to smoothing. Clearly not :)

An attempt at a repro attached. Larger version on Astrobin (http://www.astrobin.com/245528/B/).

Paul

[Bart]

Much better. I thought it would be cleaner than that for 6 hours worth. Data, data, data. May need to make it a mega data project.

[Ross G]

A very good galaxy photo Paul.

Nice detail and colours.

Ross.

[Flugel88]

Nice one Paul a little noisy but the galaxy has a real nice 3d effect about it.

[Nikolas]

make 2 layers in photoshop, darken the top layer till it looks more like a night sky and then erase the galaxy with about 50% (top layer) , the result is nowhere near as noisy and you lose that overall colour cast without losing the starlight. Makes for a more pleasing pic.
I wish I could capture this beauty in Melbourne's skies.

[alpal]

Hi Paul,
I wouldn't mind having a go if you post the original stack?

cheers
Allan

[Geoff45]

That's nice Paul. Detail right down to the core.
Geoff

[DiscoDuck]

Indeed. Data is everything! :)



Thanks Ross.



Thanks. I'll have a go at reducing the noise.



Thanks. That sounds like a great tip.



Sure. I'll see if I can host it somewhere and let you have a link.



Thanks Geoff.

[Nikolas]

Hi
Couldn't resist playing with it, toned down the excess light pollution and came up with this.

[alpal]

Hi Paul,
I had a quick go with the original stack - thanks.
This is what I came up with.
I don't know if I can get more out of it?


cheers
Allan

[DiscoDuck]

Thanks guys.

[alpal]

OK - a few extra final tweeks.
A bit of noise reduction & sharpening in some areas.
A slight colour balance.

[topheart]

Well done!
Tim

[DiscoDuck]

Thanks.

BTW, my final attempt at finding a reasonable compromise with the noise is on Astrobin (http://www.astrobin.com/245528/C). Need more processing skillz as my kids might say!

[Atmos]

Looks a lot better than your original process Paul. Safe to say that's what happens with most of us :P

[whale]

fantastic detail on the "top" surface of the galaxy and in the dust line

welll done

Paul

[DiscoDuck]

LOL. Thanks.



Thank you.