StargeezerTim

Thanks Alan, I do find that adding Ha as luminance seems to 'pinken' the image, despite the tutorial claims otherwise! Does anyone know what the little 'bubble' at the bottom right corner is?

It's great to see what can be achieved in just over half an hour!

Hi Jon, Welcome... I started off with the same gear as you although I got the EQ5 at first. I later upgraded to the HEQ5 so I think you have made the right choice. It's a massive learning curve that burns big holes in your pockets but very rewarding. Welcome! Tim.

I added 30 X 5 min one shot RGB to 24 X 10 min Ha, both 1600 iso. DSS and PS. I used the Ha as luminence using this process:- https://starizona.com/tutorial/using-an-h-alpha-image-as-a-luminance-channel/ I tried using Ollies method of using lighten blend when adding Ha to the red channel but this method worked out better. Having said that, It is too pinkish for my liking. If anyone has any other ways of adding Ha to one shot colour data, I'm all ears. Anyone know the name of the object in the bottom right corner? Stellarium doesnt help...

Thanks Tim, I got three and a half hours of colour on Sunday night so will have a go at adding it this afternoon. The stars in the colour image are a bit intrusive but I'll give it a go.

From last night... 24 X 10 min, iso 1600, 12nm Ha filter, 100d and Star 71. DSS and PS. We have had some lovely nights here, for a change 😀

Yes, I did dither. There was horrible gradients and also the flats didn't work well. I also think I stretched a bit too much. It was actually quite difficult to process...

I don't think this worked but if you don't try you get nothing at all! This is the Virgo Galaxy region imaged at 70mm (Canon 70-300 zoom). 30 X 5 min exposures at F6.3, iso 400, Canon 100D. DSS and PS. There must be bundles and bundles of galaxies in this image. The trouble is, to see them you have to zoom right in and then the noise becomes very apparent. Markarians Chain is just a little bit above centre in the image.

They are weird... what do they do?

Fabulous image... and what a lovely place to live 🙂.

That's definitely M 51! Well found 😀. How many exposures?

I wonder what their equivalent of 'Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus' would be! 😆😆😆

Well I have re-processed and think I have done a bit better job. So difficult getting the gradients out and colours right. There is a mono one as well.

I got up to nearly 42... I think the stars get in the way of the fiery looking nebulosity, but it is mind bogging isn't it! There just has to be life beyond our planet .

Well I haven't quite got the processing right yet... and there are too many stars 🤯.... but what a fabulous bit of space this is... a who's who of DSO's. 26 X 7.5 min, 70mm (Canon 70-300 zoom), iso 800, F 5.6, 100D, UHC filter. DSS and photoshop.

Well I did add lighten at 100% opacity but it just turned the whole image deep red! I have processed again, using Ha as 70% luminance, and help back on the stretching and saturation to produce a more restrained version!

Thanks Derek. 👍

Hi all, I am thinking of investing in a scope that will enable me to get up close and personal with galaxies, globular clusters and the like. I currently have a Star 71 which is brilliant, great quality and easy to to use. I also have a 150 PDS which is good for mid range and gives good results, but is fiddly and awkward in use. So I'm not sure I want another reflector. My mount is an HEQ5 and I image with a crop frame DSLR (Canon 100D). I have no intention of getting another mount or getting into ccd imaging. I've just started thinking about this really and thought you might be able to suggest a suitable scope. I've been looking at the 8" Edge HD as a poss solution as it's not too heavy and about the right price I look forward to any suggestions or thoughts you may have. Cheers, stay safe. Tim.

Thanks John, You have been most helpful. 👍

Thanks John, You have been most helpful. 👍

Excellent detail 😊.

How do you do that? I'm hoping one will pick-up on this thread and help.

The issue for me is that most of my posts were 2018 and earlier and although I can see them, there is no way to edit or delete them. 😣

Thanks John, I've just returned to this after 18 months... So I have uploaded a few images since return and I can delete them by editing the post. 99.9% of my uploads were 2018 and before but when I look at those posts, there is no option to 'Edit post', that is only there on the recent ones. Anyone have any other ideas? My messages through the e-mail link on the site are not being answered.... Could a moderator pick this up and sort something please?

It's probably not the right forum but if anyone can help, I'm sure it will come from here. I've posted another message that has been put on the community section and also sent a message to the site without reply. I have reached my upload limit and need to delete past attachments before I can upload any more. Trouble is, I can't see any way of deleting those attachments even though they are all listed there. Has anyone faced and resolved this... Stay safe, Tim.