Ghost of Jupiter, GRAS image

[tornado33]

Howdy
I signed up for the GRAS trial membership. Here is the Ghost of Jupiter, I took it last night using GRAS 8
RCOS 12.5"
SBIG STL-11000M

Its a LRGB
L=2x30secs bin 1x1
RGB all 1x30sec each bin 2x2.
I used my usual software IRIS to process it, aling with the GRAS library of darks flats and bias's. I did have to use 60 sec darks ans they didnt have 30 sec ones but I used the IRIS optomize function to account for that
This is a full res. crop of a much bigger image.

Id hate to think how much that rig cost to set up, hence its not exactly inexpensive to use. I will only be able to use the GRAS system a few times a year, but its an interesting exercise for sure. The actual taking of images is quite straightforards. The pointing accuracy is excellent as after slewing to where the mount thinks the set co ords are it does a "platesolve" where it actually matches stars in a short test image against star maps, then puts the set so ords in the centre of the imager. There is, however a "snapshot" mode where you can take and immediately view short unguided images to check the composing of the object. During the imaging a text window shows what is happening in real time.
Scott

[Ric]

A very lovely and detailed image Scott. The colours look spot on as well.

Remote imaging certainly looks very tempting as well as rewarding, I assume that you would need a high speed connection for this type of imaging.

Cheers

[tornado33]

Thanks
A normal broadband ADSL connection seems fine. I wouldnt try it on dialup though.

Oddly enough Ive done no colourbalancing (perhaps their colour filters are matched to the camera to give the same signal across them) I did adjust levels and dynamic stretch a bit. The sky backgropund, before I darkened it seems quite neutral.
Scott

[Dennis]

That is a beautiful image Scott. The sprinkling of the few stars adds to the drama of this nebula, the colours are simply gorgeous. Boy, those stars are round too!

Cheers

Dennis

[iceman (Mike)]

Beautiful work, Scott. Lovely image. Looks just like how it did through Rod's 20" at Wee Jasper. A remarkable image.

With the skies we've been getting lately, remote imaging is a good alternative!

[jase (Jason)]

Nice work Scott. Pleasing to see you try remote imaging. A tip if I may. Now that you've got access to a long focal length instrument such as Brad's RC. Take only luminance and/or Ha images from this instrument. Save your points and skip taking RGB. Then use your own instrument to collect the RGB data, then register the L/Ha with the RGB. It doesn't matter if the RGB data is taken at a different focal length. Keep in mind that the RGB data wont be used for details, only colour information to match the high resolution L/Ha produced by the RC. There are numerous possibilities with image processing compositions.

[dcalleja]

Scott
Very nice image - you can see the impact areas of the high speed gases inside the nebula (can remember what they're called).

Jase
I was curious - How do you align the images if you use RGB data from a scope with different focal length?

[tornado33]

Thanks all
Thats a good idia Jase I shall do that (got 18 points left)

Iris and other software has a function where it can align images of different image scale by automatically resizing them to suit.

Now I need to think about what to image that I already have reasonable colour images of, particularily if I wait for the full moon when the moon discount is at its best as the 12 inch is a much more expensive one to use
Scott