Crux on 13/4

[JohnH]

This image was taken in my back yard in Hornsby (North of Sydney so I was shooting into light from the city) last night, I am very new to astrophotography so please feel free to comment.

I used a Meade ETX90 with autostar polar mounted with Cannon 20D piggyback. Kit lens at 55mm and F8, 5*4mins exposures at ISO 1600 stacked with Registax 3 and levels and sharpeninig up and compression in Photoshop Elements and cleaned with Neat image. Cannon inbuilt noise removal.

JohnH.

[iceman]

Hi John!

:welcome: to the forum! And that's a great shot to introduce yourself! I love widefield star shots.. The coalsack looks great.

It was however, over the image posting guidelines so i've resized it for you. If you want to display a larger image, please provide a link to an offsite version. I had to compress it quite a bit to get it down to 60k, so feel free to upload it and replace with a link if you want.

You're in hornsby? There's a few of us from around that area, Greg Bryant is in Hornsby, Gary Kopff is from Mt Kuring-gai and there's a few of us on the central coast. You should come up to the IceInSpace Star Party (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1499) on the central coast on the 7th of May.

Hope to see some more from you!

[JohnH]

Thanks Mike,

I spotted the 800*600 ans 60Kb guideline to late - my apologies - and glad you like the shot and thanks for cleaning it up! Good to know I am not alone out here...

[Rohan]

That is a great shot. I can't wait to have a DSLR to get some nice wide field shots.

[iceman]

You don't need a DSLR to do them, they can be done (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/?widefield) with any digicam that can take up to 15s exposures, even on a fixed camera tripod.

Of course, better cameras + tracking mount (+ longer exposures) makes a big difference to teh end result. :D

[rmcpb]

If that is your intro shot I can't wait to see the series you will produce now you are with us.

Welcome to the family :cheers:

[toetoe]

Nice pic John, the detail of the wide shot looks fantastic to me.

[JohnH]

I am very pleased that you like the image, it is the first I have dared to show (except to my family!). I have been a lurker for a bit and have learnt loads by reading these forums and also the Mighty Meade site and the digital astro mailing groups.

I am totally blown away by the images being produced, the amount of knowledge and advice available and the software that have been built by enthusiats around the world.

I am also astonished by the 20D which is a far better photographer than me and mostly responsible for the image.

I am struggling through the astrophotogratphy learning curve learning the limits of my kit and the dark arts of image processing...so much to learn....

[toetoe]

Your at a good place with good people here for tips and talk John.
I am learning bit by bit here with the forum talk and pics.

[rumples riot]

Nice wide field, must give this style a go myself. Keep up the good work.

[Mick]

Hello and welcome JohnH, beautiful image.

[atalas]

Hello John

In with a bang ah" nice wide of the crux mate .



Louie:welcome:

[Rodstar]

:cool:

Hi John, and welcome! Mike is right....you are just down the road (plus a bit) from the Star Party in May...hope to see you there

Rod

PS My dear mother lives in Hornsby. Awesome shopping!

[Robby]

Ahhh the Hornsby train station... Fond memories :D...

[iceman]

ROFL Robby :P

[JohnH]

John Drummonds image made me go back an see what was in my RAWs...I am such a beginner at this...amazing difference...I am not sure which version I prefer the original emphasises the cross better.

Is there a good guide to image processing out there - I am not sure which order to do the processing in, eg

Convert to TIF and stack then level and clean or

clean and level then stack etc.

[atalas]

WOW !good one John:eyepop:

Louie :)

[iceman]

Nice reprocess John!

Image processing, especially of DSO's, is really hard and there's lots of different techniques (and programs) to use.

Best bet is to simply experiment, and glean what you can off others, ask plenty of questions!

[trufflehunter]

Great shot JohnH! The second one really brings out the nebulosity on the Eastern edge of the Coal Sack.

Interesting to see what can be done at ISO1600! I would have expected much more noise. can't wait to get a piggy back adaptor and dive in myself!

Keep 'em coming!

[Rodstar]

JohnH, awesome range of colours amongst those stars. Beautiful image. Thanks for posting it.

Rod

[ving]

woah! great shot! :)
like the second one better myself tho.

welcome aboard :D