Thread: M8 Mosaic
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Old 21-08-2014, 07:55 PM
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Rex
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Townsville, Australia
Posts: 991
M8 Mosaic

Hi Guys,
This is my very first ever mosaic so I chose a nice bright target to practice on. This is made up of two panels and was taken over four nights. I will probably add to this image as I collect more data. I have some funky stars in there I know. I have some focuser tilt which I am currently working through. Constructive criticism greatly appreciated. I have uploaded a lerger version to my private area in astrobin, until I am totally happy with it. the link to the larger version is here.
Technical data:
Imaging telescope: Skywatcher CFP2008 Carbon Fibre 8" f4
Imaging cameras: Canon 1100D Astro modded
Mounts: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
Guiding telescopes: 4" f5 Newtonian
Guiding cameras: QHY5
Resolution: 6209x2583
Dates: Aug. 21, 2014
Locations: Townsville NQld Australia
Frames: 134x300" 67 for each panel.
Integration: 11.2 hours
Avg. Moon age: 25.40 days
Avg. Moon phase: 18.06%
Software:Astro Photography Tool, Pixinsight 1.8, PHD guiding
Filters: Astronomik CLS-CCD Clip
Accessories: Baader MPCC coma corrector

Edit: I have attached a second image for comparison which has had no noise reduction routine applied (see Richards Post below). Am interested to know what the common opinion is about the two of them.

Edit2: I did a masked stretch instead of histogram stretch as Richard suggested below. Lots more detail has come out, may need to adjust the settings a bit though. Let me know what you think. I placed it in this post so it is easier to compare with the others. Thanks for looking.

Edit3: Did a LHE on the image to restor some detail back into M8, as suggested by Richard below. Image attached for comparison. Thanks again for the help richard
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (M8_Mosaic_interum1.jpg)
186.5 KB103 views
Click for full-size image (M8_Mosaic_no_NR.jpg)
179.3 KB75 views
Click for full-size image (M8_Mosaic_Maskedstretch.jpg)
199.4 KB75 views
Click for full-size image (M8_Mosaic_Final2_IIS.jpg)
196.3 KB82 views

Last edited by Rex; 22-08-2014 at 11:12 AM.
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