First efforts - reprocessed

[lhansen]

I know I've got a long way to go, but here are a couple of images that I am semi-happy with. I've spent a long time getting used to my setup and the learning process continues.

I tried to remove the blooming on the bright stars in the ngc5128 image but that created more problems than it solved (you can see it in the bright stars). Also, I never really got the focus right for the ngc5128 image. On M83 the focus was better and given my negative experience with the ngc5128 image, I didn't bother with the blooming removal stage.

I would appreciate any comments/criticisms/hints

I've reprocessed the M83 incorporating your comments. How does it display now?


Image details:

M83
Images taken: 17/4 & 18/4 2009
Location: Dunkeld NSW
Exposure details
Luminance 6 * 10 minute exposures @ -20 unbinned
RGB each filter 6 * 5 minute exposures @ -20 2 * binned
Ha 3 * 10 minute exposures @ -20 2 * binned

NGC5128
Images taken: 28/3 2009
Location: Dunkeld NSW
Exposure details
Luminance 6 * 10 minute exposures @ -10 unbinned
RGB each filer 6 * 10 minute exposures @ -10 unbinned

Processing
Data capture
MaxiIm
Instrument Control
TheSky6
FocusMax
CCDAutopilot 4
Data processing
CCDStack 2
Photoshop CS3

Equipment
RCOS 12.5"
PME
SBIG STL 6303E
FLI PDF focuser
Borg ED100 + SBIG Remote Guide head for guiding

Regards

[gregbradley]

Hey Lars,

Your persistence paid off! Nice scope;)

You're off to a flying start.

Greg.

[lhansen]

Hi Greg

Yes it is a nice scope. I was tempted to give up getting it right couple of times but it was definitely worth hanging in there for. Now if I can only get my nice focuser to obey my commands I will be a very happy chappy

Lars

[gbeal]

I agree Cobber, off to a great start.
The Hamburger is fine, nice. The M83 appears too magenta for me.
Gary

[lhansen]

Hi Gary

You are probably right about the colour balance on M83, I've got 2 dell monitors and in one M83 appears too blue and in the other too green. I just cant seem to calibrate them properly.

I've got a calibration image somewhere but I think its on the observatory machine, I'll try to copy tomorrow and see if I can get the monitors callibrated better.

I did manage to play a bit with the deconvolution routines on CCDStack and they worked a treat albeit very slowly.

Cheers

Lars

[bert]

Hey Lars,

I think it maybe your monitor maybe an issue. As you know I saw that image of m83 on your monitor and colour looked great, but looks very much magenta on both my monitors.

Still love both those images though. Especially at higher resolution.:)

[bloodhound31]

As I couldn't do much better at this moment in time, I have no crit.

Like 'em both.

Baz.

[Omaroo]

Wow Lars :)

The successful combination seems to be a repeating pattern: RCOS/PME/STL.

Nice images indeed! Do you have links to the full resolution versions for us to follow/ It's a shame to waste 6Mp in a 200kb web image.

What happened to the NJP?

I have your C8 if you're looking for it ;)

[lhansen]

Hi Chris

I couldn't believe my luck when Greg decided to sell his RCOS. I had been bugging him on and off for 6 months before he finally decided to sell it. Mind you I'm still not sure that I've got it working at its best, it is sensitive to mirror spacing and collimation.

Also, I'm still having a few focus issues get FocusMax and the FLI PDF working together properly, that is not the fault of the RCOS.

I dont have an external link at this time to expose any of my images, perhaps you could suggest a good site? Given that I develop web sites at work its a bit strange that I dont have one :shrug:, but I figure its like builders and plumbers - they do it for everybody else first.

One criteria thats is very important to me is that any such external site should have the ability to store the image and record full details for each exposure. I find it occasionally frustrating to see some amazing images, with absolutely no details as to how the image was captured and processed.

I'm really glad to hear that you have hung onto the C8, that OTA was pretty special. I like your FS102 even more. Still, the Borg ED100 is not too bad a scope. Maybe someday I'll get another Takahashi APO. Mind you I've still got to press the MT-160 into service.

Cheers

Lars

[jase]

A good start Lars. The slow RC coupled to the relatively high QE of the 6303 makes a great combination. Cent A shows promising signs. M83 as others have mentioned has a magenta cast over the image. Taking a quick look at the histogram reveals the culprit with the green channel being clipped. Use the histogram to your advantage. Given the low arcsec/pixel ratio your set up delivers, oversampled data is the result. Hence, you'll obtain much improved results through deconvolution (or smart application of it such a iterative blends). Looking forward to seeing more once you get the rig dialled in.

[Omaroo]

Ohh... much nicer Lars.

[gbeal]

Yep, bang on now, bloomin' great in fact.

[multiweb]

Cool M83 and Centaurus A :thumbsup: Some real great gear you've got to play with . :)