Obs First Light - DSLR Helix Nebula 20.8 hours

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

A few weeks back I posted my first "work-in-progress" image from my new "narrow-field" observatory setup at Strathalbyn south of Adelaide. I would now like to share with you all the processed final (?) image.

Tech Details:
Telescope: Vixen VC200L with f6.4 reducer
Mount: NEQ6 w EQMOD
Camera: DIY Peltier modded Canon 1000D, with sensor at a nominal regulated 10 C
Guiding: Lacerta OAG with QHY5L-II
Software: SGPro and Pixinsight 1.8
Capture: 125 x 10min subs @ ISO1600 captured over 6 nights

I have pre-processed this using the new Pixinsight Bayer Drizzle feature. From the PI website: "The idea behind Bayer drizzle is pretty straightforward: with a sufficient number of dithered frames, the drizzle integration algorithm can be applied to fill the existing holes in the red, green and blue channels of multiple CFA Bayer images to form a demosaiced RGB color image directly from calibrated raw data without interpolation."

I have tried to process this to show both the extended Ha regions (as much as possible with a straight OSC capture program) as well as central detail. There are also a number of background galaxies in this region which I have sought to highlight. Using this image from the CHART32 0.9m telescope at the high altitude CTIO facility in Chile, I have (just in the Helix region alone) identified more than 50 galaxies in my image.

I have attached here the full frame, a 100% crop to show the central detail, and a graphic illustrating some of the background galaxies that I have visually identified from the CHART32 image.

Hi-res version of my image here for those interested: http://www.astrobin.com/full/115556/D/ (edit: link updated to revised version)

I have something going on with the optical alignment as there are some funky stars in the top corner. Might be collimation (i performed collimation using the vixen visual procedure followed by a star test), or perhaps sensor tilt...? Im thinking of experimenting during the next full moon period with some shims to see if that fixes the issue

Any comments, advice, criticism appreciated

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Great stuff Richard, I like your enthusiasm

The image is really good and at the size displayed on astrobin there is some good nebula extension and the stars look nice and golden...under enlargement the background deconvolution pimples and damaged star spikes and detail are a shame. I recon a version with these processing steps adjusted could look really great.

Overall though a great bit of DSLR work from your new twin huts

Mike

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Appreciate the feedback Mike

I have addressed the decon "pimples" with the attached. New Astrobin file here: http://www.astrobin.com/full/115556/B/

[edit - a new attempt to also address the disappointing detail at full frame is now attached to post #5]

[gregbradley]

That's a wonderful image Richard. Wow, 20.8 hours. One of the longest DSLR images I have ever seen.

Greg.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Thanks Greg. Attempting to squeeze more details out i have applied some careful LocalHistogramEqualization in Pixinsight using the blue channel as a mask, see attached full frame and 100% crop

New astrobin link: http://www.astrobin.com/full/115556/C/

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Excellent work Richard! Well done

[Octane (Humayun)]

You should be very proud, Richard. That is an outstanding effort. Well done!

H

[pluto (Hugh)]

That's a very impressive image!

[John K]

That is one amazing DSLR image and an amazing image of the Helix. Just shows that once you get those amount of hours up what is possible! Congrats.

John K.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

awesome work Richard, great to see the observatory up and running must be very satisfying!

all the best

Rusty

[RickS (Rick)]

Great work, Richard! Still some noticeable decon artifacts in the full res "C" version but very nice...

Cheers,
Rick.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Thanks for the encouraging comments. I noticed this afternoon that my "careful" LHE wasn't so careful after all and introduced some decon artifacts back into the image (as Rick has pointed out). Will look to address this when I get home from work this evening.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Amazing shot Richard. Wow 20.8 hours. I'd love to go that long but I would need an observatory to do it.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Have pulled back some of the decon artifacts i introduced with my last version, and have also tried to boost the extended Ha loop to the right side (as shown in this image) of the Helix . its there, but im probably teetering in the edge (or possibly off the edge) of "a stretch too far"

the latest hi-res http://www.astrobin.com/full/115556/D/

With three revisions inside of 12 hours its probably time to step back and reflect before another attempt...

thanks all for your encouragement and patience...

[Virgs]

What I love most about this fine image is that it was achieved using such modest equipment - I tip my hat to you good sir!

[Elio]

very impressive, great result for a dslr

[LewisM]

Really like it - very nice colour, not gawdy neon at all. Light respected

Humble equipment yields superlative results.

[blink138 (Pat)]

nice richard, perhaps may even be able to see some galaxies in the close up within the "hole"!
pat