Hi all
I got suckered into setting up as it looked to be clearing, only to have cloud come in again later, I was going to go longer but the cloud stopped me from getting more than 5 x 2 min shots @ISO 1600.I was planning to do at least 1/2 hour or more. Anyway heres what I got, fully processed in Iris. I didnt use Photoshop at all this time, just ran Noiseware afterwards and resized it with my ancient Painshop pro 4 program, I forgot to take a flatfield so positioned the camera later on roughly the angle I had it when i took the pics then did a flatfield. This is the first time Ive used the flatfield function in Iris. My flatfield wasnt perfect but its an improvement when stretching the levels hard. For some reason Iris didnt align and stack the images perfectly , making the stars very slightly trailed.
Scott
Oh yea sure Scott you really got suckered! you were out there with a fan to blow the clouds away to get that. Nice. canyou email me the files for me to stack in registar
Very Nice Scott... I am very jealous as you seem to have planty of clear sky lately!!!! Send some over the Tasman mate!
You seem to like noiseware... But I reckon you are over doing it a tad. You might be losing detail with the amount of noiseware applied here.
I also noticed it on the Tarantula shot also. A fantastic shot, but IMHO a bit too much noiseware.
Anyway just a humble opinion, so don't take it the wrong way!
Well done! These mod'ed cameras are definately the way to go...
Cheers
Also just noticed that little circle next to Alnitak... Any ideas what that is? The all "new" ring nebula perhaps
Critical buch today arn't we!!! Nothing to get away from the fact that it's still a top image considering the conditions and short exposure...
Cheers
Robby this is exactly something that I wished come up more often....sure its great getting praise for a top image but we can all learn so much more when questions are asked.
Again great image Scott and taking nothing away from your image...well done
I'll take a guess. The little circle looks like a ghost from Alnitak. Not sure how it's there unless there's some glass inline? Coma corrector or other glass device inline Scott? CCD glass cover?
There's gotta be something else down the tube too cos a 4 vane spider should only have 4 spikes. There's 6 in the pic.
I'm not complaining! It's better than anything my gear could do in a million years, and the extra artifacts take nothing away from the image at all. Outstanding for 10 minutes.
My Mintron camera hates the Horsehead. I could expose all night and wouldn't pick up that much detail.
Thanks for the comments all
This is the first image where I didnt use Gradient xterminator, rather I use a flat field (only one), to experiment how Iris goes with that method. Also I was using a crude cardboard dewshield about a foot long, to try and keep out stray light from the side. The xtra spike might be the metal frame holding the first pickoff prism for the off axis guider. The prism are quite large, making locating guidestars a snap, its easier to locate a guidestar now than with my old 75mm guidescope in guidescope rings.
Ive still a way to go to get fully 100% flat background images. Also, my dad has offered to drive me to Sydney one day to drop off my 10 inch "Sutching" mirror for aluminization (I simply cant bring myself to trust it to courier no matter how well its packed).
I forgot to mention yes I used a Baader Coma Corrector, and a UHCS filter. Also its a Hutech Modified Canon 350D camera with the clear glass filter option.
Scott
Thanks for the comments all
This is the first image where I didnt use Gradient xterminator, rather I use a flat field (only one), to experiment how Iris goes with that method. Also I was using a crude cardboard dewshield about a foot long, to try and keep out stray light from the side. The xtra spike might be the metal frame holding the first pickoff prism for the off axis guider. The prism are quite large, making locating guidestars a snap, its easier to locate a guidestar now than with my old 75mm guidescope in guidescope rings.
Ive still a way to go to get fully 100% flat background images. Also, my dad has offered to drive me to Sydney one day to drop off my 10 inch "Sutching" mirror for aluminization (I simply cant bring myself to trust it to courier no matter how well its packed).
Hi Scott,
I know it was just an experiment, but you do need to be careful using only a single flat. Any noise in the flat will be transfered to your light frames when they are applied.
Taking several flats and averaging them to create a master flat will minimise this problem. I usually use about a dozen.
There is also an artifact in the centre of the image. It looks like a very large dust donut. It could also be a problem with your mirror if you say it needs to be redone. Another cause may be a problem with your flat.
Thanks for the comments
Itchy, I not that the centre artifact doesnt seem to appear without the baader filter, yet also doesnt appear if using the 50mm lens rather then the 10 inch scope. The same artifact was in pics taken with Houghys modded 300d too, so must be coming from the scope and or filter combo? Till now ive not really used flats, I dont have an easy way of doing them short of pointing the scope at the side of the house, and turning the flodlight on. I might see if I can come up with a better way soon.
Scott
Nothing to get away from the fact that it's still a top image considering the conditions and short exposure... 
