[mikeyjames (Mick)]

Hi all,
I've had another stab at the Tarantula. This time:

Prime Focus through my 200mm Skywatcher Reflector with no guiding
Modded Cannon 60D
18 x 30 sec @ 1600 ISO
10 x Dark
10 x Flat
10 x Bias

I used a DGM NPB filter to take the pics

I processed using DSS and made no changes. I used Paintshop Pro to increase saturation and decrease shadows. Then used Fitsworks for wavelet noise filter. That's it - very minimal processing.

I've attached my first attempt as well for reference. I think it's a big improvement. Some things I need to learn and need advice on:

Obviously the green colour comes from the DGM NPB filter. When taking pics using filters I guess a Ha filter everything will look red, and OIII filter will look green. How do you then get it looking natural? Not after a complete guide just to be pointed in right direction.

I can see lots of red dots. Are these actually stars or camera noise? How would I tell the difference? I thought if they are looking elongated at high magnification (no guiding and/or coma) they would be stars, is this a correct assumption?

Any other comments, no matter how harsh, welcomed. I want to learn.


Thanks
Mick