Bagginsies

My attempt at Comet M3 Atlas as it passed Bellatrix and the Orion Nebula.

I managed about 12 x 1.5min raw images at iso 1600 with the Skywatcher PDS and the Baddaar MKIII Coma Corrector for the comet. Below is a single image edited in Affinity Photo.

I have tried stacking in Deep Sky Stacker, but it just always seems to remove the colour/night sky feel that the Affinity Photo images seems to keep. I still need a lot more practice with DSS on comets and my settings.

I only managed 4 images with the above settings before the clouds moved in on The Orion Nebula. Again stacked in Affinity Photo as DSS removes the colour/night sky feel (which makes me think I have changed a setting without knowing).

It is hard to explain, but it seems duller, with less colour and without the twinkle when I use DSS (hard to explain!) 

Still happy with my AF images though :-) 

Managed to get a clear night, so tried the scope out again, definitely getting more detail in the planets and very impressed with the Badaar Coma Corrector MkIII. All 3 star images are single images at Iso 1600 and either 60 or 90 seconds (Altair, Double Cluster and M13) 

5 hours ago, LeeHore7 said:

Great shots, what equipment were you using and did you stack the images they look great for a first light, I have the skywatcher 150p and skymax 127, clear skies 

I was using the equipment listed in my signature (except the Canon lens')

For the stars I used the Canon 60D - 3 x 30s exp @ Iso1600 (stacked in Sequator, final edits in Affinity Photo) 

For the planet's I did a 30-40 sec video with the Canon 60D (zoomed in at 640 x 480) with a x2 barlow. This was converted in PIPP, to stabalize and allow stacking in Registax. Again, final edits in Affinity Photo (colour, noise, etc)

There was a lot of cloud and haze about so seeing was not very good and all targets were low on the horizon. Was surprised with the results due to this to be honest, so looking forward to what I can get with a super clear night!

At last, my Skywatcher turned up! Even though I knew the clouds and moisture were going to stop any real chance of testing the scope, I just couldn't resist having a look through it and getting some pics. 

Mainly just to get used to it and how it works, try the camera out on it, get the finder scope set, check focus points with different attachments (barlow, coma corrector, eyepeice, etc).

Even with a lot of cloud and moisture I was quite pleased! Especially surprised I could see the bands on Jupiter! 

First light with the Skywatcher 150 PDS.......

Super happy it has finally arrived! My new 150 PDS (only the OTA, already had the mount) Hoping for some first light this week!

Cant figure out why there is a mirror on the back though? Heat reflection? (thought they might have put it on the wrong way until I looked inside LOL)

Lastest couple of pictures, both 30sec exp, F8, Iso 1600. One at 105mm, one at 300mm.

I tried stacking these, but to be honest still struggling due to too much light. Still a lot to learn, but still happy I caught an image!

A new image trying to get a better foreground. This was before midnight and to be honest, I need a bit more practice!

13 minutes ago, Kyle Allen said:

Great pictures! I saw it for the first time this morning and couldn’t believe how bright it was.

I must admit, with people saying you needed binoculars to see it, I was also pleasantly surprised when I walked out and there it was! I have Bortle 4 skies here so that does help. 

First clear night with no cloud so set the alarm for 0245hrs and I am so glad I did! Just walking out into the garden I could see it above the trees! Absolutely blown away, even woke the wife up to come and see it! Sorry for so many pictures, but I love them all 🤣

75mm F11 5 sec Iso 1600

140mm F5.6 2.5sec Iso1600

300mm F6.3 2sec Iso800

First time I have seen noctilucent clouds! Amazing!

Neowise, Venus and Pleiades

Wide field stitch of the previous two images.

My first view as I walked out! Was in awe! Taken with my Google Pixel 3a

What a great view! 🙂

Nice image! I managed it this morning and like you say, so worth getting up. Was an amazing site as I walked out into my garden and there it was! 

Whilst waiting for my new scope I decided to try a widefield image of The Moon, Jupiter and Saturn as they came above the horizon. A blend of 2 images (still need some practice). Both at Iso 400 F8, but one is 1/160 second and the other 1 1/2 second. On a big screen you may just be able to make out four moons of Jupiter.

Great image and it gets me excited as I have just upgraded to the SW150750, not here until July though.

Managed to mix both my hobbies today, A Sun halo whilst I was ground handling my paraglider wing.

Taken with a GoPro Hero 4 with some slight edits in Affinity Photo. 

Welcome, enjoy the retirement and the chance to finally use your scope. 🙂

Awesome job dude! Crazy to think it went bang 52 million years ago and we are only seeing it now!

5 minutes ago, paul mc c said:

Nice one,was on this last night,if mine is like this i will be well happy.

I look forward to seeing it. I am upgrading soon, so will be interesting to see the difference.

Decided to have a try at M61 and the supernova. Didn't think I would get much with my 130SLT, but quite happy with how it turned out.

29 x 90 seconds @ Iso 3200

10 x dark, flat and bias

Stacked in DSS with final edits in Affinity Photo

Managed to get 15 minutes of data on M13 last night in between Sunset and Moon rise. Was testing out tracking as I had changed backlash settings. Was quite pleased as the stars were nice and sharp. 

10 x 90 sec @ Iso 3200 ; 10 x dark, bias and flat, stacked in DSS with final edits in Affinity Photo.

I have re-installed DSS and took some images of M13 last night (10x90sec) I also spent some time looking at the backlash settings as they were fairly high, I have reduced them and it seems smoother. Not even sure if it makes a difference in actual tracking? I now know it isn't the tracking as M13 was fine.  Image was stacked in DSS and turned out well. Will wait for a really clear night and try again on a comet. 

Just tried a new stack with kappa-sigma clipping and this I took each light frame and increased the clarity (made stars and comet brighter) of each light frame. The final stack was better but had a double image. i.e. every star had another below it. Looking at it I may have even forgot tot stack the comet! Think I need to wait and get some good data and try again.

27 minutes ago, carastro said:

Did you take flats?

Carole 

The top image didn't have flats, but even when added, it still comes out the same. 

I am thinking it is the software struggling to keep the comet and star positions right when stacking. When you go through the light frames, the stars jump around a lot. Although the pictures are clear, the stars move a bit each time (not in the same direction either so not tracking, it would be like taking a pictures hand held), so could be tiny movement from a loose gear or some other tiny movement in the setup. When stacking this then makes it hard for the software to keep up with position of everything in the light frames and this makes it put one or two frames in a different location thus creating the lines....if you get what I mean, not sure I even do LOL

1 hour ago, happy-kat said:

Using the comet feature I would mark the comet on each frame, when stacking I would stack on comet and stars and use kappa sigma clipping. Perhaps that will help.

Did you use dithering.

I have used those settings and it didn't work (don't really understand it all yet, so just checking boxes half the time!). As for dithering, I don't think the box was checked, but that is something I have yet to understand/test. The learning continues...….. LOL

1 hour ago, carastro said:

I could never get the comet stacking feature on DSS to work properly, it would stack some OK, but not others, and after messing around for ages I gave up and stacked them manually in Photoshop.  I stacked so the comet was stationary and the stars trailed. 

Carole 

I had the same with some working and some not, will try other methods to see what I can do, but like vlaiv pointed out, I think some better data in my light frames will help DSS in it's job.

I had a great picture a while back, but could only stack on the comet, luckily the picture still looked good like that. I will use the next few weeks to try out some manual stacking etc. At least I will have something to do for the cloudy nights 🙂

When I look at each frame there is movement in the stars and the comet is slow so that could be a problem for the software as you say above. 

To be honest I had always just used the standard settings and not sure what I could/should tweak as it would just be guessing. Will have to look into it more, so much to learn and get my head around LOL. I was hoping someone would say "just click this button and hey presto" ha ha, if only!

I have also just seen another thread on here about doing the two stacks (one on comet and one on stars) separately in DSS then blending myself in my photo editing software (Affinity Photo), again, so much to learn!

….but I know it will all be worth it in the end 🙂

Forgot, top image with trailing I didn't use flats or bias frames (only darks), but even when I use flats and bias I still get trailing.

An edited single image