Spider and a Helix thrown in

[Nikolas]

I realised I used the wrong darks (300 sec darks instead of 180 secs) on my tarantula image posted a few days ago, redid the stacking etc and it is a much better result.
Also did 4 hours on the Helix nebula the same night earlier in that evening.
Helix was 300 secs x 40.
I just wish Melbourne's weather was cooperative so I could do say 4 nights in a row of data acquisition. I can't imagine how frustrating it is for mono users to finish a project.

L-Extreme filter used all round.

(https://www.astrobin.com/users/Nikolas64/)
Astrobin Versions (https://www.astrobin.com/users/Nikolas64/)

[gregbradley]

Terrific images Nik. The Tarantula area really looks great with a widefield view.

You must have stayed up late to catch the Tarantula. Its really only now just rising.

Greg.

[AdamJL]

These are both fantastic!!
The core of that Tarantula looks perfect. Did you stack multiple exposure times to get that core exposed correctly, or just one exposure time?

And the Helix is amazing. That is so hard to shoot!!

You need to give an image processing tutorial, please. I use that same filter and can't get anything like that Tarantula image. And your stars aren't blue or red in the Helix?! Seriously, please give a tutorial :) Join the ranks of YouTubers sharing knowledge!!

[Bassnut]

Yes, both are exceptional, and with a 5D mk2 !!!, thats amazing, amongst the best ive seen with a DSLR (im guessing its modded?)!!! and that L-extreme filter looks to be the ducks guts, so convenient, 2 narrowband images at the same time!.

[Nikolas]

No that was with the 294mc Pro not the dslr I save that for ultra wide fields
Thanks though :)

[JA]

Very nicely done Nik. An Excellent pair of images:thumbsup:

The images seem quite clean in the background which is always great. I'm wondering if, in addition to good exposure duration, #subs & processing, that's perhaps also the result of your using dithering, or not, and/or if you have any impressions of the ZWO 294mc pro used with and without dithering and if you notice any significant differences? Thx

Best
JA

[Andy01]

That's an excellent NGC 2070 - with appropriately spooky colours and fine details, well done! :thumbsup:

[Nikolas]

I always use dithering regardless of which camera as the shots do come out a lot cleaner, I don't use flats however but I should. (too lazy) Instead I use gradient exterminator or in some circumstances Use masking layers to eliminate gradients, as for noise I am very sparing in its application.

[Nikolas]

Thanks Andy. When I realised I used the wrong darks library I fixed it and got more out of it.

[Nikolas]

Thanks Greg
I did stay up late for that one to begin with then went to bed
The helix I started at 8 pm and finished that up at midnight then started on tarantula around 1 am (school holidays so had more time) I set up the asiair to finish after 3 hours then it returns to home position and switches itself off. I got up after 4 and went outside and covered the scope with a bbq cover till the morning. I think in total got 4 hours sleep.



Hahaha thanks Adam that Helix needs lots and lots of hours but as it passes the meridian near my place the city is towards the west so the city lights don't do it justice. I need consecutive nights to do this target justice. I will work out how to do a processing video just not with the amount of work in lockdown currently :)
for the Tarantula core I did it selectively each stretch, then a layer mask to paint over the core, further stretch then another layer mask and paint over this way the core is balanced, you can then feather the details in to balance it all out.

[JA]

Thanks for the info Nik:thumbsup:

Best
JA