Go Back   IceInSpace > Images > Deep Space
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 13-08-2008, 12:51 PM
beren
Registered User

beren is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,810
Caelestis Lacuna

Gday I tried to image M8 with the ST2000xcm, not sure if I have overcooked it with the processing but have found it extremely tough to work on. 10x15mins subs with seperate darks shot through a FSQ-106. Cheers for looking and any tips/thoughts most welcome

Gallery link
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (M8-AugLagoon-sky [1600x1200].jpg)
182.0 KB28 views
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 13-08-2008, 02:17 PM
bluescope's Avatar
bluescope
I've got a Sirius eye !

bluescope is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Country W.A.
Posts: 1,587
Looks a bit noisy for two and a half hours Beren, I would have expected a lot smoother image for that length exposure. Tracking and guiding looks good, not too sure about focus.
It also looks as if you have some small specs of dirt on your chip. They can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol ( Dick Smith Electronics ) and cotton buds .... read your camera manual for details, although it's not very helpful. Another option is to subtract flats from your images. You can find tutorials about this on IIS and other sources.
The main thing is that you are getting out there and practising your skills and the more you do it the better you will get.



p.s. I just adjusted your image a little. Removed gradient, gaussian blurr layer, levels adjust. Only slight changes ... hope you like it ! Can't work miracles with small jpegs.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (M8-AugLagoon-sky%20%5B1600x1200%5D_adj-S.Hanson.jpg)
179.0 KB9 views
Click for full-size image (M8-AugLagoon-sky%20%5B1600x1200%5D.jpg)
182.0 KB17 views

Last edited by bluescope; 13-08-2008 at 02:50 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 13-08-2008, 05:27 PM
gregbradley's Avatar
gregbradley
Registered User

gregbradley is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 18,183
Nice image overall.

As pointed out flats will improve the image.

I take dawn, dusk sky flats. I put a white T-shirt over the end of my scope and smooth out any wrinkles. I use a rubber band or something to hold it on.

I then shot a flat for each filter (you have to be fast as light conditions change rapidly at dusk and dawn so be organised with your file naming for saving).

I go for about 20,000 ADU for a flat and take about 3-5 and median combine them using CCDstack.

Make sure you take flats with the camera in the same orientation you intend to image with as then the dust donuts will still line up.

I also shoot bias images and subtract them from my flats. This then means you do not need to subtract bias images from the images later if you use these bias subtracted flats.

It all takes about 15 minutes or so and less with an ST2000 as the file downloads only take a few seconds.

Greg.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 13-08-2008, 09:39 PM
beren
Registered User

beren is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,810
thanks for the tips Chris/Greg, might try this one again at new moon
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 03:35 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement
Astrophotography Prize
Advertisement