NGC253 - my first galaxy image

[iceman (Mike)]

Ok so Jase's Silver Coin was worth about $100,000, sitting proudly on display at the local museum.. My silver coin is a 5c coin that has been discarded, fallen down the back of the lounge, run over by a car and is now only barely recognisable as legal tender...

But it is my first image of a deep space galaxy! So I'm happy with it all the same

The main problems with my previous deep-space images were lack of exposure. I couldn't go longer than 30s with those without trailing, and I figured out that most of that was due to inproper balance of the scope/camera on the mount. For this image, balance still wasn't perfect but it was better than before and this image is made up of 90s exposures - which did have slight trailing (60s had very little) but (for me) it wasn't bad enough to detract from the image so I used them anyway.

It was also my first time controlling the camera remotely, via ImagesPlus Camera Control. I didn't use it for focusing or composition (yet), but that will come next. But it was nice to be able to set up a sequence of exposures and just watch it do its thing.

I didn't use ICNR for this image either. While packing up I took dark frames.

So, the image consists of 11x 90s exposures, and 9x 90s darks. No flats or anything else.

Saxon ED80 on EQ6, unguided.
Canon 350D, ISO1600.

The images were calibrated, aligned and stacked in DeepSkyStacker. I still need to work out how to use ImagesPlus for calibration. Post processing in photoshop was just curves, saturation and levels across the image as a whole. No masking or selective processing.

My composition is horrible. I needed to spend more time getting the galaxy composed in the frame properly, but I only had an hour outside and needed to start capturing photons!

Seeing was less than average, and transparency was horrible. No clouds, but a very light sky.

My main problems now are:
1. Still too noisy. I need to Avg the images (rather than Add), but to do that I need enough exposure. (also so I can use a lower ISO)
2. More exposure. I need to go longer than 90s. To do that I need more accurate polar alignment, balance, and ultimately of course auto-guiding.
3. More exposures. I need to spend more time on the object and take more exposures.
4. Composition. You can see why
5. Processing. Better calibration, better processing techniques. There must be more to deep space image processing than just levels and curves

Anyway, thanks for looking at my rusty 5c piece.

[sheeny (Al)]

Looks good to me Mike!

Al.

[h0ughy (David)]

OK did you take flats and bias's? think about doing that. as for the noise - get a cooled DSLR, or come back to 800 for a while. Nice image mike, yes composition is king, but I enjoyed your image. I give you 20 cents!!!

[Phil]

wow great shot Mike well done.
Phil

[Garyh]

I don`t mind the framing Mike! with using 1600 iso I find that you need like 20-30 images to stack to smooth out the noise satisfactory. Maybe try some handguiding and drop back to iso 800 like Houghy mentions and 4-5min exposures..
good first galaxy

[Dennis]

Very nice work Mike, although I'm sure I've seen some Milky Way wide fields from you, so this has to be your 2nd Galaxy.

Joking aside, that is a mighty fine effort for your 1st Galaxy – nice round stars and good detail in the spiral structure. The background looks a little too dull or grey on my LCD display. You've done extremely well to produce such a good result, faced with such a steep learning curve for DSO acquisition and processing.

Cheers

Dennis

[acropolite (Phil)]

Have to agree with what Dennis said, a mighty fine effort. It's only upwards from here.

[jase (Jason)]

Mike, a fine achievement. I think you've highlighted your deficiencies in original post and agree with them. The longer the integration time the easier the data is to work with and the smoother final image will be. ...and yes, there is a lot more to DSO processing than levels and curves, but don't underestimate the power of these two tools. They play a major part in what you want to display to the viewer. Histograms are your friend, know how they respond to different techniques will ensure you are making the most out of your data. There are of course many more linear and non-linear stretching tools that are suited to different objects. Look forward to seeing more as you develop your style/processing work flow.

[Dr Nick (Nick)]

Thats your first deep space galaxy?!?! Very well done!

[tornado33]

Well done, great to see youre getting into DSO imaging now
Scott

[little col]

well done on your first deep space galaxy mike , i would be very happy indeed to get such an image myself

[leon]

Cant complain about that Mike, pretty good effort i reckon for a first attempt.

Leon

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

great first galaxy mike! I dont see any issues with it besides you might want to lower the black level a little (just a small bit) to darken the background (not too dark otherwise will clip).

overall excellent image mike. luv it.

[Lee]

I think it looks great - better than my crack at the coin this time last year! Definitely worth a dollar....

[Tamtarn]

Yet to try this Galaxy Mike, but we would be happy to get an image as good as this.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Well Mike, im going in hard here, cause I know you can take it ;-).

Not good, and you have told us EXACTLY why already, thats why I recon within a few weeks or mths you will absolutely cream this DSO stuff.

You are one of the best on the planet for planetary (sic) and you are a perfectionist, this is a very short stepping stone to DSO nirvana, stop mucking around dude ;-).

[rat156]

Hi Mike,

Yes, I've come to the conclusion that Galaxies are tough going.

A couple of tips for you;
Try to not saturate you stars when hitting the picture with levels. All your stars are white, very white.
Your grey level is too white, about 90% is what I work with most of the time.
Use layers to get the colour right in one pic and the detail in another, then recombine, you can even fake a luminance from the RGB data.
Don't be tempted to go too long in you exposures, 2 mins is about all I can get without skyglow dominating, even from relatively dark skies.

Lastly, stop pissing about with the DSLR, get a mono CCD, you've got the LRGB thing going in the planetary stuff.

Why don't you use the DMK as a guider?

Cheers
Stuart

[Ric]

A great start Mike. I like the composition and the appearance of it just floating in space.

A fine first effort

[RB (Andrew)]

What a wonderful image for your first galaxy Mike, I think you've done a marvelous job and the little ED80 is a real performer too.

Excellent work !!

[nandopg]

Hi Mike,
Nice wide field image Mike...and it came in a very good time for me: I am starting to image the galaxies in the Sculptor group and a wide field image is always welcome.
Your image actually is looking great to me even more being the first one.

If you don't mind, a couple of suggestions:
1- Use ImagePlus to calibrate, align and stack your images. Always calibrate with darks, flats and bias frames.

2- Use an off-axis device for image composition and coarse focus. I use one carried by Taurus Technologies (www.taurus-tech.com). In my opinion this is a must have accessory.

3- For fine focusing I use DSLR Focus. It is much better than the focus resource present in ImagePlus.

4- Fine tune your polar alignment making sure that the mounting is able to track a star for at least 40 minutes. Use a cross hairs eyepiece for that. I use in this case the star's drift method.

5- Don't use ASA 1600 in your camera, use ASA 800 at most.

Congratulations Mike, I hope to see more from you.

Fernando