The Trifid, a joy to image!

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Hi,

Stayed up late last night to image the trifid nebula, Iv'e always wanted to do this one. Kept all the star colour and don't think I clipped in black.
This nebula is a joy to image and process!

Telescope 8” f/4 astrograph on a HEQ Pro 5 mount, orion mini guider.
Unmodded Canon 1100D at ISO 800.
12 x 300 sec subs ISO 800.
9 dark frames, 9 flat frames and 9 bias.
Stacked in DSS and post process in Phototshop.
Cheers,

Justin.

[Peter.M]

Well done, I took a photo of this from Paul Haeses dark site the other night, unfortunately my secondary was completely dewed over by then and nothing came out.

The widefield looks good, but you can see artifacts from using the minimum filter in the cropped one. It makes the image appear like a mosaic.

[RobF]

Fantastic effort. It is a wonderful object isn't it, and you've done it proud with the DSLR from your dark skies Justin.

Guys, you can make a cheap but effective dew deterant for your Newt from cheap camping mat material at Kmart. About $20 a roll. Cut to give a 30cm'ish extension to your scope. slightly more open at the end away from the scope. Some heavy duty velcro on the join and some matt black paint inside and you're right to go. Just check it isn't visible through the eyepiece/focuser with your F4 FOV. Generally extremely effective if you put it on right from the start. Another Newt advantage IMHO - less need to run around with dew straps, controllers, etc.

[alistairsam]

Rob,
I've wanted to do this as well with the dew cap like SCT's but would it be effective if you're imaging near the zenith?

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Thanks Peter and Rob,

Your right Peter, I'm going have to put a no go sign on the minimum function. I did fade by 50%, obviously not enough.

Cheers,

Justin.

[jjjnettie]

You've done a lovely job on this one. :)
Yes, I agree, though, it's over smoothed. I'd like to see a repro done. :)
A little more contrast would be nice too.

[RobF]

Theroretically there should be problems, but since I've done this I haven't had secondary dewing problems even in quite damp conditions (touch wood!) over last few years. I try not to leave the scope pointing overhead indefinitely mind you unless chasing an object over the meridian while imaging.

[Lester]

Very nice Justin, I like the wide field. It is very deep showing red nebulosity around the perimeter of the FOV. All the best.

[LucasB]

Another fine piece of DSLR work Justin. I too like the wider field shot.
Lucas

[2stroke]

nice work :) get a cooler box on that 1100d and crack it up to 1600. Will say you can really make the 1100D shine well and bring it justice :)

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Thanks guys!



Your right jjj, the more I look at it now the more I see the problems. That's the best bit about this forum, others can see a problem that Iv'e spent a couple of hours on and not seen. I'll give it another go, but this is going to be easier than the area i imaged of the large magellanic cloud. Yikes!!! don't even know where to start on this one.

Cheers,

Justin.

[swannies1983]

Nice work Justin. One of my favourite objects to image.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Hi,

Iv'e reworked the Trifid, here are three images.

I've used more contrast, tweaked in curves and more saturation.
I personally like the cropped image with some minimum pass on the stars, it's not so distracting with less stars. The dark nebula really stands out now, dark browns and blacks, starting to get dimension.

I'm losing some out lying nebulosity, and clipped the black but it was the only way I could enhance the rest.

Any suggestions on this?

Cheers,

Justin.

[Rigel003]

Well done, Justin. My favourite is the original full frame. The repros have more contrast but the background sky is very dark. Still it's one of your best images so far.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Thanks Graeme.

Cheers,

Justin.

[TrevorW]

The orginals are more natural IMO than the repo. Also in the central core region is a double star so should work to resolve this IMO

Otherwise not bad

[midnight]

Some very nice work there Justin.

The repro is perhaps a little too dark in the background but you've managed to get more punch on the repro with the subject itself.

Darrin...

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Thanks Darrin and Trevor.

Very addictive this imaging stuff!

Cheers,

Justin.

[alpal]

I agree - too dark in the background but a very nice photo.

[Ross G]

Hi Justin.

A great photo.

Nicely composed.

Great colour, great detail and great stars!

My favourite is the original wide shot.


Ross.