Sp@ce_d

Wow.. this is quite striking .. seeing as you mentioned torture.. it conjures up visions of demons & hell as depicted in historical art paintings somewhere in the back of my mind!!.. That blood red Ha is quite something against all that dust. Nice processing Olly 👍

Doesn't tradition dictate it can only be visible until 12 noon ? 🤣

Yeah for minimum fuss a frac every time for me. I spent a few years with the SCT & RC but my goal was an fully automated Obsy and unless you enjoy constantly tinkering .. which I did at first but it soon wore off.. stick with a frac. Once I had the Esprit 150 I wondered why I had wasted so much imaging time. Of course a frac will come with the weight and length requirements.. (oh and cost!) but it’s pretty much set and forget.

Has no one seen the obvious, it’s the old N+1 justification “issue”.. of course you need another scope it’s galaxy season !🤣 … I’ve had this issue with many a guitar when that G string just wouldn’t stay tuned properly 😂👍 it’s amazing how these things tend to fix themselves once you introduce some “sibling” rivalry from another scope added to the collection 😁

Weren’t there a batch of baader OIII’s that were bad some years back? I seem to remember people getting them exchanged? Mine have varied depending on what scope/camera combination but more bloat than halo but there are some. Having been going through my archive recently to reprocess I’ve had brilliant results with BXT! 
 

I got a set of Antlia LRGB & 3nm NB after the ridiculous Astrodon & Chroma price increases and I’m very happy with them. Certainly the NB’s seem to perform as well as my smaller Astrodons & not seen any issues with LRGB so far. 
 

I don’t have any blue/OIII in 2” otherwise I’d offer you a loan of them too.

Or rename your files to include a unique name in them so you can use the group settings in WBPP. I.e. select all files and do a bulk find & rename/replace.. eg. Ha with Ha_3nm with one set & Ha with Ha_65nm for the other. One nice thing with WBPP is it can remember your previous session so you don’t have to reload all files. You can pick just calibration or just integration or any combination so I find it quicker than the old way with the individual scripts especially if you arrange your files in directory’s in a way you can just point it to load everything from a directory to load up for each step. I’ve been revisiting data I shot on different rigs over many years. For some I’ve had better results by integrating each separate stack but you’ll need minimum of 3 and others were better with renaming the files and throwing them all in using the groupings for calibration sets. Even stacking different exposure times together like I had some Ha at 1200s and some at 900s. If you change the exposure tolerances in WBPP these can be integrated to one Ha stack. I had one recently amounting to over 60hrs worked fine.. took a while though 🤣

Great to see you back in action. That definitely looks like a worthwhile target to pursue.. earthquakes aside! 

45 minutes ago, TareqPhoto said:

 some people told me that software can manage align frames even with different rotations, so i will depend on processing to correct and fix most non automated devices..

Yes it can. However by combining subs with different rotation angles you will have to crop a lot of the frame to get rid of the bad overlapping edges. So you loose a lot of the surrounding area. I would start by setting your cameras to the landscape orientation.. most targets fit into this on the IMX571 sensor. This is a good way to start off to get you going.

37 minutes ago, TareqPhoto said:

I think i was clear in my posts, i already have two IMX571 cameras, it is not from ZWO or QHY, it is from ToupTek, same sensor in 2600 cameras, so both the mono and OSC will be used with my both two same exact scopes of TS Optics 90mm f/6 CF APO triplet, so i have two identical same setup exactly just one with mono and one with color camera, and i bought new scope which is 106 f/6.6, i was thinking about getting 0.6x reducer to make it wide to 420mm which is very close to two 90s, and i want to use also another IMX571 sensor for that new scope so i can have same sensor of three rigs being one scope is different, then if i have enough budget i can add 4th rig be it my 300mm lens with 1.4x or whatever else to have FL of about 400-430mm then i also think about 4th IMX571 camera, i bought both cameras at very nice prices, i can add 3rd as color not a problem, but if i have to add two more mono then that will cost me a bit and i can only have one mono now and wait longer for last one, and it will force me to buy one more filter as OIII because i have Ha and SII 3nm 2" filters already, but i also have dual band filter of L-Ultimate which is Ha/OIII 3nm, so i was thinking if this is gonna be practical enough wit OSC then should i buy another OSC as i want to use one OSC i have for RGB stars only, or i am forced to buy RGB filters which means another budget to be spent, so i asked to plan wisely, i already have extra scopes and lenses, i want to use them all or most more as like 3-4 together than use only 1 or 2 for several nights to complete 1 target at least.

One step at a time!

Do you have the 2 identical 90mm scopes with the OSC and Mono IMX571 working seamlessly together now?

If not you should focus on getting those working first. If they are, what do you find lacking in the results? eg. Not enough RGB data or Mono (NB) data?

OSC is good for getting quick RGB data. I still think a OSC with NB filters isn't quite the same as a Mono with dedicated filters. Mono is still more flexible so in my opinion my third choice would be another Mono and fourth choice depends on the target. OSC for galaxy or reflection nebula, Mono for emission nebulas. That is if I were imaging the same target with all 4 scopes! If I wanted to image multiple targets at the same time then, building imaging rigs in pairs of a OSC & Mono for each target to be captured at same time... maybe.. again depending on the target.

So, this all depends on what targets you are imaging. Some, like galaxies, require LRGB & maybe some Ha. Reflection nebula.. mostly LRGB. Emission nebula.. mostly narrowband with maybe some RGB for stars.

Most people go for OSC because it's more satisfying to get all the data in one go so as not to have to wait days, weeks, months or even years to complete a target. However with OSC there is a compromise of less flexibility, less so these days but still with narrowband and the bayer matrix. What you are suggesting with multiple rigs doesn't have the same restrictions as I see it. If you are aiming for 4 rigs you can shoot Mono LRGB at the same time and have much more flexibility when it comes to narrowband. There is a lot more to think about how you go about this when spending money. If you just want to hoover up the sky then maybe a RASA setup with OSC is the way to go!

We haven't even started looking at where you'll find the time to process all this data 🤣

One step at a time! 🙂

That’s a good first light 

40 minutes ago, TareqPhoto said:

Actually i started this to ask about which two cameras, let's say one camera for now, you pushed it into the topic of the useless or issues of dual/multiple rigs, and i tried to explain my situations or reasons as much i can, and now i forgot about the main question about which camera, but yes, i will always start with two first to match perfectly as i can, when that is going great for a while then i can add more, and still the question is waiting the answer, when i add third or 4th rigs, which cameras then, i have IMX571 one mono and one OSC now, so need to decide if i add same sensor again 1-2 of them, which version.

Thank you.

I think it’s easier to stick with the same sensor geometry. I use the 2600MC & 2600MM now. I’m currently putting together subs from 3 different cameras and scopes shot over several years and whilst it seems to be doable.. it’s a bit of work and I’m still to find out how good the resolution will be. You’ll want to keep things as simple as possible to make it as easy for yourself as you can or you’ll get so frustrated it will stop being enjoyable…. Let alone expensive 😆 but that’s a given in astrophotography!

Motorised camera rotators will get you repeatable matched framing. It may be a challenge to fit into the available backspace of the image train though and of course adds to the cost quite a bit. This would speed things up once set properly. To be honest, you’d want to automate as much as possible. Plate solving, auto focusing, auto rotation. Your imaging software should be able to handle interruptions (like weather events) stop/start & resumption.

Then there’s flats.. I set my obsy up to run sky flats at dusk before the evening session. I didn’t rotate during the session, it was all manually set for the selection of targets before hand. Most fit into the landscape angle, anything else mostly would be portrait angle. You need separate flats for every different rotation. If you are constantly setting up and breaking down there’s more chance of changes and dust motes etc. moving around. You would need to run flats at every angle you are shooting at before/after each session to be sure of clean subs. This is another thing you should consider for automation with flat panels. I don’t know how long you get at dusk/dawn to shoot sky flats where you are but here in Scotland I managed to run 12 each for a 7 filter setup at dusk. Any more and I risked not completing with the sky getting too dark. 

Gosh you remind me of my younger self.. boundless enthusiasm and energy 😃.. I miss that.
My experience of trying to run dual and triple shooters didn’t take me down the expected path. After a frustrating season or two of running around trying to make it all work, suffering from sleep deprivation made it worse, I ended up investing in my obsy and automation. I never looked back. A single scope setup run under ACP got me more data than I had time to process. Less was more! This must’ve been 10 or more years ago. I eventually took a break and mothballed the Obsy yet I’m still going through it finding stuff to process. If you can even setup your mount / mounts so you can leave ready covered outside that will help but if you are setting up from scratch every night it will eventually burn you out. Voyager might be worth looking into if you have multiple scopes on a single mount for dither sync. It didn’t exist back when I was doing it. Be very wary of throwing time and money at this without making sure every step you take is working properly and kept as simple as possible. I sometimes forgot this was supposed to be a hobby I was supposed to enjoy!!

I've still got a fair amount of data, from my ACP driven Obsy, of unfinished projects since I mothballed it. I was looking through data on my NAS last night for something else and realised I'd never completed this one.  Now I have more time for processing here's my first attempt on what I have.

8hr integration time

Ha, 4h 30min / 18x900s

OIII, 1h 45min / 7x900s

SII, 1h 45min / 7x900s

Data collected Dec 2020, Jan 2021, threw away the subs from March 2022 after which the Obsy was mothballed (now the rats have taken over!)

Esprit150, QSI683wsg. Processed in Pixinsight with the add ons of the Xterminators.

I've gone a bit bold with the colour on this one but (hopefully) tried to restrain my addiction to the sharpening tools I seem to get carried away with 🤣

As usual open for comments, critique, advice etc.. 

Love these.. been around that way when staying with friends down there 

I like it, probably wouldn't push the saturation any further but this is the kind of representation I'd go for if I wanted to hang a print on the wall. Personally I like to see more of the darker thinner structures standing out against the billowing clouds of colour and probably why I almost always end up over sharpening 😄. False colour NB is just that anyway and open to our own interpretation for non scientific representation, we all have different tastes. It's funny how times and tastes change.. Not that long ago it was all salmon pink. I don't think green had been at all permissible until Hanny discovered her Voorwerp had it?  🤣

3 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

If I were starting out in imaging I'd probably go for this: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/william-optics/william-optics-redcat-51-v1-5-apo-f49.html.  Flat field, sharp stars across a large chip, tolerant image scale, fairly fast and good colour correction.

Olly

I'd second that.  Having only just returned to imaging after a couple of years or so, out of all my gear this little scope has been a joy to use and reignite my interest. It is so portable, I have it combined with an AM3 mount & ASIair. I can  run outside with it under one arm as a ready to go setup and have it running almost in the same time as it took my ACP controlled Obsy to start up and get going! 😄

Just noticed the OP's post count.. first since 2009! Is that a record?  Congratulations and welcome  🙂

An idea of the sort of targets that interest you would help here advising on the focal length. Generally shorter lengths are recommended for DSO starting out as easier to guide & frame larger nebula. However right now we’re into galaxy season which tends to require a longer focal length. Your 8” reflector may very well be suitable already. A bit more info on what you want to achieve would help narrow down the advice.

4 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

Stunning in view of the circumstances. This rig is going to sing.

Seen at full size I think it's a little over-sharpened but what the heck?

Olly

Thanks Olly yeah I was surprised as there were no dropped subs at all and it was only a quick first attempt to see how NINA’s sequencer works 🤣 I do seem to have a tendency to over sharpen as you’ve mentioned before. I only use PI these days too which I find is very easy to overcook. I’m also thinking it’s probably my eyes wanting more detail these days as they’re well into their 7th decade now and I’m juggling with 3 pairs of computer glasses depending on which monitor I’m checking on 🤣. Then there’s the floaters… is that a star or a dust mote? 😂😆 talking of which.. I know you’re into cycling.. I was on a 50 odd mile ride out a few months ago when I had a PVD (posterior vitreous detachment) in one eye! At the time I thought it was dust in my eye from the harvesting going on in the fields we were passing. Like looking through a snow globe full of black stars! Anyway calmed down after a few weeks, my optician was brilliant straight in for thorough checks and follow ups. 

5 hours ago, mhoop said:

I'm a complete noob to astronomy and astrophotography. I think its wonderful!

Thank you.. I do forget sometimes how excited I was to see a grey smudge on my dslr when I first started out amazed that I could even point in the right direction! All these years later I guess it goes to show how far we can come when after taking a break the “muscle memory” still works 🙂

8 hours ago, Sunshine said:

Great job!

Thank you 

Surprised myself that I'm posting these, I was just processing out of curiosity and got a bit carried away. I wasn't expecting to do anything with the subs as they were just gained while I was testing out a rig put together with gear I haven't used for a few years! It was a bit of a last minute decision as last week the weather looked promising all night for a change so I was rushing about finding stuff as it was getting dark. I didn't even polar align, just pointed in the right direction. I was testing out N.I.N.A which I've never used before & getting auto focus, guiding etc hooked up & calibrated. It was also first light for the Antlia LRGB VPro's that have been sitting in the boxes for a couple of years!

Cem70, Esprit80, ASI2600MM, Antlia LRGB. 30 mins each channel, 120s subs

Processed in Pixinsight 

Comments welcome as usual.. not sure about the stars now I'm looking at them uploaded on the crop version.. a bit hard looking? 

Full Frame

Crop

Wow, that's a lot of dust.. brilliant!

Wow.. impressive to say the least! Love it..

53 minutes ago, Adreneline said:

I think that is a great result - certainly bodes well for next year - providing the skies clear!

🤞

Let's hope 2024 is kind to all of us.

Thanks.. I'd normally be switching into Galaxy season by now so I'm going to have to rediscover suitable wider field targets for this setup... Here's to 2024 👍

So this was my only imaging session this year 😄 as I haven't captured any new images since I gave it a rest and mothballed the Obsy in early 2022. However, I've been putting together a portable/travel rig and surprisingly we had clear skies on Friday (29th) so I managed to test it out and get first light with the AM3 / ASIair plus combo and use the Redcat with 2600MC for the first time in a couple of years! Of course being clear the Moon was on full show so I wasn't expecting to get any decent images worth posting but I'm quite impressed with this little setup. I didn't even bother with dew straps and everything was covered in ice by the time I brought it in at 4am!

Mount: ZWO AM3, Scope: Redcat51, Camera:ASI2600MC, ASI290mm mini, EAF & ASIair Plus.

IC1805 The Heart

20 x 300s (no Filter) Before the Moon got too high

14 x 300s with Idas NBZ filter After Moon was up

Processed in Pixinsight

3 hours ago, MartinB said:

Very nice.  BlurX is certainly a wonderful tool as is NoiseXterminator.  It almost feels like cheating!

It certainly does!.. kids today.. they don't know they're born.. 🤣