What does this mean?

[jet486]

Taken with a GSO 8" RC and a QSI583WSG. Guided with QSI OAG and Orion Star Shoot Autoguider. LRGB 100 50 50 50. Darks, flats and biases applied. Processed in CCD stack and Photoshop CS3. Please excuse my ignorance but could someone explain what the above information means in relation to the image of the week.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Pic?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I'm not sure if this is the info you want but here goes:
GSO 8" RC is a compound telesecope with a 200mm aperture.
The QSI583WSG is the camera and the QSI OAG is an off axis guider attachment that is used to find a star, which is used to guide on with the guide camera, the Orion Star Shoot Autoguider.

The LRGB 100 50 50 50 are the number of minutes for each image channel (L = Luminance, R = Red G = Green, B = Blue). Darks Flats and Bias are frames that are used to calibrate images and to help reduce electronic noise in the image.

CCD Stack was used to calibrate, align and combine (stack) the original images to produce a master image. That master image is then 'stretched' using various techniques in Photoshop.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

1ponders hit enter first, but here's my version.

Originally Posted by jet486

Taken with a GSO 8" RC

the telescope

and a QSI583WSG.

the CCD camera

Guided with QSI OAG

Off Axis Guider - a mirror picks up some of the light from the same telescope from a part of the field of view which is not covered by the main camera

and Orion Star Shoot Autoguider.

a second camera specifically designed for guiding takes the light from the OAG and provides feedback to the mount to keep the telescope pointed in the same direction

LRGB 100 50 50 50.

refers to how the image was shot as a number of monochrome images. Luminance (unfiltered light or through a clear filter to the keep the focus constant) 100 minutes, Red Green Blue filters 50 minutes each

Darks, flats and biases applied.

correction images to remove known problems with the camera and uneven illumination. No matter how good the gear there are always a few imperfections.

Processed in CCD stack

put the individual monochrome images together and adjust the positioning so they all match

and Photoshop CS3.

adjusting the brightness range and colour balance.

Please excuse my ignorance but could someone explain what the above information means in relation to the image of the week.

It is a bit much for the uninitiated.

[DavidU (Dave)]

What Andy said.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Oh, I get it. What Andy said.

[jet486]

Thanks everyone. Still find it hard to get my head around what is needed to get into photograph so I'll stick with my plan to purchase a Dob and just enjoy the sights of the night skies and admire photo's made by those who can understand what is required. Cheers

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by jet486

Thanks everyone. Still find it hard to get my head around what is needed to get into photograph so I'll stick with my plan to purchase a Dob and just enjoy the sights of the night skies and admire photo's made by those who can understand what is required. Cheers

It is a bit hard to come to grips with the ins and out of astrophotography but it may comfort you to know that some of us astrophotographers are still trying to come to grips with driving a Dob around the night sky.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by jet486

Thanks everyone. Still find it hard to get my head around what is needed to get into photograph so I'll stick with my plan to purchase a Dob and just enjoy the sights of the night skies and admire photo's made by those who can understand what is required. Cheers

Well, when you get your dob up and running, wait until you get a clear night and a good moon in the sky. Stick a 25mm eyepiece in the scope, grab your little "point and shoot" digital camera, set the camera to ISO 100, hold it up to the eyepiece and align the moon's image in the viewscreen, then take a piccie. You'll be amazed at what you get