Better than Ha+Lum only - HH in LHaRGB

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #1 25-12-2008, 09:04 AM

Added colour - see comments 5/1/09
------------------------------------

Someone PLEASE save me from these clouds!!

Like everyone else, I'm shooting the Horsehead but I had only half a night on 22nd before the clouds rolled in! I managed to get 3hrs of Ha (with 30min subs). I've had no clear skies since so with nothing else to do I processed it yesterday.

No fancy processing other than stretching and some modest noise reduction with Neat Image. Mike S will be pleased to see some residual noise - unavoidable with only 6 subs I guess.

It's no Martin Pugh masterpiece, but it's not a bad start with a measly 6"! Can't wait to get more data!!

Small: http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/107387295/large
Full res: http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/107387295/original

Merry Christmas all & clear skies!

Cheers, Marcus

AlexN · #2 25-12-2008, 09:15 AM

measly 6"?? its a 6" Tak APO!! what more do you want Marcus!

Its a lovely image, as you say, its no M. Pugh, but thats no reason to discount its quality, especially in trying conditions with clouds, short overall exposure and minimal processing.. I think these things considered its a real gem of an image!

If only I was so lucky as to have had even 10 minutes of imaging time in the past 3.5/4 weeks...

Merry Christmas mate!
And well done.

Alex.

renormalised (Carl) · #3 25-12-2008, 10:26 AM

Great work there, Marcus

Yeah, it may not be a Martin Pugh "uber-piccie", but it's your piccie and that's what counts

Many of us would like to do even half as well.

AS for the measly 6"....mate, I've driven cars worth less than your scope!!!. I think it's safe to say that most peeps here would kiss ET's butt to own a scope like yours

Anyway, Merry Xmas and a Happy New to you and yours, mate

Martin Pugh · #4 25-12-2008, 06:44 PM

Hi Marcus....I hear you about the weather buddy....I am sick to death of going to bed with a sequence running, only to be pulled out of sleep a few minutes later by the 'Very Cloudy' alarm.

6" Tak APO indeed...and the results show it despite the limited exposure time.....you have pulled out some nice detail there. I trust this will be a HARGB in the fullness of time? I look forward to it. Perhaps you can get NGC 2023 in too.

Keep at it.

Merry Christmas.

Martin

Ric · #5 25-12-2008, 10:26 PM

Very nicely done Marcus, a lovely Ha capture.

gregbradley · #6 25-12-2008, 10:46 PM

Very nice Marcus.

Very tight stars for 30 minute subs - you must have your polar alignment done very well to get that.

Greg.

Bassnut (Fred) · #7 25-12-2008, 10:53 PM

Awesome Marcus. Measly 6"Tak ?, what the hell are you on about.

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #8 25-12-2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

measly 6"?? its a 6" Tak APO!! what more do you want Marcus!

Its a lovely image, as you say, its no M. Pugh, but thats no reason to discount its quality, especially in trying conditions with clouds, short overall exposure and minimal processing.. I think these things considered its a real gem of an image!

If only I was so lucky as to have had even 10 minutes of imaging time in the past 3.5/4 weeks...

Merry Christmas mate!
And well done.

Alex.

Hey thanks Alex! I'm trying to gather more data as I type ..... but ... oh look ... it's gone completely o'cast now. Maybe I'll just have some more eggnog & go to bed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by renormalised

Great work there, Marcus

Yeah, it may not be a Martin Pugh "uber-piccie", but it's your piccie and that's what counts

Many of us would like to do even half as well.

AS for the measly 6"....mate, I've driven cars worth less than your scope!!!. I think it's safe to say that most peeps here would kiss ET's butt to own a scope like yours

Anyway, Merry Xmas and a Happy New to you and yours, mate

Thanks mate & cheers! Yeah - the Tak's a mighty fine piece of kit - I'm a lucky b@$^@&d - I know. Wouldn't mind a bit more luck on the weather front though!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Pugh

Hi Marcus....I hear you about the weather buddy....I am sick to death of going to bed with a sequence running, only to be pulled out of sleep a few minutes later by the 'Very Cloudy' alarm.

6" Tak APO indeed...and the results show it despite the limited exposure time.....you have pulled out some nice detail there. I trust this will be a HARGB in the fullness of time? I look forward to it. Perhaps you can get NGC 2023 in too.

Keep at it.

Merry Christmas.

Martin

G'day Martin - thanks for that. Yes, HaLRGB on the way - clouds permitting of course

. I'm not automated yet so I have to stay up and watch the clouds roll in!

The data shows promise for sure so I'm itching to get more. The AO-L works a treat too - Alnitak is such a bright guide star the AO-L fairly buzzes with excitement!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

Very nicely done Marcus, a lovely Ha capture.

Thanks Ric. Yeah, I always get a kick out of Ha shots - love how it highlights the streamers that rise up out of IC434.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Very nice Marcus.

Very tight stars for 30 minute subs - you must have your polar alignment done very well to get that.

Greg.

Thanks Greg.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Awesome Marcus. Measly 6"Tak ?, what the hell are you on about.

Thanks Fred. Don't mind me - just suffering some mild aperture envy - I'll get over it!

Cheers, Marcus

h0ughy (David) · #9 25-12-2008, 11:55 PM

nice HH Marcus

jase (Jason) · #10 26-12-2008, 10:51 AM

Nailling it Marcus. Very nice work in managing the Ha data. 3hrs isn't bad given 30min subs. Should have some good S/N from the STL. Look forward to seeing some RGB integrated. Well done.

Peter Ward · #11 26-12-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Can't wait to get more data!!

....

I think anyone living in the Sydney basin knows exactly what you mean.
I've not done any imaging for a few months....did learn how to fly a new aeroplane though...but I digress....your HH is shaping up beautifully.

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #12 26-12-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

nice HH Marcus

Hey Houghy, thanks mate!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jase

Nailling it Marcus. Very nice work in managing the Ha data. 3hrs isn't bad given 30min subs. Should have some good S/N from the STL. Look forward to seeing some RGB integrated. Well done.

Thanks Jase. Looking forward to tangling with the glare from Alnitak with the L & B data (not!).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

I think anyone living in the Sydney basin knows exactly what you mean.
I've not done any imaging for a few months....did learn how to fly a new aeroplane though...but I digress....your HH is shaping up beautifully.

Thanks Peter. Yes, it's been that long for me too - I guess there's always tomorrow night!

Bring back el Nino I say!

A380?

Cheers, Marcus

multiweb (Marc) · #13 27-12-2008, 08:40 AM

You got to be happy with that for a start

That's awesome Marcus.

Loads of details already. If you're somehow displeased with the performance of your TAK let me know and I'll come and pick it up from you on my next trip to Bowen Mountain.

I wouldn't want you to get upset about it and if there's any way to save you from this heartache let me know

Peter Ward · #14 27-12-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

A380?

Cheers, Marcus

Yep... Paperwork came back from CASA Christmas eve

AlexN · #15 27-12-2008, 07:40 PM

That would be like flying a skyscraper!

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #16 28-12-2008, 12:34 PM

Now with some LUM added - still a work in progress though. Managed to gather 2 hours worth and a bit of G before the clouds came back. Same links as before:

Small: http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/107387295/large
Full res: http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/107387295/original

A bit less noise and of course the reflection nebula NGC 2023 is showing up well now.
Now on to the RGB!

Cheers, Marcus

renormalised (Carl) · #17 28-12-2008, 02:26 PM

Even better

RGB will look stunning!!!

strongmanmike (Michael) · #18 28-12-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Someone PLEASE save me from these clouds!!

No fancy processing other than stretching and some modest noise reduction with Neat Image. Mike S will be pleased to see some residual noise - unavoidable with only 6 subs I guess.

It's no Martin Pugh masterpiece, but it's not a bad start with a measly 6"! Can't wait to get more data!!

That's excellent Marcus with as much to see (or more?) than the shots done with larger more expensive instruments and although, yes, it is Ha only which shows finer details better, never the less it once again shows that a good 6" APO can match it with a much bigger and much more expensive RC AND although you did this one at F11, provide a good FOV

I think you could have done just a tad less sharpening and thus a bit less noise reduction (sorry

) the noise reduction is still a little obvious in places for me and the stars look a little hard edged and over sharpened - I know I've been guilty of this on occassions too while trying to extract every bit of detail poossible from our average size manhood

, so I understand and it still looks good.

You will need to be on your game though, once you get the colour data, to produce a similarly exciting rendition in HaRGB...I have faith in you though and if you get it right this image has the potential to be the most beautiful HH posted to this forum so far, keep the 6" APO flag flying!

Nice job

If I don't get out this week..?..I will probably have to reprocess something......

Mike

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #19 28-12-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renormalised

Even better

RGB will look stunning!!!

Cheers Renorm!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

That's excellent Marcus with as much to see (or more?) than the shots done with larger more expensive instruments and although, yes, it is Ha only which shows finer details better, never the less it once again shows that a good 6" APO can match it with a much bigger and much more expensive RC AND although you did this one at F11, provide a good FOV

I think you could have done just a tad less sharpening and thus a bit less noise reduction (sorry

) the noise reduction is still a little obvious in places for me and the stars look a little hard edged and over sharpened - I know I've been guilty of this on occassions too while trying to extract every bit of detail poossible from our average size manhood

, so I understand and it still looks good.

You will need to be on your game though, once you get the colour data, to produce a similarly exciting rendition in HaRGB...I have faith in you though and if you get it right this image has the potential to be the most beautiful HH posted to this forum so far, keep the 6" APO flag flying!

Nice job

If I don't get out this week..?..I will probably have to reprocess something......

Mike

Thanks Mike - appreciate that - and thanks for the feedback!! Tonight looks like the night to finish!

No, no generalised sharpening - except for a tiny and very selective amount of wavelet around the head of the horse and to highlight a couple of the brighter clouds (after noise reduction). I think maybe I've just been a little too aggressive with my curves at the bright end - thus some over-crisp stars. No escaping the noise reduction because on the top part of the frame you have to emphasise the Ha (less L) and on the bottom half the L (less Ha). If I get some good chrominance maybe I'll try layering in some syth L so I can take out some of the noise reduction. Anyway, I'm sure I'll review it all again during final processing

Cheers, Marcus

Peter Ward · #20 28-12-2008, 11:53 PM

Marcus,

The data is shaping up brilliantly and all I can add is this will indeed be a pearler of a shot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

..... it once again shows that a good 6" APO can match it with a much bigger and much more expensive RC...
......

Mike...nah...been there, done that, got the T-shirt. I have an AP155 lying around somewhere

...which is indeed a very fine instrument, and easily in the same league as the Taka's...but...and taking nothing away from Marcus' sterling effort... for some jobs the heavy artillery just works better.

The devil is often in the detail.