Eta Carinae - the best I can do right now I think

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

After tonights effort I've hit a wall with this thing. I'll get back to it later with some more data and after I've learned a little more about ImagesPlus. I also need to research the colours involved a little more. Sorry about the field flatness - I have a fix for that coming. I'll have the ST-8 to fool with soon so there's an avenue to get to image fainter objects and move on from Eta et al.

This image is made up from 8 x 15min (900 sec) subs @ISO800 plus 4 x 3 min (180 sec) - a total of 2.2 hours. Merged into a Smart Object in CS3 after manual realignment of layered frames. I then subtracted one 15 minute dark frame. I have to say that the standard 350D behaved beautifully - and even after 15 minutes there was minimal amp glow and nearly no noise. I've included that dark frame.

After that I pulled it into ImagesPlus and mucked around a bit with colour balance. Finally I brought it back into CS3 to adjust the curves a little.

Worked out OK I think.

EDIT: Added cropped (1024x768) version

[AlexN]

looks very nice... I looked at the pics before reading it and thought the field looked a little curved..

That is a very nice 15min dark at ISO800... Very nice indeed.

I think if you subtract a few more darks you'll remove the amp glow from the eta image.. else crop it a touch to remove the uneven field + amp glow...

Very nice in any case.

Alex.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks Alex.

I've added a cropped version. Hopfully a reducer/flattener I plan on getting in the comng few days will cure that little niggly.

[Kevnool (Kev)]

Looks OK to me Chris.
Very nice you just cant get sick of looking at Eta.
Cheers Kev.

[Garyh]

Not bad at all Chris! shall be sweet with a flatenner added.
What scope did you use for this?
cheers Gary

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks Kev

Thanks too Gary - I used the FS-102.

[gbeal]

Nah mate, you'll be back, this one gets repeat customers all the time.
Try some Ha next, it is a great full moon pastime. Try also an MPCC if you have one about, before you splurge on a Tak reducer/flattener.
Gary

[TrevorW]

Chris Eta's a nice target and a lot like Orion in the data needed to bring out hidden detail. So far every image I've seen processed differs in some way or other but all have been outstanding just likes yours.

Cheers

[Hagar (Doug)]

Nice one Chris. You do need to use more than 1 dark frame. People can say whatever they like about the number of darks that are required but more is definitely better. Almost the same is better with the lights. Sometimes with a DSLR you are better to do more of somewhat shorter images to reduce the noise levels and increase the signal. That said you must have a good 350 as the amp glow for a 15 minute exposure at 800 ISO is negligable and the noise levels are good. Colour and guiding is also very good. Well done Mate.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks fellas.

Gary, you're right - of course I'll be back. I'll keep the data and use it later on with more images I capture, and then hopefully the processing skill will grow somewhat.

Doug - yup - more darks. Gotta remember to take them. Oh.. and flats. They're so pesky though!!

Thanks Trevor - it's all in the name of good fun, so that is what drives all along here.

[bluescope]

Looking good Chris ... the dark frame must be pretty good as I can't even see it on my monitor

[Ric]

Nice work Chris, it has nice natural colour and detail.

[RobF (Rob)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Chris Eta's a nice target and a lot like Orion in the data needed to bring out hidden detail. So far every image I've seen processed differs in some way or other but all have been outstanding just likes yours.

Cheers

True - you seem to soak up a bit more about an object the more ways you see it presented. A lesson there for getting obsessed about the "perfect" reprocess too I s'pose.

And you've got a beaut field captured there Chris no matter how you care to present it...