NGC253 more data and reprocessed

[Paul Haese]

I now have more data on the Sculptor galaxy and think this version is a better process. Less over sharpened in my opinion with more fine detail showing. Some elongated stars but this is due to flexure.

I used the Spiegel teams version of this galaxy as a guide. It is probably the best amateur image of NGS253 I have seen and my imaging has a long way to go before I can possibly match these guys.

As of note I am really impressed with the STL11 which requires little subs to produce good results. Although I am having some trouble with removing the column defects. I redid my darks and this helped but do I need to redo my bias frames too?

Anyway to the image.

Click here (http://paulhaese.net/NGC253.html)for the larger image.

[E_ri_k]

Very nice! Sharp and lots of detail :thumbsup: What length are your subs in this image?
Erik

[Paul Haese]

Thanks Erik, sub length is 5 minutes with the STL11

[RickS]

Very nice, Paul! Heaps of detail.

I found the best way to deal with a bad column on my STL11K is to map it out completely and use dithering. Calibration just won't get rid of it.

[Paul Haese]

Yeah been doing the same via the guide camera. That does dither but maybe not enough. Might make it through the mount.

[E_ri_k]

Wow, that's nice and short. I was taking 15 minute subs with my QHY.

[SkyViking]

Very impressive, and even better than the first version. It looks very well processed. Definitely one of the best NGC253's that I've seen. Great work Paul.

[Larryp]

That's a superb image, Paul-so much detail!

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys, really appreciate the comments.

[pvelez]

That is a cracker - well done

Pete

[marc4darkskies]

That's a superb image Paul - beautiful - lots of detail and nicely balanced & saturated colour. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

I use CCDStack to repair bad columns and hot pixels - very effective. Create a bad pixel map using a stack of darks. Apply the map to all darks and subs after that. I also dither by a few pixels.

Cheers, Marcus

[gregbradley]

Very nicely done Paul.

Greg.

[Stevec35]

Excellent! Loads of beautiful understated detail and perfect colour. I don't know if you use Maxim Paul but it enables you to get rid of bad columns quite easily by defining them on a bad pixel map.

Cheers

Steve

[Leonardo70]

Really nice Paul. Nice to see the RC in action...

All the best,
Leo

[cventer]

Love it. Well done.

Weather here has been so s . . t for so long I can remember when i last grabbed any photons

[RobF]

Top shelf stuff Paul. Any plans to add some Ha perhaps?

[gregbradley]

Bad columns also reduce with higher cooling levels.
Greg.

[TrevorW]

Nice one Paul

[alpal]

Hi Paul,
That's really nice.
I need to add a lot more data to mine - ( in flickr photos)
that I did on Sunday night.
72 minutes total of LRGB just wasn't enough.

Well done - one of the best I've seen.

[marco]

Extremely sharp to the center Paul, to me one of the best images on this galaxy I have ever seen! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Clear skies
Marco

[atalas]

Looks great Paul!

[strongmanmike]

Have to agree with the comments this is a lovely looking image of NGC 253 and a fantastic first (early?) light from your new scope Paul, well done.

There is a lot outside the main galaxy oval though ;) :whistle:

Mike

[Martin Pugh]

Paul
This is a really good image of NGC253 - colour saturation is just right and the detail is sharp.

cheers
Martin

[Peter Ward]

Best of the NGC253 season I've seen this year.

Nice one :thumbsup:

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys, I will investigate this mapping of the bad columns a bit more. I might contact several of you for further information.

Mike, not early for sure. Over 12 months and this is the second image I have produced with the RC12. However now I will concentrate more on doing images with it. Several already in the mill and data being collected.

Rob, I have a Ha filter in the STL at present but might forgo getting any Ha for now. It might happen next year.

Pete not as sharp as yours. I checked and yours is sharper, no doubt to do with the optics and the AOL guiding.

Thanks all for the kind comments. Much appreciated.

[asimov]

Superb imaging mate!

[Peter Ward]

:question: I guess you mean this one (http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/gallery32.html)... long overdue for a re-visit, but I'm still waiting on an AO-8T or AO-X to emerge from the Skunk-works...

[Poita]

Cracking image. I'd love to see an uncorrected sub to get a look at the column defects.

[Enrique]

Fantastic image. One to emulate,

Enrique

[Ross G]

A great looking galaxy photo Paul.

Ross.

[naskies]

Wow - a stunner and so very detailed!

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys, appreciate your comments.



Here you go Peter.