Eta C in Ha

RobF (Rob) · #1 31-03-2010, 12:27 AM

I spent many hours last week playing with guiding software and different parameters. After so much tweaking I thought I better put it to use, and with the moon up any nebula work meant putting the Ha filter in place.

So here's a processed stack of 19x5min Ha subs
QHY9 + Baader 7nm Ha filter + MPCC/IDAS LPS

Only cropped (approx 60%) image shown attached.
Original field in larger format jpg (with and without sharpening) here.
(click on "Slideshow" and press F11 in Internet Explorer for full screen image)

Tracking and stars still far from perfect obviously, but I got a lot of satisfaction out of seeing the contrast that Ha brings out in this amazing object.

Thanks for looking,
Rob

gregbradley · #2 31-03-2010, 12:40 AM

Nicely done Rob.

Greg.

astroron (Ron) · #3 31-03-2010, 01:16 AM

Nice work Rob,very sharp even though the stars are a little out of round
Cheers

multiweb (Marc) · #4 31-03-2010, 07:27 AM

That looks great. Real nice details in there. Top work.

RobF (Rob) · #5 31-03-2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Nicely done Rob.

Greg.

thanks Greg!

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroron

Nice work Rob,very sharp even though the stars are a little out of round
Cheers

thanks Ron - yeah, I probably could have improved them a bit if I'd been a bit more choosey with the frames I excluded/included. I had so much fun with the processing once I got under way I couldn't bring myself to go back to redoing the stacking must confess!

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

That looks great. Real nice details in there. Top work.

Thanks Marc

I love the way the Ha filter really tightens up an image and gives nice contrast. I had a go with some deconvolution on this too hopefully not overdone.

davewaldo · #6 31-03-2010, 09:05 PM

I can't wait to see what you're going to produce once you're comfortable with your new gear!

This is a great image, good work!

Keep them coming, I want to see colour!

RobF (Rob) · #7 31-03-2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davewaldo

I can't wait to see what you're going to produce once you're comfortable with your new gear!

This is a great image, good work!

Keep them coming, I want to see colour!

G'day Dave!

I always wanted to see colour too, but I think I could be won over by narrowband one day if I scrounge up the dollars for filters. Will certainly try and do a decent ETA effort in colour when the opportunity presents itself. Heck - I'm just happy to get an hour or two of clear sky the way the weather's been this year.

AlexN · #8 31-03-2010, 10:53 PM

Awesome!!

I love it

RobF (Rob) · #9 31-03-2010, 11:20 PM

Thanks Alex

Gee wouldn't it be great to have one perfect new moon Sat night to pillage photons right about now.......
Hopefully your birthday luck will cut in soon

astroron (Ron) · #10 31-03-2010, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davewaldo

I can't wait to see what you're going to produce once you're comfortable with your new gear!

This is a great image, good work!

Keep them coming, I want to see colour!

Will the "Real Colour" of Eta Carina please stand up, I like the "Grey Scale" image just fine

Reminds me of how I see it in the 16"

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #11 01-04-2010, 08:38 AM

Wonderful image

RobF (Rob) · #12 01-04-2010, 07:26 PM

Thanks Paul!

Ron - you're not wrong about that wonderful 16" - amazing how often astropics end up showing detail you can see from Cambroon through the dob visually. I'm happy to be able to explore deep sky with my trusty 8" though, even if I need a camera to get right in there....

RB (Andrew) · #13 06-04-2010, 09:32 AM

Very nice capture Rob !
Lovely smooth detail there.

Octane (Humayun) · #14 06-04-2010, 05:55 PM

Rob,

That's hot. Well done. Looking forward to trying this out myself.

H

RobF (Rob) · #15 06-04-2010, 07:50 PM

Thanks Andrew and Humayun

Humayun, I'm constantly surprised and pleased at how Ha really tightens up an image. I'm looking forward to trying out various binnings for RGB at some stage too for this and other objects. Nice to be able to collect useful Ha/Lum on objects from the city - I'm happy with what I've done with the 450D in the past with pollution filter, but I'm dying to go deeper now with the QHY. That SBIG should be here before too long?!

Octane (Humayun) · #16 06-04-2010, 07:58 PM

This week, my friend. Maybe even tomorrow! :grin:

H

Paul Haese · #17 07-04-2010, 12:12 AM

Nice detail and very sharp. The constrast is very nice.

RobF (Rob) · #18 07-04-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Nice detail and very sharp. The constrast is very nice.

Thanks Paul - I've been trying out a trial licence of PixInsight over Easter, and finding the edge contrast tools among other things incredibly powerful. It looks like they may finally be adding proper automated image calibration routines soon too. I'm very tempted. The extra Sidonio's of this one on my website as per link in original post were done with PixInsight - currently going right back to stacking and doing deconv etc on linear data before stretching as people recommend. Impressive software - I can feel my wallet itching badly