Widefield and ISS

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Just another step into non planetary. I would love to do some decent widefield and what a good place to start. I must admit Deep Sky even widefield is difficult compared to plantary so It is difficult to get correct colours etc. So it very much experimental.

2 images same zone first is 20 x 10 secs, the second is 20 x 15secs each with 20 darks and master offset/bias I created sometime ago.

I would really be interested in getting the noise levels down though, really hard. I could use some advise but nothing complex as I would like to learn it in small steps.

Images stack using DSS, ISO 1600, F3.5 Canon 450D unmodded and standard 18mm lens. I can see some edge problems but not so much worried about these at the moment. As it was standard tripod wasn't expecting much.

The location is my front yard prior to full moon rising in a heavily light polluted location, although is about the best day I could expect from my location and time.

Light pollution can be easily seen from the last image I shot of ISS travelling over head 7:50pm also 15sec shots

[sheeny (Al)]

Good start Malcolm.

Colour could do with a bit of a boost. Try bumping up the saturation a bit and get some colour happening.

Al.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by sheeny

Good start Malcolm.

Colour could do with a bit of a boost. Try bumping up the saturation a bit and get some colour happening.

Al.

I must admit I am a little hesitant of colour. In all realism my eyes can only just make out the milky way from my home. hope these are about right although I really struggled with the 15 second shots.

Got another set in making will post it if it comes out better.

Edit: After posting I noticed the colours are well off so ignore them, realllllly struggling with the 15 second shot

[midnight (Darrin)]

Malcolm, the ISS pass shot is quite good as it looks like something large compared to background stars.

I have been starting out on piggyback as my planetary and deep space is still very limited. I found the only way to keep noise down is use ISO400 if possible which means someform of piggyback on a tracking mount.

I don't really have much of an appreciation of suburban skies as I am in the country down here and light pollution (esp out of town) is minimal so I can go out to 3 or 4 minutes.

Maybe try piggyback with ISO400 or 800 at most and I found my 40D performs really well below 5 degC and noticeable worse above 15 deg C with this latest round of warm spring WA weather we're having.

Darrin...

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

I think my main problem is suburban sky and an umodded camera. These 2 are reaking havoc with processing. I have done another 2 more last night with the same setting and really struggling.

I am considering trying something different regards processing.

As far as suburban skies, I am trying to do something about that by moving. I am trying to secure a dark location without moving too far from Perth. Easier said than done.

Collie would be nice although there must be some problems with all the mine sites in the area. I used to work in Bunbury and a lot of work repairing radio communication systems for Collie mines. I was there a couple of months ago on a job fortunately it hasn't developed too much more since I was there prior.

[midnight (Darrin)]

Originally Posted by mswhin63

Collie would be nice although there must be some problems with all the mine sites in the area. I used to work in Bunbury and a lot of work repairing radio communication systems for Collie mines. I was there a couple of months ago on a job fortunately it hasn't developed too much more since I was there prior.

Malcolm, Collie does have reasonably dark skies but the local mining and power stn (where I work) do interfere. Worsley is to the west towards the coast so heading about 10min out of town east is the way to go. The mines are not too bad as the light is not as concentrated and most light towers are pointed down into pits which are dark unlike light pointing down onto reflective concrete at other non mining and domestic locations. I head about 25min out of town east toward Darkan and it gets very dark out there. Makes one hell of a difference out there and I would hate to move back to the city and leave these skies behind.

Good luck with finding a spot. I found the easiest way is a road side council stockpile or signposted parking which gets you off the road and still "safe" in so far as if you have to leave quickly for what ever reason you can!

Cheers,
Darrin...