Modestly shallow Helix :)

[LewisM]

Put a fork in it, it's done.

This one was baked for only 1 hour with the Tak FSQ85ED Baby Q coupled with the FLI 8300c OSC CCD but I think I managed to tease the absolute maximum out of it.

I might add more data to it, likely I won't as there are SOOOOOOOOOOOO many Helices out there, there is almost no point.

Lots of experimentation, most of which seemed to actually work! All those wet and cloudy winter months experimenting, reading, trying things, creating my own PS actions.

Anyway, love it, hate it, here it is - 1 hour fast roasted NGC 7293.

Oh yeah, made a new watermark too

Amélioration de l'affichage , within the constraints of my chefing abilities, ala Astrobin: http://www.astrobin.com/full/120294/0/ (cropped to a sensible size, sorry Paul )

And the ubiquitously lossy IIS JPEG version herein

Any suggestions for how else to improve 1 hour of data BESIDES adding MORE data, please, fire away!

EDIT: latest cropped redux: http://www.astrobin.com/120466/B/

[RB (Andrew)]

Not too bad actually, you're improving.
Colours are ok.
Watermark is nice.
Did you take flats?

Maybe you need to bunch 10000000000000000000000000000000000 000 laser pointers individually so you can centre the object better.
Not a fan of the "Rule of thirds" for astro images.

Not too bad overall.

RB

[LewisM]

Nope, no flats or bias. Only MaxIM auto-darks.

I might bunch 1000000000000000000000000 FSQ85's, and see if I can concentrate all images into one - but that might burn a hole through to the centre of the Earth.

I follow the Rule of Turds.

[RB (Andrew)]

One of the simplest things to do to improve an image is to take flats.
You have good quality equipment and you go to so much trouble collecting good data, don't skimp on flats.

[LewisM]

Just for you Roberto...

http://www.astrobin.com/full/120466/0/

[RB (Andrew)]

That looks better.

[RobC (Rob)]

That's a big improvement Lewis. Congratulations

Cheers Rob

[atalas]

Nice pic Lewis and a good 1 hr effort....I wont suggest this I'll just think It(more data)

[LewisM]

Another repro: http://www.astrobin.com/120466/B/

[atalas]

Onya mate...very nice.

[LewisM]

Thanks Lou - I was beginning to think it was yet another carp image of mine - I have a few dozen

I realised my monitor I work on is NOT calibrated properly - too dynamic and bright - so what I think looks right, looks dull on other computers (checked on the other comps in the house and at work and a mate's place). I bought another Spyder calibrator (I had the previous one permanently borrowed...aka stolen) just today, so will recalibrate when it arrives. Hopefully should improve things somewhat