While I have some big projects on the go, thought I'd also like some instant gratification with single frame subs.
Lots of pretty clusters near the big bow wow (Canis Major). Was lazy and used Stellarium to look up potential targets and goto to find them. In camera dark frame subtraction was used and simple levels in photoshop to balance the background. No stacking, no guiding, no hassle singe subs. All with the ED100, Orion focal reducer, Pentax K-5.
Lovely Kevin. I myself have never seen any advantage in stacking a lot of
subs of open clusters. The cluster gets lost amongst the host of background stars. This applies especially to The Jewel box, which looks splendid in isolation.
Great job.
raymo
Nice work Kevin - open clusters are tough to get right, and these are pretty good. It's a project of mine this summer to take some speccy open clusters - most of mine have been rubbish to date (not published ), except for a nice one of M25 that I was pretty happy with: http://www.astrobin.com/110631/B/
In 1 month, I arrive permanently at my Bortle 2 dark site in Tassie. Weather permitting, I'm going to have a glorious time. So many projects, so little time...
Lovely Kevin. I myself have never seen any advantage in stacking a lot of
subs of open clusters. The cluster gets lost amongst the host of background stars. This applies especially to The Jewel box, which looks splendid in isolation.
Great job.
raymo
There's got to be a way around that. I want deep field in the background and the cluster in the foreground. Yes I want everything!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterEde
Cool
Love the comet
Lewel box looks great not over done
Thanks Pete.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amaranthus
...
In 1 month, I arrive permanently at my Bortle 2 dark site in Tassie. Weather permitting, I'm going to have a glorious time. So many projects, so little time...
Sounds wonderful. I'm sure you will produce some brilliant work from there, especially when you get the new gear.
Last edited by cometcatcher; 03-09-2014 at 07:05 PM.
Make a cardboard cut out the shape of your target, and stick it on the
front of your scope during some of the subs, so the target doesn't get overexposed. Like dodging and/or burning in the days of film.
raymo
I love your M41 Kevin. I *must* get a good capture of that this summer. It's never struck me before now just how much it looks like NGC 2516 - the Running Man cluster.
Make a cardboard cut out the shape of your target, and stick it on the
front of your scope during some of the subs, so the target doesn't get overexposed. Like dodging and/or burning in the days of film.
raymo
You know what, I reckon these subjects would look better on film. They would "stand out" better than they do with digital. Ray will know what I mean.
I sure do Kevin. It is interesting that the latest technology is not always the best. A totally different subject, but most people today don't
realise that vinyl played on good gear gives superior sound quality to
CDs or DVDs. I would be quite happy to explain why, but this is not the
place to go into detail on subjects unrelated to astro.
raymo
Lovely clusters Kevin, I agree they always look good in a single sub. Having said that, there are some - like M7 - that are merely enhanced by more time on the background, with the gorgeous golden background...don't fancy cutting out a cardboard frame though, much easier to do in <insert photo editor of your choice>
Here's a single sub of mine from the other night... my tracking wasn't great, and I must have had the camera on wonky or something, and you'll have to forgive me as it's not a cluster as such, more a dirty snowball...you might recognise it
Thanks Kevin! I've got a few more subs, and it's really obviously moving from frame to frame. I haven't figured out how to process them yet. DSS comet options seem to give weird results
), except for a nice one of M25 that I was pretty happy with: 
digital heresy 
