NGC253 & St-7XME

[[1ponders]]

This is only the third time I've had a play with this camera and I'm quite happy at my progress. I've still to learn so much about it but there is potential there even with me using it :lol:

NGC253: Orion ED80 and WO 0.8x FR, IR filter only used on camera, 60 frames @ 30sec, track and accumulate, automatic dark subtraction. Slight curves, levels, noise reduction, rotation and crop in PS. Slight blooming is evident in the brightest stars. Still to learn how to quickly and effectively deal with these little blighters.

I tried to do some colour frames but I need to bake the desiccant as fogging is definately a problem. I think shortly I'll be ready to go beyond the Track and Accumulate and do longer exposures with the grab function. And then I'll be ready to use CCDSoft. Atm I'm using the proprietary CCDOPs.

[iceman]

Excellent spiral detail Paul!

[h0ughy]

hey can you use that data with the dslr stuff

[[1ponders]]

Yep ;)


There is going to be some definate potential there Mike, especially when the 0.5X reducer arrives for the 8" meade :D

BTW the height of this image is actually the full width of the image. I cropped the ends off the length. If you can follow that gibberish. So I will have plenty of room on the chip to image at 1000mm FL with the meade. Last nights FL was only 480mm

[[1ponders]]

Ok, here is a very quick and dirty registration and combining using Registar and then an even quicker crop and touch up in PS. I used the finished Tiff from the other night out at Cambroon taken with the DSLR/ED80/WO 0.8 FR for the colour and the finished Tiff from lasts night for the detail. The only difference being the cameras used. I could have done a bit more but I've got to go back to work :lol:

I need to look at different methods of combining images once they have been registered in Registar. I don't like the automated combine process in Registar.

[JohnG]

Ummm, looks like I have heaps to learn when the SBig ST4000XCM arrives in January.

I will follow your lead, Paul. :D

Cheers

[[1ponders]]

Oh great John. :doh: Have you ever heard of that say "The blind leading the blind" :rofl:

[Dennis]

Very nice work Mr Ponders, very nice indeed. You’re coming along in leaps and bounds!

Cheers

Dennis

[[1ponders]]

Thanks Dennis. I feel I'm getting there but I just wish I could get more than 1 night in two weeks to actually get out there and shoot. I've been spoilt this week by having both Cambroon and a clear night to use last night. Fingers crossed for tomorrow night :)

[rogerg]

Nice! Especially that one using the DSLR colour shots - good idea, I hadn't thought of doing that. Nice camera's these ST7's :)

[ballaratdragons]

Paul has done such a great job of imaging NGC253 that it was a pity to see it spoiled by the dreaded Blue-Ringed Octopus around the brighter stars.

I took the image into PhotoShop and de-fanged them. I did it manually as I believe it does a better job than PS Actions.

(Posted with Pauls permission)

[[1ponders]]

Nice, thanks Ken. Now if you can just show me how to deal with the bloom spikes without having to resort to the tried and true method of individually cloning them out that would be great :P

[ballaratdragons]

Ummmm, sorry Paul, I individually clone them out too :lol:

[Dennis]

Wow – it keeps on getting better and better. Nice re-process Ken. It’s a pity that the ‘scope operator and image acquirer couldn’t provide you with better data in the first instance.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Cheers

Dennis

[[1ponders]]

A quick reprocessing.

Using the same images as before and registering in Registar, I then took the images into PS and then layered them and set the SBIG one to Luminosity (after giving them both a bit of a sharpening tweek :P ). Might be a bit dark and blotchy, but I'm learning :D

[[1ponders]]

My third image may be sharper but I prefer the second one.

[ballaratdragons]

Not the operator/aquirers fault. Paul offered to send me the original Tifs or Fits or whatever they are called :ashamed:

But I don't know anything about them and they are probably too large to send in email.

[rogerg]

If you're using CCDSoft which comes with the SBIG cameras, you can get a "deBloomer" (or some similar name) plugin. I tried it for a while and it was certainly very good, but I let my trial lapse and never got around to buying it since. I tend to just avoid stars that lead to blooming. I think the plugin might have been written by someone "famous" like Ron Wodaski... not sure though.

Roger.

[jase]

Nice work Paul.
Why not go deeper with internal guiding?

Yes, Ron Wodaski's debloomer is a fine application.
http://www.newastro.com/newastro/downloads/products.asp#debloom
Nice feature how it rotates the stars that bloom to bring them back into a natural circular shape - typically rotated 90 degrees.

[[1ponders]]

Thanks for the info Roger and Jase. I'll certainly look into the plugin.

I will go deeper Jase, but this is only my third go at the camera so I'm still feeling my way about. I'm hoping to get another chop at it tomorrow night. I have to bake the dehumidifier first as I've been getting some fogging as the night progresses.

[Dennis]

Hi Paul

You are turning out some amazing masterpieces for such a short apprenticeship – well done. Make sure you set the oven to the correct temperature when you bake the brass desiccant plug, and remove the O-ring too.

The SBIG manual cautions about the melting point of the solder used in the plug, so don’t exceed it!

Cheers

Dennis

[[1ponders]]

I might give you a ring later on in the week Dennis if I run into difficulties.

[gbeal]

Put it in when the missus is doing scones next.
Great shot mate, and like Jase sez, why not use the inbuilt guider?

[[1ponders]]

I'm cooking it at moment. Been in for less than a minute.

You know what it's like tryin' to teach an old dog new tricks. :rundog:

I'll have a read about the self guider while the desiccant is cooking and I'll have a go next time out. By the look of the skies though it won't be tonight :mad2:

[Robby]

Yep lovely shot Paul...

[[1ponders]]

Cheers, thanks Robby. When are we going to see some from your new toy ;)

[Robby]

Well, umm, yes, I will post some eventually!! The new setup is great and I am getting some good images. Weather has been really bad lately, and I'm not getting out much.
I am waiting for a "great" image before revealing all!! :) LOL.
Cheers

[[1ponders]]

:lol:

[gbeal]

Seriously though Ponders (if we are ever serious here?) get to grips with the inbuilt, it really works. What it means for me is no separate guide-scope and or camera, less cables, no reliance on additional guiding software.
I use Maxim DL, and allow it to do the guiding. OK, it takes a little to set it up, and there are some tricks to "calibrating" the guider, but once it is working, it is "walk away and observe with the nearby newt". Setting a sequence going means you only have to monitor it occasionally, perfect.

[[1ponders]]

But the more of these thing you have shows to others how serious an amateur/budding professional astronomer you are. :lol:

Go and wash your mouth :eyepop:

:lol:

I guess I could set up a second mount with another camera and set of scopes to keep me occupied :D

[gbeal]

Whatever floats yer boat, but the pot boils slower if you watch it, so either get a newt, or another camera/mount setup. Either way, self guiding and a sequence setup is the way to go. I myself bike down the drive and check the e mail/surf, then back up to check, then back down. Get some miles in each time, it is good.