M83

topheart · #1 31-07-2016, 12:44 PM

Hi All,
Have been swept away with work and new gear teething issues for many months, so haven't posted much lately.

This is the first light image for the new mount and new imaging train.
I'm not that happy with this image, but have posted it up anyway for now until I have time to re-process it.
The ParamountME2 with on axis encoders was the first, I 'm told by SB to be installed south of the equator and initially it was doing weird things with the Hemisphere, TPoint data and ProTrack settings not sticking properly in TheSkyX - we sorted it out - there was a bug in TSX. Then I had to spend a fair bit of time sorting out camera timeout glitches. That was after sorting out the hysteresis in the DEC axis of the mount: - worm block spring holders etc needed tightening up. All of this sort of thing is common with new setups, I think.

I am still tweaking the AO-X guiding parameters to try and optimise the guiding - it is still a work in progress. The guiding for this image was mostly around 8Hz. The smaller stars have a slightly cut off edge - this isn't happening with the data collection now - I think it was from suboptimal mount bumping parameters...?

Thanks for your thoughts.
Cheers,
Tim

Atmos (Colin) · #2 31-07-2016, 08:18 PM

To my eyes it looks like the data itself isn't too bad but it appears as if it has been hit with a fair bit of noise reduction. Also looks like there is blood being swirled down a plug hole

Glad to hear that you're getting your new equipment up and running Tim

topheart · #3 31-07-2016, 10:05 PM

Thanks Colin.
You are right!
I will scrap this image and process again>
Cheers,
Tim

Atmos (Colin) · #4 31-07-2016, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topheart

Thanks Colin.
You are right!
I will scrap this image and process again>
Cheers,
Tim

If it makes you feel better, I've just finished reprocessing some old data of NGC 3584, compared it to my previous version and deleted what I'd just finished as its been a bit butchered in comparison

strongmanmike (Michael) · #5 31-07-2016, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topheart

Thanks Colin.
You are right!
I will scrap this image and process again>
Cheers,
Tim

Yeah good idea Timmy, I recon the next effort will be much better

Good to hear you are getting the new equipment singing though...any pictures?

...so I can get depressed...

Mike

gregbradley · #6 01-08-2016, 07:45 AM

Good to see you back Tim.

M83 is a bit prone to Ha additions to become overbearing. Stars are pretty round so that is good. As mentioned its really just a few points, too much noise smoothing (better off dithering subs when acquiring if you didn't)
(noise reduction is probably best done early in processing) and the Ha blend hasn't worked well. I prefer Ha set as a layer in lighten mode (one simple way).

The other way I like is the same as Marco Lorenzo (his use of Ha is about the best around) which is Don Goldmans clipping mask method for narrowband. He has a free video tutorial on his site for narrowband that goes over the technique. Its about the best way in my opinion.

http://astrodonimaging.com/tutorials/

Greg.

topheart · #7 01-08-2016, 11:04 AM

Greg and Mike,
Thanks very very much!!

Greg - thanks for the advice and link.
Cheers,
Tim

Shiraz (Ray) · #8 06-08-2016, 10:41 PM

interesting to see results from the new gear Tim. As others have commented, the processing looks a tad harsh, but the image clearly shows that you have the new gear sorted - which is always an achievement when you are at the cutting edge.

Peter Ward · #9 06-08-2016, 11:38 PM

Sorry...I'll be blunt: not a great M83.

Resolution is very average: the core is mushy and the bell-weather binary pair at 2 o'clock (in your image) on the galaxy's limb is not cleanly resolved.

Colours are all over the shop...brownish h-alpha regions, pastel colours that look posterized.

You have some absolutely superb skies and kit to go with them!... hence there is no reason to assume the excellent results that can follow...so stick with it

Suggest you have a gander at some professional and top-shelf amateur images of this well imaged galaxy to help steer your processing in the right direction.

topheart · #10 10-08-2016, 09:03 PM

Hi All,

Thanks very much.

I have done a re-processing of the M83 and uploaded it to: https://savannahskies.smugmug.com/Galaxyies/i-z3mbQ9H/A

I had to throw out all the luminance data as it was just not good enough, it was affected for some reason by terrible light flares across the images, so this is just RGB binned 2x2 data - I thought I should just try and get a reasonable image and sort out my processing mistakes with it - I would appreciate your thoughts about the repro. I think it is still a fair way short of what I should be able to achieve.
Regards,
Tim