First go at the Tarantula

[browndog]

This is my first attempt at the Tarantula (NGC2070).

Image was taken using an unmodded 350d and C8 SCT. Autoguided using PHD and an 80mm achro + webcam. 30 x 2min subs and then stacked in DSS. Post processing in PS.

I recently purchased a 2" camera adaptor to reduce vignetting and it seemed to work as I didn't need to crop too much of the image during processing.

Wow this is a tricky nebula to process. Not too sure about the colour balance :shrug:, but I would welcome any comments.

[leon]

Ian for a first attempt you have done well, yep, that processing is a tricky business alright, I still haven't mastered it yet, but it is fun learning, well done.

Leon

[Garyh]

Nice and sharp and well guided Ian :thumbsup: but looks like you hit the curves or levels a bit too hard and maybe clipped some data of as well.
Try tweaking the luminance settings in DSS? before having another go in PS?
cheers

[browndog]

Thanks for the comments Leon - astro-imaging can difficult, time consuming, expensive, and frustrating... but I agree mostly fun learning as you go.



Hi Gary - some good ideas. I tried repressing and being a bit gentler with curves and levels. Not too sure about tweaking DSS so I gave that a miss. Anyway I am a lot happier with the reprocessed image.



Any comments greatly appreciated.

[iceman]

Nice result Ian - the 2nd processed one is infinitely better than the first - much better stars.. however the 2nd one is still probably a bit too blue.

Excellent result though!