12 months - A long time in AP? M42

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Hi everyone!

Having been at this AP thingy for a little over a year now, I've decided to go back over some targets, applying what I've learnt (mostly from the many great people in the Ice in space community ) during my second summer season.

I have added guiding to my hyperstar set up using the Orion mini guidescope and have change my LP filter to the IDAS LPS D1. The Astronomik CLS-CCD is probably too good, it blocks too much light and I found it hard to acquire descent data for flat images when using it. Well, with the hyperstar anyway.

I've posted two new images because I just couldn't decide which on to go with. The first image has smoother contrast and the second has more an aggressive contrast push (using higher settings in Pixisights LHE tool) with brighter faint detail in the background.

The data was processed five separate times using different techniques. These two images are the results of process 4 and 5. I'm interested on everyone feedback good or bad

So now with guiding, longer subs, more data, dithered shots, flats (yay!) darks , bias frames and a year of processing experience, here's a couple of images of M42.
Taken on 26th and 27th January. C11 Edge HD with Hyperstar. Canon 60da iso 800, sensor temps ranged from 20 to 26 degrees. IDAS LPS D1 filter

80 x 3 sec, 49 x 30 sec, 47 x 60 sec and 24 x 90 second subs. 1hr 51.5min

First image large click here

Second image lagre click here Higher contrast verson

The images have been cropped due to different frame alignments from the two nights and aggresive dithering. The third image is last years shot with 8 minutes of data.

Thanks for looking

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Great to see progress huh?

Hmmm?..I think I like the higher contrast one ...but I'm not liking the brown tone that the main M42 has..perhaps add some blue..? Also the core is looking too different to the surroundings, perhaps brighten it a tad?

Only suggestions of course as it is quite a good image

MIke

[Marios (Marios)]

Originally Posted by Rod771

Hi everyone!

Having been at this AP thingy for a little over a year now, I've decided to go back over some targets, applying what I've learnt (mostly from the many great people in the Ice in space community ) during my second summer season.

I have added guiding to my hyperstar set up using the Orion mini guidescope and have change my LP filter to the IDAS LPS D1. The Astronomik CLS-CCD is probably too good, it blocks too much light and I found it hard to acquire descent data for flat images when using it. Well, with the hyperstar anyway.

I've posted two new images because I just couldn't decide which on to go with. The first image has smoother contrast and the second has more an aggressive contrast push (using higher settings in Pixisights LHE tool) with brighter faint detail in the background.

The data was processed five separate times using different techniques. These two images are the results of process 4 and 5. I'm interested on everyone feedback good or bad

So now with guiding, longer subs, more data, dithered shots, flats (yay!) darks , bias frames and a year of processing experience, here's a couple of images of M42.
Taken on 26th and 27th January. C11 Edge HD with Hyperstar. Canon 60da iso 800, sensor temps ranged from 20 to 26 degrees. IDAS LPS D1 filter

80 x 3 sec, 49 x 30 sec, 47 x 60 sec and 24 x 90 second subs. 1hr 51.5min

First image large click here

Second image lagre click here Higher contrast verson

The images have been cropped due to different frame alignments from the two nights and aggresive dithering. The third image is last years shot with 8 minutes of data.

Thanks for looking

The second one is much better IMHO, alot more faint detail around the edges. That IDAS filter really is something how polluted are the skys at time of this image?. Have you notice a significant increase in the capture time as result of using the filter?

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Great to see progress huh?

Hmmm?..I think I like the higher contrast one ...but I'm not liking the brown tone that the main M42 has..perhaps add some blue..? Also the core is looking too different to the surroundings, perhaps brighten it a tad?

Only suggestions of course as it is quite a good image

MIke

Thanks for the feedback Mike

The core!!!!? aaaaaaaarrrrrhhhhhhh!!!! That's reason I processed it five separate times. Pixinsight's HDR tool always seems to leave you with a mono core (and surrounding areas), I think the 3 sec data is being clipped when stretching the image hence blowing out the data. I fixed this in my F7 version by pushing the blue curves but with this data, it didn't want to know me at all! I might up load the data to the Pixinsight website and see if the wizards can do something with it.

Here's the higher contrast version with a bit of a blue channel curve push and a brighter core.

I appreciate your comments, thanks mate

[Shiraz (Ray)]

I much prefer the last one - very nice image. I personally think that it is quite reasonable to allow the core to burn out - would add even more to the drama. But that is just an opinion at best and the image is a huge advance on last year.

[SimmoW (SIMON)]

Amazing improvement, inspirational!

[Rastas]

Rod
The use of levels and curves has been a bit too drastic and you have lost or occluded a deal of faint nebulosity which is still there. Also the core has a grey tint due to the blending which can also be rescued.
If you dont mind I had a play.
Also as Mike said the M42 cloud needs a little blue added, but I left that as you processed it.

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Originally Posted by Marios

The second one is much better IMHO, alot more faint detail around the edges. That IDAS filter really is something how polluted are the skys at time of this image?. Have you notice a significant increase in the capture time as result of using the filter?

Thanks for the feedback Marios. I live in Sydney's north west metro area, the sky is pretty murky here. I try to image 90 minutes either side of the meridian. LP filters are essential for F2 imaging in metro areas, a 30 sec image at F2 / iso 800 is completely washed out without one.

Originally Posted by Shiraz

I much prefer the last one - very nice image. I personally think that it is quite reasonable to allow the core to burn out - would add even more to the drama. But that is just an opinion at best and the image is a huge advance on last year.

Thanks Ray Yeah I dont mind over exposed M42 core images as well. I just wanted see how well Pixinsights HDR tool could tame the data, I have no doubt it can in the right hands - Its a tough job for the poor bugger at the keyboard

Originally Posted by SimmoW

Amazing improvement, inspirational!

Thanks Simon

Originally Posted by Rastas

Rod
The use of levels and curves has been a bit too drastic and you have lost or occluded a deal of faint nebulosity which is still there. Also the core has a grey tint due to the blending which can also be rescued.
If you dont mind I had a play.
Also as Mike said the M42 cloud needs a little blue added, but I left that as you processed it.

I was mindful of pushing the background as I know I haven't completely mastered acquiring the right flat frames at the moment. Also wanted to avoid any DSLR blotchiness popping up but it seems to look ok at 800 pixels, nice adjustment.

The core, did you paint colours in or adjust hue and saturation?

Blue curves were pushed, see new image above in post four

Thanks for your input

[Ross G]

Great looking M42 Rod.

What we do is so subjective and I have seen M42 imaged in a multitude of different ways....and they all look good.

Good luck.

Ross.

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Originally Posted by Ross G

Great looking M42 Rod.

What we do is so subjective and I have seen M42 imaged in a multitude of different ways....and they all look good.

Good luck.

Ross.

Thank you Ross

[atalas]

A very fine result ! I think you could push the background a touch without fear of too much noise.

well done.

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Originally Posted by atalas

A very fine result ! I think you could push the background a touch without fear of too much noise.

well done.

Thanks Louie

Yes I might continue to play with some adjustments.

Cheers

Rod

[dutch2 (Ingrid)]

They are both excellent.
Don't have any technical expertise in this but they look sharp and colours are beautiful.
Well done.

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Thanks Ingrid I think my image in post four has the best colour balance.

Cheers

Rod