A test more than anything else. With the weather the way it is, a decent run at anything is difficult. Changed the guiding for my portable setup to an AOG and captured the Horsehead as a test of the setup, focussing and guiding.
Scope: venerable ED80
Mount: LXD75
Camera: ST-8300 - Baader Ha filter
Guiding: DSI pro through Orion OAG
Exposure: 2hr 20min total with 2x30min and 4x 20min subs
Captured and stacked in Nebulosity, post processed in PS.
Happy with the tracking in these long subs but some help is required for the processing.
Slap me over the ear and tell me how to improve it.
Very nice
Any chance of a link to a high res version ? Doing same thing with my st8300 but with a SW 120 achro and would like to compare when i get that many hrs in.
Thanks
Looks great Keith. Not much to pick on but for maybe the highlight in the flame looks white clipped. Other than that it's a corker.
Thanks Marc, I layered a brighter version to try to accentuate the curtain but in the process included the Flame. Still learning my way around layers so I'll try to fix that in the Sid.
Nice image Kieth, Not much to bash you around the ears with at all. QAs Marc said, bee a little more careful with your histogram, you might want to try some selective sharpening but tread lightly and not the heavy handed approach I always seem to end up with and you will have a ripper.
Get your aligned combined (sum, median combined etc) but unstretched file and adjust the levels so that you can juuuust still see the detail in the bright bits, you may not be able to see teh faintest outer areas but don't worry yet. Now apply a DDP filter to the image in what ever software you have that has this filter (I use Astroart4), play around until you get the right balance between detail, natural stars and faint stuff without too much noise, again don't push the brightness past seeing the detail in the brightest bits (probably in the flame) save this image. Now once you have a reasonably smooth looking DDP'd image apply a log stretch and again try a few different settings if they are available until you have an image that is displaying the very faintest outer nebulosity, the brighter bits may be juuust ready to blow out but if thi is the case you may find that combining (select all - copy - paste - then blend) the well stretched image with the best most natural looking DDP'd only version in Photoshop works best - best of both worlds so to speak and leaves you with a nice looking final image with the very brightest bits still in detail but also showing the very faintest bits but without too much noise.
Get your aligned combined (sum, median combined etc) but unstretched file and adjust the levels so that you can juuuust still see the detail in the bright bits, you may not be able to see teh faintest outer areas but don't worry yet. Now apply a DDP filter to the image in what ever software you have that has this filter (I use Astroart4), play around until you get the right balance between detail, natural stars and faint stuff without too much noise, again don't push the brightness past seeing the detail in the brightest bits (probably in the flame) save this image. Now once you have a reasonably smooth looking DDP'd image apply a log stretch and again try a few different settings if they are available until you have an image that is displaying the very faintest outer nebulosity, the brighter bits may be juuust ready to blow out but if thi is the case you may find that combining (select all - copy - paste - then blend) the well stretched image with the best most natural looking DDP'd only version in Photoshop works best - best of both worlds so to speak and leaves you with a nice looking final image with the very brightest bits still in detail but also showing the very faintest bits but without too much noise.
Hope that made some sense and helps
Mike
Thanks for the comments Mike, just the sort of slap I was looking for (does that make me a masochist) Think I might need to reassess the level of stretching to apply to layers. Hard to find the balance when you only have a vague concept of what your doing. I think Jimi Hendrix summed it up quite well in Manic Depression -"I know what I want but I just don't know how to go about getting it". Time for some more Efexor and a repro.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hagar
Nice image Kieth, Not much to bash you around the ears with at all. QAs Marc said, bee a little more careful with your histogram, you might want to try some selective sharpening but tread lightly and not the heavy handed approach I always seem to end up with and you will have a ripper.
Well done.
Thanks for the suggestion Doug, another layer or two for the Sid. If I could get it anywhere near the sharpness of your recent HH I'd be chuffed.
Here's the Sidonio. Several blendings with masks to emphasise details and areas, a bit of sharpening applied to the flame and areas around the horse and a final noise reduction with Neatimage. Mike's advice of using much less of a heavy hand with the stretching really shows, retaining detail in area that were previously white clipped around the Horsehead as well as the flame nebula. Gives a sense of accomplishment. Thanks all.
A small image or a full size if you care for a peek.
That's great stuff right there. Love the repro at the lower resolution and in particular the 'shore'. Can't help but hearing waves crashing in my head looking at it!
That's great stuff right there. Love the repro at the lower resolution and in particular the 'shore'. Can't help but hearing waves crashing in my head looking at it!
Thanks Ivo. Credit goes to the greater minds offering advice, the IIS community is rather special in this regard.
and helps 
) Think I might need to reassess the level of stretching to apply to layers. Hard to find the balance when you only have a vague concept of what your doing. I think Jimi Hendrix summed it up quite well in Manic Depression -"I know what I want but I just don't know how to go about getting it". Time for some more Efexor 
and a repro.
right back at ya honey
Now for some colour once the moon goes.
