Finally an Image. Well sort of.

[Hagar]

This is built on the Ha of Eta Carina Nebula I captured a few weeks ago. The new scope has performed very nicely. Even this is something of a non event with clouds coming in after only 3 X 10 minute RGB exposures with the QHY8 OSC.

The blend is HaRGB.

This is the only imaging for several weeks due to cloud and work for the only clear night we have had up here in weeks.

Sorry everyone but I have to post something.

[TheDecepticon]

Becoming very detailed!:)

How do you use a OSC camera to do narrow band? I have seen images done with SII, Ha & OIII with the QHY8 and am curious. I am thinking of selling my peltier cooled DSI Pro2 , Atik EFW and filters(inc $600 worth of narrow band 1.25 filters), and my modded 40d for a QHY8 and wondering if its worth it?



(Didn't mean to hijack your thread, was thinking aloud, sorry!!)

[AlexN]

Great start to a very nice image doug... Cant wait to see it with plenty more exposure! :)

Decepticon - with narrowband and a OSC CCD you simply have to separate the channels of the resulting image and use the one that is of the highest quality.... Ie. with a Ha filter, Red is the channel you would extract, as that is where all the data will be... the Green and Blue channels will be nothing but noise.

Is it worth selling your DSLR + DSI pro 2 for a QHY8? depends, do you use the 40D for anything but astronomy, if not, sell up and buy the QHY8.. they are insanely good cameras for the money, and very very hard to beat at that price range too... Dare I say impossible to beat...

[dugnsuz]

Nice work Doug - looks like you're suffering from those HaRGB star blend blues!!! Craig_L and I have been struggling with this for months now.
Harder than the online tutorials would have you believe!!

I would just love to see what you could achieve with OSC and the FSQ106 - but that's me...simple!!!!:P I'm sure that combo would be awesome.

Very nice stuff, Doug

Doug!!:thumbsup:

[Alchemy]

yes i know how you feel doug, i havent done anything with mine for weeks now.

clive

[Tamtarn]

We share your frustration Doug we haven't been out since last month.

Although you only had three more subs they still add to the detail. Looking good :thumbsup:

[TheDecepticon]

Doug and others, I wonder if this is any help to you? This is the technique I have been using.

http://bf-astro.com/starColors.htm

Thanks Alex, pushing me over the edge, I think!!

[mexhunter]

Hi Doug:
I like to much this picture.
Congratulations!!!
César

[multiweb]

Doug do you do your blend in PS or with the raw FITS files channels directly?

[CoolhandJo]

Doug, nice colours. Well done.

[Hagar]

There is 2 ways you can do it with the QHY8. 1 method spelled out by Alex below and the second is to use 2x2 binning which doesn't render any colour to the image. Only the photons which pass the filter are captured.
The other thing which can be done is to capture with a filter attached and then just desaturate the image. I think the camera is well worth the cost and a good aquisition.




I doubt I will add much more to this image and may move on to something new.



Thanks Doug. All I need is some good nights with reasonable seeing and I might be able to give the scope a work out. The best FWHM I have been able to achieve lately is about 6.
Blue green stars I know. Perhaps do a Fred and dump the stars off the Ha(red frame).



This weather does make it hard but we do need the rain. I suppose we should be thankfull.



Thanks Dave and Barb. The CAA has finally arrived an makes realighning the image very easy. It is hard when you come in here every day and see so many new images and can't get a good night to get out and have a go.

[leon]

Doug I just look at the image, don't know much about the other stuff you guys talk about, :shrug: except that the weather is crap, :whistle: but not so your image, pretty sharp and detailed I reckon, nice shooting mate :thumbsup:

Leon :thumbsup:

[Hagar]

Looks very interesting. I will have a look at it when I get time and may have a bit of a play with some images.

Thanks again

[Hagar]

I do the blend in PS as a luminous layer. It does take quite an adjustment of the saturation to lift the colour in the RGB before adding the Ha as a lum layer.

[Octane]

Doug,

Soft, fluffy clouds. I want to curl up, wrap those clouds around me and float away.

I am not 100% certain about the colour (I understand it is rather difficult to balance LRGB images correctly), but, that doesn't detract from what is beginning to show a real 3D-like quality to the composition.

Well done!

Regards,
Humayun

[Hagar]

Thanks Leon, Back into full cloud again last night and today so waiting for the full moon again when it will all clear again. Detail wise the Ha adds quite a lot to the standard RGB but does pose some colour balance problems of it's own to work through.