Ngc 253

[Oscar in Bin]

Have been away from imaging for a couple of years. Found my SBIG camera hadn't liked being in hibernation - images wouldn't process so just as a challenge got a new camera - an ASI2600MM and changed my imaging management software to NINA from CCDAp. Also found Pixinsight has morphed considerably in two years - yet another learning curve to climb. Enough challenges so thought I would stick with a nice easy target NGC253.

[SAYADEE]

looks great!

[gregbradley]

Nice detail so a big tick there. But also a bit unsaturated in colour. It' quite a colourful galaxy and colourful stars in the field.

With CMOS I notice colours tend to be more muted so they need to be boosted more compared with CCD images. Not sure why that is but I have seen it a million times now. I can predict which images used a CMOS and which are CCD. CMOS are more sensitive but colour is more muted and need extra boosting.

Greg.

[Startrek]

John,
Nice Sculptor Galaxy image with your new camera after being away for a couple of years.
Well done !!
I concur with Greg about Star colours.
I’ve only had my 2600MM for 3 months and found through trial and error that stars become saturated pretty quickly using a Lum filter ( even 30 sec subs ) under my Bortle 8 skies. Haven’t tried LRGB at my Dome yet under bortle 3 skies.
Folk have suggested I take at least 30 mins of 10 sec subs for each LRGB filter and process star’s separately. My next exercise.
I’ve imaged for 3 years with my 2600MC and had no issue at all with Star colour ( with exception of Dualband filters ) on broadband targets.
Totally different story with the 2600MM , stars get bleached pretty quickly even with low gain ( Gain 0 )
This Mono venture is a constant problem solving journey at least in my case but hopefully I’ll be rewarded once I get some imaging time under my belt.
Good luck and enjoy this ripper of a camera ( Ha will blow your socks off )
Cheers
Martin

[Oscar in Bin]

Thanks all for your comments. I have cranked up the saturation in the attached version.

CMOS is new to me so I am trying to get the settings and exposure balanced correctly. This image was taken with a gain of 0 to maximise full well depth, an offset of 30 and exposure times of 180sec for lum and 240sec for RGB.
Guidance on settings would be much appreciated.

[alpal]

Very nice image John,
I like the new version with more saturation.
I think the background needs to be increased in level
from around 7 bits out of 255 to about 22 bits.
It then shows far more of the galaxy halo too.


cheers
Allan