M8 - Lagoon Nebula - my first light image

[vk3bq (Andrew)]

My 14yr old Son and I were have just embarked on our astro photo journey. We have been slowly collecting the bits and pieces needed to make this happen over the last couple of months and last week, the weather, his school holidays and the equipment finally aligned, and we were able to undertake our first ever deep sky attempt collecting data and then have a play with PixInsight trying to understand how to post process that data.

M8 - Lagoon Nebula
Skywatcher 72ED and Reducer on EQ6RPro Mount
ZWO ASI533MMPro main camera
ZWO ASI120MM and ASIAIR Guide and Control
Optolong 1.25" Ha, SII and OIII and wheel
10 x 60 second exposures per filter
Manual focus on each filter
Processed in PixInsight, but no flats/darks/Bias yet (still working that out)
Our Mount Waverley Melbourne Backyard with a pretty bright moon, Bortle 6 the app says.

Two versions of the same data using SHO combinations, the stars are a little over bright, but we are still trying to work the software out! We also only did short captures while learning the gear, how to guide and how to polar align at the same time.

So much more to learn, good thing its a slow hobby!

SHO
http://www.vk3bq.com/wp-content/uplo...ew_SHO_M8.jpeg

HOS (my 14yr old sons edit)
http://www.vk3bq.com/wp-content/uplo...bula-copy.jpeg

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Andrew and mini-Andrew,

For a "first ever" image, that's very well done. You've captured the details in the gas & dust clouds really well. Excellent work.

If I may offer two suggestions - the core of the nebula looks over exposed in both images, and the HOS image appears to have purple halos around the stars.

I'm certain that as you gain experience with both capturing and processing you'll overcome those issues.

Again, very well done!

Cheers,
V

[Dave882 (David)]

Great job Andrew and what a fantastic hobby to do with your son! With practice you’ll get more and more comfortable with the processing side but as a first image, a wonderful result!

I reckon the calibration frames will be your next step to conquer. Seems daunting at first but there’s plenty of info on these forums to guide you through the process, and if you get stuck just ask!!

[LonelySpoon (Neville)]

Way better than my 'first light' image!

well done.

Neville
LSO

[ChrisD (Chris)]

Those are great first images Andrew and son!

Chris

[Dilsh]

Hey Andrew,

I grew up in Mount Waverley and mum still lives there. Nice elevated area but the light pollution can be annoying. Great first capture! What aquistion program are you using? I can highly recommend NINA. It has makes setting up (polar aligning, plate solving etc..) very easy. To get rid of the green in the first image, try SCNR in pixinsight. You can get rid of the purple in the stars by inverting the image "CTRL I" and running SCNR again and then inverting it back.

Again amazing first image. Cannot wait to see what you and mini-Andrew bring us from Mount Waverley.

Take care,

Dilshan

[Stephane]

These are two great images Andrew. Well done, especially considering this is your first. Mine had doughnut stars. How nice you are doing this hobby with your son too.

Regards,
Stéphane

[vk3bq (Andrew)]

Had another play with PixInsight and some more data, still SO much to learn, thanks everyone.

using ASIAIR for PA, Tracking and capture.