Yawning Angel

Would you be able to share a screen shot of AS!3, with the SER file loaded and AP's set, please?

Today's daylight moon, 80ED + asi1600mm. RGB and Ha as luminance. 25% of 1000 each filter

Stacking with AS!3, then Registax for some gentle sharpening. ImPPG to align the data and then PixInsight for RGB combine and colour balancing

11 hours ago, Nigella Bryant said:

works straight out of the box

It's only had one outing, but (touch wood) it seems ok. 365 Astronomy provided a test report and a photo

It does it's job very well and does make setting up a painless process. It pairs nicely with CPWI if you go into computer control

As with a lot of kit, it'll depend what you want from it?

7 hours ago, Ibbo! said:

Lovely first image.

Thank you Steve! Hoping for some steadier skies, but I'll take any sky without clouds!

First light with the Quark Chromosphere!

It was a bit of a scramble to find the right length of extensions and pressing an old 1.25" diagonal into service. Not the best, as it is very windy and wobbly up there, but a new toy must be 'tested' 🙂

The most noticeable improvement over the PST mod I borrowed is the even illumination with no obvious sweet spot

SW80ED / Altair Hypercam 174m / Sharpcap / AS!3 / PixInsight

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate the comments 👍🏻

That looks great! Well done 👍🏻 

3 hours ago, LeeHore7 said:

one of the best phases of Luna

It gives it wonderful 3D quality. A bit of a pain to balance the sunlit peaks and rims with the deep shadows. 

oh, now I’m wondering about trying some HDR shenanigans...

Just now, JamesF said:

mono camera with an Ha filter

I've used the Ha previously then swapped to a ProPlanet 642 IR bandpass - great when seeing is mixed. You may find more detail in the green channel - if you can get the exposure short enough to keep it stable

27 minutes ago, JamesF said:

Very nice indeed

Thank you James.

It's a little more faf with filters, but I can go to about 80% and stay inside one frame so it's not excessive. I like trying for the hints of colour, although this stack wasn't for giving me any blue without some work.

Do you go for pure luminance when doing mono, or filtered?

35 minutes ago, tomato said:

I’m usually cursing this object

Me too, but it seems to be around on my rare clear nights so I'm learning to love imaging her 🙂

5 minutes ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

Yes a terrific image

Very kind Steve, thanks!

4 minutes ago, Paul779 said:

Wow thats nice that👍

Thank you Paul!

I was treated to a slim window on the 24th, before snow clouds rolled in. Job 1 was to grab some moon data, so I had something from the night, then on to play with some camera / barlow combinations

This is the result of 25% stacks of 1000 frames, captured from my 80ED / asi178mm. LRGB frames gently sharpened in Registax and aligned in imPPG. Combined, colour balanced and final sharpening in PixInsight. I have been fining the a less aggressive sharpen in Registax means the Pix's RestorationFilter can be used to crisp up after settling the colours & highlights

I was going to present it in it's 'correct' orientation, but to my eye this suited it better

Click for full size, it does it more justice

On 23/01/2021 at 00:02, Trevor N said:

Nice image. Well done

Thank you! Tonight’s data is fighting back, but fresh eyes in the morning might help

Haha, take that clouds! Caught you off guard didn’t I? Just long enough to grab a slice of mineral moon, 1000 frames each RGB 25% stacks

That looks fab, enjoy it!

By far the best upgrade I ever did too 🙂

Fantastic, the highlights and shadows are really well defined! Love it, well done!

There is a slight stacking artefact across the bottom

Had a fiddle:

Removed the stars, ran some chrominance noise reduction on the starless image and gentle luminance noise reduction on the stars then recombined

Most noticeable in the more colourful orange stars, especially the large one SE of centre (12 monocerotis, I believe)

Thank for the positive comments! 

7 hours ago, Xsubmariner said:

Let’s hope January brings some long, cold clear nights.

Yes please! Cloud dodging is a pain 😁

One hour each for Ha, Oiii and Sii (30 x 120sec)

Skywatcher Evostar 80ED x0.85 / asi1600mm / iOptron CEM60

It was a struggle to get meaningful Sii data, battling the full moon over new year - but I'm fairly happy with how it's turned out

Cheers everyone!

I think the exposures where 5ms, with the gain pushed a little to give 60 - 70% histogram. 500 frames per stack and 50% stacked as it seemed very stable

This is a 20 panel mosaic with an asi178mm / 80ed + 2.5x barlow, green filter.

It was done as a test to see if the scope could stand the magnification...what do you think?

Click through for the full size

It's clear as a bell, so why not! Lovely way to put 2020 to bed I think

asi178mm / Evostar 80ED. Best 25% of 500 per channel (RGB)