This is not a good image - it's slightly out of focus, has only 1hr50m of subs and a quick edit to only reduce noise and enhance the gas/dust clouds. But I thought I'd share it regardless as it's my very first attempt at using a dual narrowband filter and I'm gobsmacked at what can be captured. I've viewed the Tarantula on many occasions using my dob with a medium power eyepiece and have always enjoyed the intricate detail. But you can't see it like this!
Things I learnt this time around:
a. It's a very bright target and will easily blow the highlights at the centre of the nebula (even with a NB filter).
b. Ekos had trouble accurately autofocusing the Tarantula as everything is so bright which obscures the stars, and instead Ekos attempts to focus on gas/dust clouds. The result is poor focusing without manual intervention of focusing parameters, which I'm still learning to do. [Next time, I might achieve a good focus using stars adjacent the LMC and keep that focus for the entire session rather than fiddling with autofocus at intervals during the session.]
SW120ED x 0.85 Reducer/Flattener
22 x 300s Antlia Dual NB, ASI294MC
Darks, flats, dark flats. APP, PS, DeNoise and cropped.
Holy cow... There is so much detail in there that I don't know what to look at - my eyes start following one dust lane and then jump to something else.
I can't wait to see what you can produce when everything is dialled in and working!
You can't grab a James Webb image and claim it as your own Alex...
Oh hang on its better than James Webb so I just it must be yours.
You have done well ...very well.
Alex
That’s a beauty mate. Stunning actually! From what I’m seeing these new dual band filters are producing some really great results, but credit where credit is due, you’ve done an amazing job and your processing is fantastic too
John, Dave, Alex and Steve - thanks! This is one of those images where I confess to doing very little except to crudely exploit some fab tech … the Antlia dual NB filter is great Alex
