Lambda Ha FSQ106 and QHY8

[Hagar (Doug)]

Another Ha with the big bright moon.

Lambda Centauri. Running Chicken nebula. I can't see the chook but here is 1hr and 40 minutes of Ha captured with QHY8 and Baader 7nm Ha filter. This was suppose to be 3 hrs worth but rolling cloud ended the session early.
I can't winge to much as I at least got this much. It might be useful for a later RGB image. Who knows.

[jase (Jason)]

Nice work there Doug! The Ha data really packs a punch, which has brought out some pleasing details. Histogram looks clean. Have you tried simply stretching the data using curves only. i.e. no levels to drop the white point prior to using curves. It may take quite a few iterations of curves, the levels to raise the black point, but you may just extract that little more from the data particularly in the shadows with out pushing the boundary of white clipping the highlights. DDP is good at see what potential the data has - give it a try so you know whats possible, then try achieve a similar result using curves. Hope to see you finish this one off with chrominance data - the FSQ is delivering the goods. Top stuff. Well done.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Oh nice and contrasty Doug, great FOV.

The contrast looks a bit high to me so you are losing details in the bright areas so I would try and stretch it a bit too, try what Jase has suggested. I use DDP and Log stretch in Astroart4 to spread the dynamic range out but similar functions are available on other packages..as I am sure you already know.

Mike

[Alchemy (Clive)]

one of my fave bits of the sky..... its lost in skyglow of the city here.

[Tamtarn]

As Mike has said above a nice field of view from the 106, the HA filter has certainly brought out detail.

[Ric]

Lovely image Doug.

I always enjoy Ha images, there's something about the contrast and depth of a B&W image that really makes them unique.

Cheers

[multiweb (Marc)]

Nice pic Doug. Bit too contrasty to my taste but that's me. I mean the stars. Very cool details in the neb though.

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by jase

Nice work there Doug! The Ha data really packs a punch, which has brought out some pleasing details. Histogram looks clean. Have you tried simply stretching the data using curves only. i.e. no levels to drop the white point prior to using curves. It may take quite a few iterations of curves, the levels to raise the black point, but you may just extract that little more from the data particularly in the shadows with out pushing the boundary of white clipping the highlights. DDP is good at see what potential the data has - give it a try so you know whats possible, then try achieve a similar result using curves. Hope to see you finish this one off with chrominance data - the FSQ is delivering the goods. Top stuff. Well done.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Oh nice and contrasty Doug, great FOV.

The contrast looks a bit high to me so you are losing details in the bright areas so I would try and stretch it a bit too, try what Jase has suggested. I use DDP and Log stretch in Astroart4 to spread the dynamic range out but similar functions are available on other packages..as I am sure you already know.

Mike

Thanks for the comments Gents. I have just taken the original image and stretched it only using curves and a little shadows and highlights.
Not really sure if it's better or worse. Just new to Ha imaging and I'm not sure which way is the expected way to process such an image or how to really get the desired result.

Comments gratefully recieved.

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

I like it a lot

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

one of my fave bits of the sky..... its lost in skyglow of the city here.

G'Day Clive, yes it's a very active section of the sky ith lots happening all the time. I am fortunate that I don't suffer from sky glow but do have some horrid atmospheric problems. Can't win em all.

Originally Posted by Tamtarn

As Mike has said above a nice field of view from the 106, the HA filter has certainly brought out detail.

Hi Barb and David. Really starting to enjoy this new baby but I am looking forward to getting some RGB and also getting a few of the bits I have ordered like the CAA. Soon I will fit the reducer and see how it goes at F3.7. Now that will be diferent from my usual.

Originally Posted by Ric

Lovely image Doug.

I always enjoy Ha images, there's something about the contrast and depth of a B&W image that really makes them unique.

Cheers

I have never been a fan of NB images but I must say I quite enjoy the Mono tones in a Ha image and the clarity it helps to produce. Thanks Ric.

Originally Posted by multiweb

Nice pic Doug. Bit too contrasty to my taste but that's me. I mean the stars. Very cool details in the neb though.

I had another look at it myself and think I may have overdone the unsharp mask a bit, at least with the stars. Thanks Marc.

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by seeker372011

I like it a lot

Thanks Narayan. I hope you enjoy your trip to China and the eclipse and weather is up to expectations. I'm staying home so you all have a pretty good chance.

[beren]

Very nice Doug, I like this area of sky and you've captured it well.... and congrats on the FSQ

[Hagar (Doug)]

Thanks Beren, now all I need is some clear skies and some time off work.