The Eagle has landed M16

Garyh · #1 01-08-2008, 08:31 PM

Hi everyone,
Well I have finally sat down and processed my attempt at M16 from last weekend. Took me about a hour in total in PixInsight and Photoshop CS to I was at a point where I was happy with it..

Image is 20 x 6 min at iso 800 with my 6" newt and 20D...
Stacked in DSS and noise reduction and deconvolution done in Pixinsight. Great freeware program! Finished in PS.
Also done a little masking to bring up the contrast in the neb and to control those fat stars I get..

All comments most welcome...

Escortitis · #2 01-08-2008, 08:49 PM

Another few hours well spent Gary! The centre of that image just draws you in, great colors.

George.

Ric · #3 01-08-2008, 11:51 PM

A fine image indeed Gary. I think you have got the right blend of colour and detail.

Tandum (Robin) · #4 02-08-2008, 12:55 AM

I like the colour and detail but why are the big stars looking square ? Did you try and reduce their size in photoshop ?

Garyh · #5 02-08-2008, 06:45 AM

Thanks George, Ric and Robin...

Gave it a few more tweeks this morning as I thought it looked a bit flat to liven it up a little..
My brighter stars always look a little square but thats because I have thick spider vanes in this newt ana push things rather hard..Yes I have done a slight minimum on the brightest stars..
Here is the new version in a wider field..
cheers and thanks for looking....

peeb61 (Paul) · #6 02-08-2008, 08:40 AM

Great image Gary!
Looking sweet mate....

Paul

Alchemy (Clive) · #7 02-08-2008, 08:53 AM

looks great gary, superb detail. ive said it before but i will say it again.... that 6 inch newt produces the best images, cant wait to see stuff from the 8 inch you are building.

cheers clive.

Jeffkop (Jeff) · #8 02-08-2008, 08:56 AM

Well Gary ... you've done the Eagle proud there ... come up with one for the poolroom. Wish I knew more about this masking. I mean I know what it is, just not how its applied to astrophotos. If you mean you have to manually go around and select each star so that a process doesnt affect them, well that could take a very long time unless you also have a program that can select the stars automatically. I dont know if I have that much time on my hands ... but mind you, it does sound better than mowing.

Noice image

Jeff

jase (Jason) · #9 02-08-2008, 10:26 AM

Excellent image Gary. Clean histogram. Stars do look as though they were pushed (stretched) rather hard, but you've still managed to maintain good star colour. Well done.

Matty P (Matt) · #10 02-08-2008, 01:42 PM

Lovely eagle Gary, the colours look great.

Very well done.

Garyh · #11 03-08-2008, 08:20 AM

Thanks Paul, Clive , Jeff, Jase and Matt!
Much appreciated!
Was worried that the average seeing would affect it a bit but it still came out nicely. Did something a bit odd to the red channel while stretching this but it doesn`t seem to affect the final image..Must keep my eye on that histogram!
The 8" is coming along slowly. First I need a nice focuser so I can star test the mirror. Then go from there..
cheers and CS (without that darn wind!)
Gary