This is only the third time I've had a play with this camera and I'm quite happy at my progress. I've still to learn so much about it but there is potential there even with me using it
NGC253: Orion ED80 and WO 0.8x FR, IR filter only used on camera, 60 frames @ 30sec, track and accumulate, automatic dark subtraction. Slight curves, levels, noise reduction, rotation and crop in PS. Slight blooming is evident in the brightest stars. Still to learn how to quickly and effectively deal with these little blighters.
I tried to do some colour frames but I need to bake the desiccant as fogging is definately a problem. I think shortly I'll be ready to go beyond the Track and Accumulate and do longer exposures with the grab function. And then I'll be ready to use CCDSoft. Atm I'm using the proprietary CCDOPs.
There is going to be some definate potential there Mike, especially when the 0.5X reducer arrives for the 8" meade
BTW the height of this image is actually the full width of the image. I cropped the ends off the length. If you can follow that gibberish. So I will have plenty of room on the chip to image at 1000mm FL with the meade. Last nights FL was only 480mm
Ok, here is a very quick and dirty registration and combining using Registar and then an even quicker crop and touch up in PS. I used the finished Tiff from the other night out at Cambroon taken with the DSLR/ED80/WO 0.8 FR for the colour and the finished Tiff from lasts night for the detail. The only difference being the cameras used. I could have done a bit more but I've got to go back to work
I need to look at different methods of combining images once they have been registered in Registar. I don't like the automated combine process in Registar.
Thanks Dennis. I feel I'm getting there but I just wish I could get more than 1 night in two weeks to actually get out there and shoot. I've been spoilt this week by having both Cambroon and a clear night to use last night. Fingers crossed for tomorrow night
Nice, thanks Ken. Now if you can just show me how to deal with the bloom spikes without having to resort to the tried and true method of individually cloning them out that would be great
Paul has done such a great job of imaging NGC253 that it was a pity to see it spoiled by the dreaded Blue-Ringed Octopus around the brighter stars.
I took the image into PhotoShop and de-fanged them. I did it manually as I believe it does a better job than PS Actions.
(Posted with Pauls permission)
Wow – it keeps on getting better and better. Nice re-process Ken. It’s a pity that the ‘scope operator and image acquirer couldn’t provide you with better data in the first instance.
Using the same images as before and registering in Registar, I then took the images into PS and then layered them and set the SBIG one to Luminosity (after giving them both a bit of a sharpening tweek ). Might be a bit dark and blotchy, but I'm learning
...Now if you can just show me how to deal with the bloom spikes without having to resort to the tried and true method of individually cloning them out that would be great
If you're using CCDSoft which comes with the SBIG cameras, you can get a "deBloomer" (or some similar name) plugin. I tried it for a while and it was certainly very good, but I let my trial lapse and never got around to buying it since. I tend to just avoid stars that lead to blooming. I think the plugin might have been written by someone "famous" like Ron Wodaski... not sure though.
Nice work Paul.
Why not go deeper with internal guiding?
Yes, Ron Wodaski's debloomer is a fine application. http://www.newastro.com/newastro/dow...ts.asp#debloom
Nice feature how it rotates the stars that bloom to bring them back into a natural circular shape - typically rotated 90 degrees.
Thanks for the info Roger and Jase. I'll certainly look into the plugin.
I will go deeper Jase, but this is only my third go at the camera so I'm still feeling my way about. I'm hoping to get another chop at it tomorrow night. I have to bake the dehumidifier first as I've been getting some fogging as the night progresses.
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