Narrowband M8

[DavidTrap]

My first effort at NB processing. I bought the remaining two NB filters recently and during a run of clear weather in SEQld, I setup my rig in the backyard and collected 4-6hrs of data per filter over several nights using CCD Commander whilst I studied the inside of my eyelids.

The data was processed in PI. I followed a processing recipe for Ha images and applied that to the Ha, SII & OIII images. I then combined these in PixelMath as per the usual Hubble Palette (SII:Ha:OIII)

Link (http://users.tpg.com.au/dctrap/astrophotos/M8_NBHP_fullsize.jpg) to full size JPEG - 5.6Mb

Comments and criticisms appreciated.

DT

[strongmanmike]

Great result Dave for a sleeping imager:rolleyes:, looks awesome :thumbsup: lots of detail there.

Mike

[DavidTrap]

Thanks Mike.

I know you're hardcore and like to sit by the scope, but I suggest you try some sort of scripting software. Does wonders for one's sleep!

DT

[firstlight]

Nice work, David! Astronomy AND sleep... difficult commodities to come by with children :).

[DavidTrap]

Thanks Tony.

Sleep is essential with children, mine are 6 & 4 - hence the use of scripting software.

DT

[firstlight]

Rigil is 10, Hadar is 6 and Toliman is 3... Astrofest this year was challenging as there were so many clear nights, so there were a few all nighters and most of the early nights were 3:00 am, however a late morning for the kids was around 7:00 :sadeyes: Both Anne-Louise and I were like zombies and we still haven't caught up properly. It was great to be out in dark skies, and with some very fine company (even Houghy ;))

[RickS]

Great stuff, David, especially for a first NB image!

Cheers,
Rick.

[alpal]

That's very nice.
I like the way that narrowband brings out detail.

[DavidTrap]

Tony - I hear you! My youngest bounds in at 6am like clockwork...

Rick - thanks. Certainly another learning curve. The techniques I have been using for PI are drawn from a wide variety of sources.

Alpal - Thanks, I am very happy with the detail. At a modest zoom on the full size image, I get this 3D feel around the core.

DT

[troypiggo]

Lovely. Looks so sharp and contrasty.

Might have to have a chat with you some time about CCDC and focusing automation :)

[strongmanmike]

Oh yeh! doesn't worry me being up all night, no sir ree, nope, perfectly fine.....

[bokglob]

Very nice, and deeeeeep! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[DavidTrap]

Thank Troy & Darrell. Mike - would that shelf be strong enough for you?

Happy to show you CCDC Troy - Allan's already been onto me as well. Might be easiest to organise a tutorial session in my backyard for the Brisbanites!

DT

[RobF]

Great work David. Love the detail you've pulled out, and made it look so easy.
Must confess I'm a CCDC convert now too. Its the only way to go from the 'burbs. Set to shoot multiple objects as they're visible away from trees etc, then run the same program a few nights in a row, get it to "phone home" if it gets into trouble or strikes cloud. Not too proud to leave it running in the wee hours at a dark sky site either if I need to ensure sufficient beauty sleep for important social engagements following day :P

(Once everyone is doing this we'll be whinging if any image on IIS doesn't have a good "100hrs data" though - "you know, that really could have used another 50hrs data to tame the noise.....")

Turns around the old paradigm of having to have an observatory, and lets you maximise use of valuable clear sky time, particularly for NB where stacks of data required.

[Ross G]

Amazing detail David.

A great photo.

Ross.

[DavidTrap]

Thanks Rob & Ross.

I agree Rob - I'm starting to use it out at Leyburn. I'd much rather get a few hours of untinerrupted sleep and be safer driving home the next day. What do you mean by phone home?? Email?? Are you setting a computer to beep madly at you in the event it receives an email from CCDC??

DT

[RobF]

Telstra/optus don't seem to allow emailing to SMS as CCDC is able to do for overseas telcos, however you can get an error script in Maxim to call your phone using Skype. Only works if you have internet access, but that's fine at home and many dark sky sites. If you don't answer the call, doesn't actually cost anything (other than putting a little on Skype to open an account in the first place). I don't usually bother though if I know from forecasts rain is unlikely. Just let CCDC fail through to Park if problems.

[DavidTrap]

Sounds quite cool Rob. Would be cheaper than buying a cloud detector to achieve the same end result.

I've too have been taking the punt when there is no forecast rain, and double check the 512km composite radar picture before turning in for the night.

DT

[Greg Bock]

As i said before..just sensational, you should be very proud.....awww c'mon...not your first, you've done this before surely...

I'm just coming to terms with CCD Commander for SN searching... i now have it automagically refocussing for me regularly, and also automagically resynching the scope as it wanders off target...wooohooo..a SN hunter's dream come true....i'm sooo happy, sooo happy

[DavidTrap]

Thanks Greg,

Honestly, it is my first tricolour narrowband image - only bought the extra 2 filters in the last couple of months.

And before any one else says it, CCDC is not cheating - just using the technology at one's disposal!

DT

[strongmanmike]

I found myself a copy of CCDC :whistle:

[RobF]

:rofl:
Where do you find all those blasted pics Mike :lol:

[strongmanmike]

Oh, they are around...just gotta look for'em....

Sorry Dave :P