NGC 2070 / Tarantula Nebula

[chances]

This picture is contains 5 x 2 min subs using a ZWO533 one shot color through an EdgeHD925, looks really nice and hoping to get more time on it when the sky clear up.

Taken from my backyard in the Brisbane suburbs using a 1.25" Astronomik UHC Filter on the camera and Astroberry for controlling everything.

Nowhere near as bad as Orion but its easy to over do the stars in the center I found.

Software used for processing was - DSS, GIMP and ... Cyberlink PhotoDirector 8 ...
Hoping to move over to pixinsight once I have some more data to mess around with on the trial.

Lastly thanks for checking out my photo !

5Mb uncompressed JPG is available here - https://imgur.com/a/kET03tY

[Robert_T]

hi there before jumping to pix insight you may want to give Startools a go. I find it does a great job and is simple to use but can also be taken to a next level...maybe not quite the next level of pixinsight power but far enough for me :-)

Wondering why 20 min subs? With the ASI533 and your scope at it's focal length I think you would be far better off with much shorter exposures that will be less affected by tracking, seeing etc. I've had good results on this object with 2 min exposures using essentially the same sensor type latest liked below processed in Startools. Certainly I think you would see better results with 20 x 5min as opposed to 5 x 20min as here.

https://www.astrobin.com/full/qovqep/0/

[chances]

Originally Posted by Robert_T

hi there before jumping to pix insight you may want to give Startools a go. I find it does a great job and is simple to use but can also be taken to a next level...maybe not quite the next level of pixinsight power but far enough for me :-)

Wondering why 20 min subs? With the ASI533 and your scope at it's focal length I think you would be far better off with much shorter exposures that will be less affected by tracking, seeing etc. I've had good results on this object with 2 min exposures using essentially the same sensor type latest liked below processed in Startools. Certainly I think you would see better results with 20 x 5min as opposed to 5 x 20min as here.

https://www.astrobin.com/full/qovqep/0/

Ahh nice ill give that a go before pixinsight for sure, seems like alot to learn to get the most out of it.

20 min subs lol, sorry my bad I meant 2 minute ! How silly

Testing a UHC filter mainly, want to see how much difference it makes. Anything over 2 minutes here seems to not be too beneficial from my backyard so need some more time to test. Weather has been horrendous lately !

[Startrek (Martin)]

I concur with Robert
Good effort and nice image there but image is underdone on the quantity of data you need on this object to really throw it wide open
Cool you camera down to -10C to -15C and capture at least minimum 2 to 3 hours of data ( 3 to 5 minute dithered guided subs )
I use Startools exclusively too but haven’t downloaded the latest version 1.7
V1.6 and 1.7 have been ( in part ) designed specifically for OSC broadband and narrowband image processing
Here’s my Tarantula captured last year in Bortle 8 Sydney with my 2600MC and Duoband filter ( about 2 hours of data I think from memory 3 minute dithered guided subs ) Scope 6” newt and processed in Startools v1.6 compose
You can see how much detail is in this object and even I felt that I needed more data at the time
Try and capture more data next time with longer subs and see the difference
Good luck with it and give Startools a go , I think once you get the hang of it you will improve your final images , especially with a OSC camera
Cheers

[chances]

Originally Posted by Startrek

I concur with Robert
Good effort and nice image there but image is underdone on the quantity of data you need on this object to really throw it wide open
Cool you camera down to -10C to -15C and capture at least minimum 2 to 3 hours of data ( 3 to 5 minute dithered guided subs )
I use Startools exclusively too but haven’t downloaded the latest version 1.7
V1.6 and 1.7 have been ( in part ) designed specifically for OSC broadband and narrowband image processing
Here’s my Tarantula captured last year in Bortle 8 Sydney with my 2600MC and Duoband filter ( about 2 hours of data I think from memory 3 minute dithered guided subs ) Scope 6” newt and processed in Startools v1.6 compose
You can see how much detail is in this object and even I felt that I needed more data at the time
Try and capture more data next time with longer subs and see the difference
Good luck with it and give Startools a go , I think once you get the hang of it you will improve your final images , especially with a OSC camera
Cheers

Nice picture!

I see mine is also upside down - at least
Long way to go ...

I have been running temp at -5 as its been quite warm here at night, was planning to push it colder in winter?
I could try -10 I think that would still be within the -35 degree ambient window.
Do you think it makes much difference the lower you go ?
Does it get better exponentially is probably more the question im asking.

Startools... Might give it a look tonight if it turns out to be overcast, I cant really use GIMP that well compared to photoshop and I think its limiting the processing.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Here’s a snapshot of the dark current graph for the 533MC
5C or 10C cooler does make a difference with dark current ,
especially pushing longer subs in 3 to 5 minute duration
Try and cool your camera to -15C if you can ( depends on ambient outside temp and humidity etc..,)
I have a basic example workflow for Startools V1.6 ( similar to 1.7 ) if you decide to buy and use this software, happy to pass on to you
Good luck next time out

[Startrek (Martin)]

Here’s a snapshot of the dark current graph for the 533MC
5C or 10C cooler does make a difference with dark current ,
especially pushing longer subs in 3 to 5 minute duration
Try and cool your camera to -15C if you can ( depends on ambient outside temp and humidity etc..,)
I have a basic example workflow for Startools V1.6 ( similar to 1.7 ) if you decide to buy and use this software, happy to pass on to you
Good luck next time out

Oops now attached !!!

[chances]

Originally Posted by Startrek

Here’s a snapshot of the dark current graph for the 533MC
5C or 10C cooler does make a difference with dark current ,
especially pushing longer subs in 3 to 5 minute duration
Try and cool your camera to -15C if you can ( depends on ambient outside temp and humidity etc..,)
I have a basic example workflow for Startools V1.6 ( similar to 1.7 ) if you decide to buy and use this software, happy to pass on to you
Good luck next time out

Oops now attached !!!

Thanks for all the info, looks like I have some more tinkering to do