NGC5139 - Omega Centauri

browndog (Ian) · #1 06-07-2007, 08:33 AM

Here is my version of NGC5139. Images was taken with a Canon 350d and Celestron 8" SCT (unguided) from a suburban backyard in Perth.

I used Deep Sky Stacker to stack images (4 x 10sec + 2 x 20sec) and then Photoshop to process. I have recently purchased Noel Carboni's Astronomy Tools - this action set for Photoshop has made it easier to process and add some interesting features, like star diffraction spikes and a frame.

I may have over-processed this image but I am still learning and having fun.

Any comments welcome.

iceman (Mike) · #2 06-07-2007, 08:34 AM

Very nice image Ian, well done.

Were the diffraction spikes added in software?

browndog (Ian) · #3 06-07-2007, 09:00 AM

Hi Mike - the diffraction spikes were added in by software (ie Photoshop).

The Astronomy Tools action set is a simple "click and play" process that easily adds star diffraction spikes to your image. I am sure you can do this in Photoshop without this Astronomy Tools add-in - but I have no idea how.

Ric · #4 06-07-2007, 11:38 AM

A great looking image Ian, the colours look great and you have nice resolution right into the core of the glob.

well done

rogerg (Roger) · #5 06-07-2007, 11:54 AM

nice image

h0ughy (David) · #6 06-07-2007, 12:37 PM

as the others said, very nice. Your seeing must have been good to get the stars that sharp and well defined. Well done

luka · #7 06-07-2007, 01:20 PM

I am relatively new to all this so I am probably missing something.
How did you manage to get such sharp (no trailing) 10 s and 20 s exposures without guiding?

iceman (Mike) · #8 06-07-2007, 01:22 PM

Guiding is different to tracking

His image was taken with tracking, but guiding is the self or auto correcting or tracking errors within the mount.

luka · #9 06-07-2007, 01:30 PM

Mike, thank you so much

.

I was completely confused about this and was even thinking of posting a question in the beginner's forum. Now I know.

Ian, excellent photo

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #10 06-07-2007, 02:04 PM

Ian, that is an excellent capture.

No need to worry about the processing, it looks spot-on to me. Nice round stars, good colours, good focus, nice mild diffraction spikes Yadda Yadda . . .

Your mount tracks nicely without guiding over consecutive 20 second images.

Keep up the good work

Dr Nick (Nick) · #11 06-07-2007, 05:27 PM

Very clear! Amazing work!

Tamtarn · #12 06-07-2007, 05:54 PM

Great unguided image Ian, your mount tracks very well.

Good resolution as well, with nice round stars. - Well done

Garyh · #13 07-07-2007, 01:47 PM

Thats nice Ian, nice and sharp, I don`t know about the spikes but!!
But a very good Omega!!
Cheers Gary

rat156 · #14 07-07-2007, 11:22 PM

Ditch the diffraction spikes...

They look fake, and are.
Sort of like somethings else we probably shouldn't mention in this forum...
They're only nice if they're real.

Other than that, nice images.

Cheers
Stuart

browndog (Ian) · #15 08-07-2007, 10:25 AM

Thank you everyone for your responses... greatly appreciated.

I agree with the comments about the diffraction spikes - I wasn't really sure about them myself but I thought I would give them a go. Having just started to use Photoshop and the "Astronomy Tools Action Set" the tendency is to use everything that I could...

I think I will process the image again and not add any on the diffraction spikes... try to keep the image a bit more "real".