LMC mosaic finished for now.

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Here's my final attempt at an LMC mosaic using the FSQ and D800. I needed 6 frames to cover it, but as they were recorded over different nights the seeing difference and gradients are troublesome even with Pixinsight, and there's one frame with focus problems ( I spent too long sorting out the guiding and didn't re-check as the scope cooled).
Bottom line is that it was a lot harder to do than I thought, and I'll have to think about a better way of doing it - perhaps a fl reducer will help as there's almost too much resolution at this focal length.
Higher res version here:
http://www.astrobin.com/27741/
If anyone wants the 2.3Gb full res version - you're welcome to stop by with a thumb drive!
regards, and any tips welcome!
Andrew.

[bojan]

This is very good work.
I think you didn't use RegiStar for stitching? (it think it could handle the transition between individual frames better)

[naskies (Dave)]

Looks great, Andrew. The colours seem a bit different to what I'm used to seeing in LMC photos (more orange than pink)?

[Larryp (Laurie)]

That's superb, Andrew!

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Thanks guys - I'm finding the colours to be a real challenge when I use the LPR filter, especially star colour. Once I'd started acquiring panels with it, I figured I might as well finish it. Boosting the red to try and balance it highlights the mismatch between the frames as well.
I used pixinsight to make the mosaic, which included detrending and fitting the frames to each other. I might revisit it later and give Registar a go.
cheers,
Andrew.

[PeterM]

Ahhh Locky you have come over to the dark current! Giant Dobs left standing alone in the dark. I like this image a lot.

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Thanks Peter - it's been a long road for this little spotty kid from the 60mm refractor 30 years ago! Although I'm not giving up the eyepieces just yet, I appear to have got permission to build a backyard Obs over here for the purposes of sn searching in a year or so.
cheers,
Andrew.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by alocky

Thanks Peter - it's been a long road for this little spotty kid from the 60mm refractor 30 years ago! Although I'm not giving up the eyepieces just yet, I appear to have got permission to build a backyard Obs over here for the purposes of sn searching in a year or so.
cheers,
Andrew.

30 years ago... I remember it and you well from back then. Gregg Thompson definitely had an influence on our Astronomy.

[alpal]

Hi Andrew,
Nice job & I'm sure you can improve it with some more processing.
I think a little more contrast & colour correction would help too.

[Paul Haese]

Nice lookin image. I like the subtle hues and colours.

[Ross G]

Great photo Andrew.

Amazing colour and detail.


Ross.