MartinB

Unfortunately it has been a dismal year for NLCs so congratulations to everyone who managed to post an image of these beautiful but elusive clouds. 1) Clarkpm 4242 https://stargazerslounge.com/uploads/monthly_2023_06/Project5(1).mp4.2aa75928d706061609df93f28b97c574.mp4 This is an animation from an 8 panel mosaic over a slightly misty Teesdal. The original widefield looks great but the video gets closer in which works very well. 2) PAS https://content.invisioncic.com/g327141/monthly_2023_07/NoctilucentCloudsPAS.mp4.f1980836411bf7aa14d5e0377d001edc.mp4 Another animation of a mosaic image showing some superb NLC details 3) Scotty A great NLC shot captured with a Pixel 4a phone. Well done to all those who managed to any NLC this year, it hasn't been easy!

Yes. It is a challenge for novice deep sky imagers.

This competition is for members who have started deep sky imaging within the last 12 months i.e. not before 1st August 2022. If you are submitting an image towards the end of the challenge period you will have had some extra weeks to gain experience! "Started" means the first time you managed to have photons from a deep sky object arrive at a camera sensor. "Deep sky imaging" relates imaging of any celestial object outside the solar system. Please include information about how you went about producing your image including equipment used along with software. Start date 1st August 2023 End date 31st October 2023 Images submitted after the end date will not be accepted As previously the winner and runners up will receive an SGL challenge mug showing their image along with a virtual medal-of-honour for their SGL signature. Please post entries directly into this thread To keep the thread manageable for the judges please do not post comments about entries, emoji reactions are welcome of course. -- RULES All data must be captured and processed by you (no collaborative entries). Data must be captured during the challenge start & end dates. Multiple entries are allowed but please make a fresh post within the thread. Multiple submissions of the same image, processed differently, will not be accepted.

This challenge has now closed. The results should be announced within the next 2 weeks

The trouble is Wim, GHS isn't available on Gimp. However, I believe it is included with Siril which is free of course. Definitely worth a try.

Well that's looking pretty good! You can always reduce the saturation if you think it is to much, the main thing is that there are no glaring artefacts.

Sorry if you have already done this but I would process for the "usual" ring. Then duplicate the layer and create a mask using the existing image. Now invert the mask so that you have a negative image. Use levels to make the core black and everything else approaching white. Apply a gaussian blur (maybe around 13%). Now return to your masked image and start gently stretching. Hopefully your outer halo will start appear without ruining the core. You may need a few tweaks to this routine's settings but hopefully you will get it as good as your data will allow

As expected, this was a popular challenge with some stunning entries. The judges votes were very widely spread with a total of 9 nominations. There was a clear winner but I had to exercise a casting vote for 2nd and 3rd. So, many apologies to those of you who have not got in the frame, it was close and, of course, the judging can never be entirely objective. 1) Powerlord - Canes Venatici M106 is the headline act but there is an array of galaxies in this wonderful image 2) Tomatobro - NGC 4725 This positively sparkles! Beautifully processed with subtle colouration 3) Minhlead M101 with Supernova OK, we are never going to have a level playing field with these challenges, some people have dark skies, some have more cloud than others and Minhlead gets to remotely access Vietnam's largest scope, a mightly CDK600! What a result! You could get lost peering at the fine detail in this image. It is well worth having a look through the 4 pages of galaxy images and thinking about which images you would have picked. https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/408486-sgl-2023-challenge-4-galaxies/

This is essentially a deep sky imaging challenge although it does allow for quite wide field images. The celestial playing field is made up of the constellations which feature in the Summer Triangle of Deneb, Vega and Altair. These are Cygnus, Lyra, Vulpecula, Sagitta and Aquila and their boundaries are as defined by the International Astronomical Union. NB Delphinius is not included. Any image which has areas outside these constellation boundries will not be eligible (you may need to crop!). There is lots to go at from small planetary nebulae to huge supernova remnants. Images can be of single deep sky objects to wider field images encomapassing multiple objects. Start date 3rd July 2023 End date 30th September 2023 No entries will be accepted after this date. As previously the winner and runners up will receive an SGL challenge mug showing their image along with a virtual medal-of-honour for their SGL signature. Please post entries directly into this thread To keep the thread manageable for the judges please do not post comments about entries, emoji reactions are welcome of course. -- RULES All data must be captured and processed by you (no collaborative entries). Data must be captured during the challenge start & end dates. Multiple entries are allowed but please make a fresh post within the thread. Multiple submissions of the same image, processed differently, will not be accepted.

This challenge is now closed. The results will be announced in the next 2 weeks

Glad you like it Nicola, well deserved!

The results are in! https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/410901-sgl-2023-challenge-3-dslr-and-mirrorless-deep-sky-challenge/

Just one page of entries for this challenge but this was more than made up for by the exceptional quality of the images presented. There were splits in the judging and we could easily have selected a completely different set of winners. Unfortunately we have to restrict ourselves to 3! The competition has certainly shown the ability of non specialised astro cameras to deliver superb results in capable hands. 1) Woldsman - Rho Ophiuchi Taken from the East Coast using a modified Canon 100d, a Samyang 135mm lens and a Star Adventurer tracker. This is a very low and challenging target from the UK. Expert processing has pulled out the delicate nebulosity superbly. 2) 900SL - Orion This Orion image was captured using an unmodded D5600 and a Fornax LT tracker. This has allowed the beautiful reflection nebulosity to come to the fore. The process has avoided over supressing the bright core which helps emphasise the dynamic nature of this popular target. 3) R26 oldtimer Heart and Soul This classic Heart and Soul image was captured under a very heavily light polluted Athenean sky using a Canon RPfullspectrum camera with an Optolong L-extreme filter, a Canon 300L lens @ F2.8 and a Pegasus NYX mount. The detail in the brighter areas of nebulosity has been superbly brought out along with some faint outer nebulosity despite the glowing sky. It is really worth visiting the thread to view all the entries https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/407204-sgl-2023-challenge-3-dslr-and-mirrorless-deep-sky-challenge/. There are some superb galaxy images along with other beautiful nebular submissions. Well done to everyone who submitted an image.

Start Date: 1st June 2023 End Date: 31st August 2023 With night time skies in short supply and the sun getting pretty agitated in its 11 year cycle what better time for a solar challenge. Full disc, surface features, proms, animations, all are elidible RULES All data must be captured and processed by you (no collaborative entries). Data must be captured and entered during the challenge start & end dates. Multiple entries are allowed. Multiple submissions of the same image, processed differently, will not be accepted. -- To enter please post within this topic, do not start a new topic. Please post as much information as possible - when it was taken, how it was captured and processed, etc. The info won't necessarily be used for judging but will help fellow SGLers looking to learn and improve their knowledge and technique. The thread is for image submissions only, please do not respond to entries other than by using emojies.

This challenge has now ended. The results will be announced in approximately 2 weeks time

Very interesting to see all the SN images. Would be good to have some more to see how it changes and fades. Anyone doing an animation? Here is my effort captured on the night of 29th - 30th of May Scope: MN 190 f/l 1000mm Camera: ZWO 294MM binned x2 Chroma LRGB filters Lum 17x5mins, RGB each 8x5mins Processed in PI and PS Shown with different crops

Yes, I'll check with our little group but am sure it will be OK.

At last, the results are in - https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/410149-sgl-2023-challenge-2-sketches/

First of all, apologies for the late announcement of the results of this challenge. This has been due to my being out of the country for an extended period. The purpose of this thread was to raise awareness of the value of sketching at the eyepiece and to showcase the efforts of the forum's sketchers. Unusually for the SGL Challenges the thread was open to comments and this enabled our more experienced sketches to offer support particularly showing examples of earlier work. I really enjoyed the sense of community that this generated. Well done to everyone who contributed. There was a suggestion that a sketching challenge could be run on a more frequent basis, possibly every two months. I don't think we could manage this within the current challenge framework although, be in no doubt, there will be further sketching challenges. However, it would be a simple matter for sketching members to organise their own challenges within the Sketching board https://stargazerslounge.com/forum/21-sketching/ I've agonised over how to judge the submissions. Some of the sketches reveal a serious level of expertise gained from long experience at the eyepiece. Sitting alongside these are sketches from complete novices and it was fascinating to read of their experiences. There is a wonderful array of solar, lunar, planetary sketches along with some great deep sky and comet grabs I have chosen as "winners" what I feel are particularly good examples from each of these categories . I think this makes more sense on this occassion than a first, second and third. Deep Sky and comet Nicola Fletcher - Comet C2022 E3 ZTF There were images of the comet which showed more detail but I really liked the subtle shading conveying the ghostliness that matched very closely the views I had through the eyepiece. Lunar CraigT82 - Canaupus Craig is just starting out on his sketching career and has got off to a flying start. This sketch of a less familiar crater has a very natural look with a sense of depth Planetary MikeDnight - Mars MikeDnight is a very experienced and accomplished sketcher. He genorously shared his experience and submitted a stunning set of sketches including other planetary and some amazing lunar craters. I loved the subtle colouring of a very small Mars. It looks simple but this must take a lot of skill Solar Roy Challen - Full disc Roy says he has never been much good at drawing. I would say Roy is not much good at realising just how good he is! He submitted some outstanding solar sketches. This one was actually part of a series. I think the detailing of this image is exquisite This was really an impossible challenge to judge. On this occassion I decided to judge on my own since getting a panel of moderator judges to agree would have been like trying to herd cats! There were several other contributors who also submitted wonderful sketches and if you haven't visited the thread I would highly recommend you do https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/406013-sgl-2023-challenge-2-sketches/

What a dramatic and beautifully framed image! Excellent

Many apologies for the late posting of this challenge, I have been out of the country for several weeks. Once again we are about to come into noctilucent cloud season. For those of you who aren't familiar with these beautiful but elusive clouds you can learn more here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noctilucent_cloud We ran this challenge last year and were treated to some superb images and animations Entries can be still images or animations. Start date 19th May 2023 End date 31st July 2023 As previously the winner and runners up will receive an SGL challenge mug showing their image along with a virtual medal-of-honour for their SGL signature. Please post entries directly into this thread To keep the thread manageable for the judges please do not post comments about entries, emoji reactions are welcome of course. -- RULES All data must be captured and processed by you (no collaborative entries). Data must be captured during the challenge start & end dates. Multiple entries are allowed but please make a fresh post within the thread. Multiple submissions of the same image, processed differently, will not be accepted.

What a fantastic response to this challenge. It is now closed. I am a little indisposed at the moment so the results may be a little delayed.

The results are in! https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/408743-sgl-2023-challenge-1-walking-on-the-moon/

With this challenge we were looking for images that made you feel you were actually almost there on the lunar surface. Our lunar imagers did not disappoint and the standard was very high. 1) Astrovani - Moretus This feels very close and has a wonderful 3d feel. Superb 2) Peter Presland - Humboltianum Peter made great use of a favourable libration to capture this challenging crater in its entirety. Excellent work! 3) Astroscot - Baco - Scott South Pole Moon Astroscot2 picked the perfect time to image this area of the moon the terminator right where you want it to be. A wonderful contrasty image

It is galaxy season again. This challenge has pretty wide parameters, we just want to see striking galaxy images, single galaxies, groups of galaxies, interacting galaxies, what ever takes your fancy. Please include details of equipment used and other capture information. Start date 2nd April 2023 End date 30th June No entries will be accepted after this date. As previously the winner and runners up will receive an SGL challenge mug showing their image along with a virtual medal-of-honour for their SGL signature. Please post entries directly into this thread To keep the thread manageable for the judges please do not post comments about entries, emoji reactions are welcome of course. -- RULES All data must be captured and processed by you (no collaborative entries). Data must be captured during the challenge start & end dates. Multiple entries are allowed but please make a fresh post within the thread. Multiple submissions of the same image, processed differently, will not be accepted.