QHY9 first light - M42

Buddman (Adam) · #1 24-02-2010, 09:46 PM

Yahoo, our P&C funded QHY9 has shown up and keen as ever Mark and I did some extra school work by setting up last night and putting it on the back of an ED80. Did a lightning alignment (PHD will look after the rest) and aimed at Orion. Oh the clouds and the clouds of mossies.

Couldn't get focus. No worries, use the 2" extender from the guide scope - damn, star trails. OK, really short exposures.

Through some trial and error I manged to get it all into photoshop, did a really rough levels and curves and put it all into one image. I might have to read up on how to do it properly because this was all guess work and I think you all will agree that it shows in the image.

Any way, here it is - warts and all. 10 x 10sec lum, 10 x 5sec 2x2binning RGBs - told you they were short.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #2 24-02-2010, 10:33 PM

Oh well, you beat me to first light with mine by a day (I hope no longer). Good result for such short subs and the, as you describe, hap-hazard setup

What acquisition software were you using?

RobF (Rob) · #3 24-02-2010, 10:41 PM

Great start guys - glad to hear you're up and running.

Got my filter wheel sorted today. Bring on a night or two of clear sky I say!

Buddman (Adam) · #4 24-02-2010, 11:04 PM

Hi Chris, we were using EZCAP which came with the camera. It seemed pretty straight forward and seems to do the job for now. There seems to be a lot more to learn about compared to DSLRs.

TheDecepticon · #5 25-02-2010, 01:15 AM

Wow, another QHY9!! Wall to wall QHY9s. Well done on your first light!

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #6 25-02-2010, 01:40 AM

I heard your new camera had arrived.

Congratulations!
That's a nice little pic to celebrate first light too.
Enjoy the learning curve.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #7 25-02-2010, 01:53 AM

I agree with Nettles, just have fun, what you think is pulling your hair out today will make you laugh in a couple of months, it's all part of the trial and error that is the image processing learning curve

Nice start though

Mike

multiweb (Marc) · #8 25-02-2010, 09:47 AM

Great pic - very sharp and detailed. It's all processing from there on.

Buddman (Adam) · #9 25-02-2010, 10:47 PM

Thanks everyone for the comments.

I had a look at the right way to process LRGBs and I found that I did it a completely different way - all by myself. Wow, it makes DSLRs look easyish, and I thought that processing was already difficult.

I'll have a play on the weekend and post the 'correct' image.

AlexN · #10 27-02-2010, 03:02 AM

Congrats on getting it out under the skies guys.

Looking forward to seeing more!

Buddman (Adam) · #11 27-02-2010, 07:23 PM

Cheers Alex,

Won't be going out tonight, would need an umbrella and a small boat.

I reprocessed using channels instead of layers. The colours are a bit wierd but it's not too bad for a series of 5 and 10 seconds.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #12 27-02-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddman

Cheers Alex,

Won't be going out tonight, would need an umbrella and a small boat.

Not the best of forecasts ahead either.
I don't think my youngest will be going to school on Tuesday. He's going to love that.

multiweb (Marc) · #13 27-02-2010, 07:34 PM

Here you go. I played a bit with curves. Need to lower the red a bit and the blues then increase the green channel.

Buddman (Adam) · #14 28-02-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Not the best of forecasts ahead either.
I don't think my youngest will be going to school on Tuesday. He's going to love that.

I've got to go on a year 8 camp from Monday morning to Wednesday afternoon so there'll be plenty of rain coming.

Thanks Marc, that looks a bit more like the M42 that I know and love.