Playing around with Hubble Palette

[rogerg (Roger)]

Hi all,

I haven't done any serious narrowband imaging before, just adding Ha to a few images was probably the extent of it.

I took a few test shots of this area which in theory was centered on NGC 261 (I say in theory, in reality I've cropped it and I have no idea which exactly NGC 261 is).

https://www.astrobin.com/dkj6fc/

All I've done to achieve this is a batch process in PixInsight then RGB combine using SII, Ha, OIII respectively. I initially tried with a LRGB but that didn't work so reverted to RGB. Then DBE, tweaked the histogram in Pi and levels in PS.

There's noise because it's only 7:8:7 frames each at 180s. Also no flats for SII or OIII so have done some DBE to try and clean up the background, and cropped the worst gradient.

It's not polished but I don't have much time to polish astro pics these days so just wanted to play and get a result. Open to CC.

Might try and get more data on this region to make a better shot at it.

Regards,
Roger.

[PKay (Peter)]

Hi Roger

Love the facility you have set up in WA.
Hope it goes well for you.

Using remote facilities (such as itelescopes) has given me the opportunity to trial some of the biggest (and expensive) scopes available.

Also, the lack of clear skies is becoming a real issue.

Your image:
Try mapping the traditional way.
Sometimes the HST palette works, sometimes not.
It's all about revealing detail and aesthetic appeal, and no rules!

[rogerg (Roger)]

Originally Posted by PKay

Love the facility you have set up in WA.
Hope it goes well for you.

Thanks Peter. It's a long term thing, it's going well. I just hope to claw back more time for myself to enjoy it rather than all work work work Family enjoys the site - my wife doing re-veg on the site and my kid exploring in her own imaginative world

Originally Posted by PKay

Using remote facilities (such as itelescopes) has given me the opportunity to trial some of the biggest (and expensive) scopes available.

Yes lots of advantages like that. I don't have telescopes for hire-for-use at this stage but maybe one day, I would like to, just haven't had the $$$ to set one up myself or time to pursue someone else to. At this stage customers have their scopes installed and use them themselves.

Originally Posted by PKay

Also, the lack of clear skies is becoming a real issue.

Not generally a problem over here, it's rare for the roof to not open for at least half the night. Not uncommon for me to get enquiries from people hosting over east there wanting more clear sky.

Originally Posted by PKay

Your image:
Try mapping the traditional way.
Sometimes the HST palette works, sometimes not.
It's all about revealing detail and aesthetic appeal, and no rules!

Yeah I tried Ha=Red, SII=Green, OIII=Blue and it came out a fantastic psychedelicpurple I'm just enjoying having fun. Love the area covered in this frame so will get more data and play some more. Between the businesses and Astrofest organising I've missed having low-expecation fun and involvement in the amateur community at that level. I'm all for no rules, rules are there only to inhibit creativity