Milky Way widefield mosaic

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

My first post in the Deep Space sub-forum, but I feel this is a worthy entry into the fray.

This is an attempt at a Milky Way widefield mosaic - a 3x3 grid of 4 x 4min subs (ISO800) with a Nikon E-Series 50mm f1.8 @ f4 using a modded 400D. each of the 9 frames were separately stacked in DSS, and then stitched using Microsoft ICE, followed by very minor curve adjustment of the resulting image in Darktable.

Comments and advice welcome

[Octane (Humayun)]

If you pumped the saturation up, it would go a long way. At the moment it's lacking in pop and seems a little flat.

Still, great first attempt!

H

[gregbradley]

A very worthy image and a great first post.

There seems to be a slight magenta cast and as Humi pointed out some colour enhancement would make a good image great.

Greg.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Wow! This is nice. I like it a lot. I'll differ from previous feedback. It's not too saturated or contrasty and the colors are spot on, slighty magenta but overall you've got the nice sandy texture happening.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

Hi Richard,

Wow!!!

I'll say it's worthy, great image.

Cheers,

Justin.

[naskies (Dave)]

Nice work! I agree that there's a lot of potential in this. The stitching seams between the panels is a bit obvious - perhaps it would help to do the stretching and colour balance on each panel individually, and then merge them together? Just a thought...

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

thanks for the encouragement and great suggestions folks - all very much appreciated.

I have another clear night tonight, so i'm collecting some more data on this project to give a 4x4 grid each with 5 x 4min subs. I think the stitching program in its effort to reduce gradients is removing some of the milky way data at frame edges, so i'll look to try to fix that. Will also have a go at stretching and colour balance correction to ensure uniformity and to remove any undesired colour casts before the stitching is done as suggested.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Take 2.

17 frames of 5 x 4min subs. some curve and level adjustment before stitching (as suggested), and then some curve adjustment after on the final mosaic. Still some work to be done, but i'm making progress.

In hindsight a mosaic with so many frames was perhaps a tad ambitious for a first attempt. Anyway thanks for looking

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

closeup of three of the central panels (the best three in my opinion)

High res version here: http://astrobin.com/11648/

[astronobob (Bob)]

Thems is Stunning results Richard, colour cast dont phase me, They all look very powerful in perspective, detail/sharpness, 3D'ish and the best view of the MW Center I seen n donky's ! An Amaizing show, awesome ! !

[gregbradley]

Gee you nailed that. The best Milky Way widefield so far this season.

Super image.

Greg.