Ic4604

[Jeffkop]

This target has proved to be a difficult one to get right. In hind sight an easier one first out of the blocks with a totally new set of equipment may have been a better idea.

I have found it really trying to get the colours to my liking. First of all I tried 5min colour subs .. they didnt cut it even with 12 or so (per channel) of them stacked. So I reimaged the colour at 15min subs and managed 1:15 mins of each channel and that is what Im presenting here but really I think I need 3 times that much. Work and weather have conspired against me in that regard at the moment and the target is already in the western sky at first dark in the night so my chances of more ideal colour subs this season are fading faster than the image.

This image has been processed with pixinsight. Darks, flats, bias frames used with cosmetic corrections to eliminate bad pixels and thats about it. I still have to learn much about the software but it does simplify the process Id have to say.

I have to say its been great to once again get out there and bask in the challenges of this hobby. I have had to re learn a little of stuff Id forgotten over 3 years, but all the same its been a hell of a lot easier than at the start.

The permanent setup is all everyone says they are too.

[multiweb]

That's a great view Jeff. Really nice. :thumbsup:

[Jeffkop]

Thanks Marc .. I agree the view is appealing, just a shame I cant extract some more colour out .. but if it aint there .................

[RickS]

Looks very nice, Jeff! What sort of camera were you using? Dithering is a good way to avoid the need for Cosmetic Correction.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Jeffkop]

Thanks Rick. I have a STL11000 Rick ... I use CCDSoft to capture with and dloaded the dither plugin but it doesnt recognise it ... Installation is as simple as locating the dither .dll in the right folder which I have done ... didnt have time to try to solve it. I also have the option of upgrading my MaximDL to the current pro version for $50 and then it will also support dithering. One of the two is going to happen.

[RickS]

Ah! I just acquired a STL11K myself. Spent the past few rainy nights building a bias and dark library hoping the rain will end soon. I dither with Maxim and it works very well.

[Ross G]

Great photo Jeff.

Nice detail and I like your colours.


Ross.

[Jeffkop]

Thanks Ross .. IT should really appeal with more data.

[Jeffkop]

Have had time to play around a little with this image.
Been able to get more detail without washing it out thanks to advise from a pixinsight user named Antonio.

[pvelez]

Thats a nice shot Jeff. For me, a fine dusty shot has a touch of brown to it and yours certainly has that.

Pete

[Paul Haese]

Very nice effort. I had a go at this last year and found it challenging and enthralling. The dust is well shown in your image and the processing looks very nice.

[Jeffkop]

Thanks Pete .. Im a lot happier with it since I have extracted a little more out of it .. but at the expense of a little star bloat I feel.



It took me literally hours to frame it Paul .. much of that was because of unnecessary procedures .. Ive learnt a little there .. anyway, got it framed and not a guide star insight using the internal guider .. So out with the external camera and up onto the TSA102 .. Which looks like its going to work fine .. no comments about guiding other than positive .. plus I dont have to guide through filters either.

And then dramas with sub times bla bla .. but its turned out alright .. seems the more I look at it the more it appeals to me .. Thanks for your input.