My second attempt at RGB imaging. This time using some of the tips from Jase on my previous image. I was a little disappointed with the result but felt a bit better today when I found out we had a fire burning in the hills opposite my site. The fire started from a lightening strike and burnt quite well with the strong winds. There was quite a smoke haze when I went to work today.
The image is a 30min - 30 min -30 min RGB. In 5 min subs. Fully calibrated with Darks, Flats and Bias images. Stacked in IP3 and captured with QHY9 using Custom Scientific RGB filters and my Tak FS102 APO.
I still have a long way to go but am enjoying the challenge. Processing is still the biggest thing to learn and maintain.
If the colour is way off it is my fault for not having calibrated my monitor since the rebuild.
I don't want to sound negative as I was looking at the QHY9 myself for luminance, but I wonder what it would look like if you just used the 40D through that lovely Tak? Sacrilege!
Thanks for the kind replies. The green tinge may well be a result of the moon or may just be my processing skills but at least the quality is slowly improving.(I think)(I Hope).
Thanks Mike, The problem is this old stone doesn't gather as much moss as it use to. Trail and error and God help me, reprocessing is starting to make some difference.
This really is a black art and LRGB imaging is quite time consuming. I can see 3 images a night is a thing of the past. If I am lucky 1 may be possible.
The great thing is I am enjoying the whole process and think I am improving a bit.
Thanks again everyone. Rosette coming next once I get a bit more colour data.
Making good progress Doug. Mono imaging with filters can take a little getting use to. Indeed, gone are the days where you'll nail three targets a night. Those OSC folks have it way too easy, though quality over quantity is the game. I like the colour richness you get from the CS filters. I use them as well. Handy having the red filter wavelength isolated from the green wavelength i.e. no channel cross over. It makes a great red filtered luminance with contrasty details. No as contrasty as a Ha filter so it makes it easier to blend. You need to get your G2V sorted unless you're happy to wing it. Keep at it.
Overall nice image. The stars seem very large. Are you confident of your focus? You are imaging at high mag and pushing the 102 to its limits. There is a theoretical maximum resolution for different sized refractors.
Did you use the F6 reducer? That may help shrink stars a bit.
I suggest a bit of deconvolution on your master luminance and even RGB masters (don't overdo it which is true of any astro processing).
Light pollution, smoke, haze do seem to show up more in the green subs I find.
Either use Gradient Xterminator to balance the green or use curves and watch the histogram set to all channels so you can see the histograms of all the colours. Now you can use levels and curves to make them more equal in shape and location in the graph.
HI Doug,
Great image, as an imager, I'm miles behind everyone. Running around in the dark hoping for the best. Every now and again I get close and I forget what I've done so its back to the drawing board.
the day I find it all too easy i'll give up the game!
