Helix Bicolour Ha/O3

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

My first attempt at narrow band bicolour for review and comment.
Image details:
Hardware:
Skywatcher Blackdiamond 100mm F9 APO
Skywatcher .85x focal reducer (for F7.8)
QSI 683 ws-8
Acquisition:
Ha = 7 subs @ 30 mins
O3 = 7 subs @ 30 mins
Software:
Maxim DL 5 image capture
Pixinsight 1.8
Processing:
Ha/O3 combined using PixelMath
DBE, noise reduction, histogram stretch, LHE, curves

Higher res version on Astrobin here

[gregbradley]

That's really very excellent. You've gone surprisingly deep for the aperture.

My only comment would be the stars are all white whereas with bicolour you should retain some colour? How did you do the colour combine? I usually do this (from Neil Fleming's site) - Ha red O111 blue (Ha + O111)/2 Green. You make the green by doing a sum combine then dividing by 2 with Pixel Maths.

Greg.

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Looks about right! You've got a lot for 100mm and 3.5 hours each. You've got the radial stripes in OIII and the little face-on spiral at 2 o'clock. Good work.

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Thanks Greg. I did notice that the stars were looking a bit pale but I'm not sure where in the process I reduced the colour. May need to back track and see.

[RickS (Rick)]

Looks good, Rodney! Great work with a small aperture.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Well done.

H

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Nice result for 100 mm and 3.5 hours each. The main "eyebrows" in H-alpha and the radial iris markings in OIII are clear. Good work.

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Wow! First attempt, sensational! Well done Rodney!

[Ross G]

Great looking photo Rodney.

Nice detail and composition.

Good luck.

Ross.

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Thanks for the encouraging feedback everyone.
Much appreciated.
RW

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

A really solid Helix that Rod, well done...in this age of mega deep Ha Helix's it is hard to compete huh?

Mike

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

A really solid Helix that Rod, well done...in this age of mega deep Ha Helix's it is hard to compete huh?

Mike

Thanks Mike. I'm reasonably pleased with what I've managed to squeeze out of my little refractor. I certainly won't be trying for one photon per pixel per four hours with my 100mm aperture though

[Spookyer (Brett)]

Great work if mine comes out half that good I will be pleased.

brett

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

Nicely done Rodney. The bicolour option gives a nice RGB look.
Geoff

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Originally Posted by ghsmith45

Nicely done Rodney. The bicolour option gives a nice RGB look.
Geoff

Thanks Geoff. I did fiddle quite a bit with the mixing in pixelmath to try and obtain a colour balance that I was happy with.