NGC6334 Cat Paw in Ha with QHY268M

Wilsil (Wilco) · #1 11-10-2021, 06:28 PM

We had two clear-ish nights so I took the opportunity to image the Cat Paw in Ha before it disappears.
The rain has come in again so I don't think I will have another go at it this season.

This is 2.5 hours of data from bortle 6, 600s at 56 gain and 20 offset.
Flats and dark flats used.
I could probably get more out of it but I didn't want to overdo it.

Hardware:
ED80
HEQ5 Pro
Esatto 2"
QHYOAG
ZWO120MM mini
QHYCFW
Antlia Ha 3nm
QHY268M

Software:
NINA
PHD2
DSS
Photoshop

Placidus (Mike and Trish) · #2 11-10-2021, 08:13 PM

Very fine. The highlights are burned out, so you're losing the very best bit. Should be easy to fix. The underlying data look very good.

gregbradley · #3 11-10-2021, 08:30 PM

Looks very good. As Mike pointed out perhaps some shadows/highlights tool if you use Photoshop. Just select the brighter areas and feather the selection first. The details should still be there.

Greg.

Wilsil (Wilco) · #4 12-10-2021, 11:04 AM

Thanks.
I am still learning how to process properly.

gregbradley · #5 13-10-2021, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilsil

Thanks.
I am still learning how to process properly.

Its worth learning as I find I have to use it very very often with Ha images. There is usually a bright core somewhere in the image and you also still need to do long enough exposures to overcome the higher noise in narrowband images.

Greg.