Radec

Well, some of it anyway! This is another reprocess from November 2021 using a ZWO duoband filter - hence the star halos. I reprocessed the data using better algorithms in Pixinsight, particularly the RC Astro suite of exterminators and also Bill Blanshan's excellent HOO Normalisation script to convert the data to SHO. This was 40 x 240s integration, total time 2 hours 40 mins using the equipment in my signature.

Superb image, especially for a short-ish integration

Outstanding image - no substitute for integration time! Well done

This is naturally NOT new data - just a re-process of data from October last year. 3 hours worth, all the usual calibration frames plus the RCAstro tools applied liberally. Usual image gear - AA102EDT/.79/269c - captured with APT & processed in PI Comments/criticisms welcome - too much dark, too little (doubt it), mushy background etc etc......

Friday 7th April finally gave me a clear-ish night to lug the gear outside and do an imaging run. The less said about that, the better - nothing to show except that at least it all still worked. Images were pretty rubbish, due to chronic guiding - I really need to sort that. Might've helped if I had connected the lead to the dew band to a power outlet that was switched on! However, it made me remember a night in March 2021 when I imaged M51. For some mysterious reason, I never processed it. So here is an image from 2021, a total of 5 hours in 180s subs - darks, flats & darkflats as usual, but no filters. AA 102 EDT & AA269c - captured with APT and processed & annotated in PI. Not the best, not my worst.

This is about all I can do at the moment, thanks to cloud & moon. So, this is IC1805 Heart Nebula in Cassiopeia from October 2021. Imaged through the Altair 102EDT with .79 reducer & still I couldn't get it all in! AA 269c and AA Quadband filter (now sold & replaced with AA Dualband ultra). Total of 40 x 240s (so 2 hours 20 minutes) Reprocessed in Pixinsight using BlurXT plus StarXT & NoiseXT plus Bill Blanshan's HOO Normalisation.

That’s one lovely widefield view. Excellent for only 3 hours, well done

Thanks so much for the positive comments and good luck with your own version. Clear nights are a rarity in the UK at the moment and it’s Galaxy season! Grrrrr!

Thanks Martin, much appreciated. The wonders of BlurXterminator - a brilliant piece of addition to PI. Easy deconvolution for the first time.

It’s one of those pieces of equipment that often sits idle, but on the occasion you need it, it is like your thumb - you wonder how you managed without it. Thanks for the comments

And here is a SHO version (from OSC) using Bill Blanshan's excellent PI pixelmath script, plus his excellent colour masks. I think it adds to the dimension a bit.

This image is from 2021 again, reprocessed with new methods for Pixinsight. It's a total integration of 3 hours in 360s subs with the 102EDT/269c Protec. The version I originally processed has never looked worthy to be honest and having finally found an excellent video explaining how to use GHS2 as a process, rather than a script, I set about it with renewed interest. This time, the result is much improved.

Thanks - much appreciated Keith

As we know, with UK weather like it is, all I can do is reprocess old data with newly acquired algorithms. So this is data from April 2021 - the Leo Triplet. It's an integration of 2 hours 42 mins on the same night, pre & post meridian flip. Captured with APT and processed entirely in PI. No filters. BlurXT has done a good job of reducing some of the blobby stars without looking too false.

Very nice