Allinthehead

12 minutes ago, vlaiv said:

You do understand that this sounds like a proper challenge for a pixel peeper like myself?

Such large FOVs start to suffer geometric distortion and stitching software needs to account for this by transforming from 2d into spherical coordinates - stitching in spherical coordinates and then again transforming back to 2d using one of projection techniques.

Depending on projection technique used - angles might not be preserved - angular magnification distortion.

This leads to "split hair" diffraction spikes in stars.

Did I get it, did I get it?

 

Here's a gold star for you⭐ now go to the top of the class😆

This shows the more extreme part of the flaw. I'm assuming poor polar alignment also plays a role.

Top left of image

Bottom right

26 minutes ago, Adreneline said:

An inspiring image - brilliant job - flaw or no flaw - I'm for the big picture.

Adrian

Thanks Adrian, much appreciated.

16 minutes ago, Xiga said:

Gorgeous stuff Richard! Nice and bright, to bring out all that lovely dust, yet still with good stars. No easy task! Ghost is looking great too at top-left. 

It appears that to bring out dust like this, one needs 3 things. Aperture, Fast Optics, and a Very skilled hand. 👏

Thanks Ciarán, fast optics and aperture certainly help also I think dark skies are very important too. Patience in processing is key too, small incremental adjustments letting the data guide where you go next.

Hi all, what a great few nights over the Easter weekend. 3 clear nights in 4 days allowed me to complete what would sometimes take weeks or months.

Each panel consists of about 4 hours in 150 second subs. 

Shot with an Asi2600mc through a Tak Epsilon 160ed, mounted on an AzEq6.

Captured with sequence generator pro

Processed in APP, PI and PS.

Hope you like it,

Richard.

Ps, there's actually a flaw in the mosaic. Top of the class to anyone who spots it.😀

Very nice, I've a soft spot for the Iris. Lovely blue colour at the core.

1 hour ago, Xiga said:

I totally missed this! It's a bit late obviously, but FWIW I would have also chosen the Double Cluster (it's just stunning) with the Coathanger a very close second. 

Ps - your image of the Horsehead Nebula will take some beating imho 

Thanks Ciarán. Unfortunately I couldn't enter some of the images I wanted too as they were already entered in another competition. 

Superb image Alan.

looks like the Double Cluster is the winner. Thanks all👍

Many opinions and of course every one of them valid and all have given me pause for thought.

I suppose the reason for the poll was because I couldn't make up my mind, so I think the best thing to do is to rely on it, then choose the one that comes out on top. I'll let it run for 24 hours and pick whichever has the most votes. Many thanks for all the feedback and opinions.

This is a great community and while the subjects we post about may seem trivial in these times, it gives me at least, a much needed release.

CS to all,

Richard.

3 minutes ago, Padraic M said:

I took some independent advice here in the household and there were wows on all four! But there was strong support for the coathanger (how did he get those stars to stand out?) and the Veil (very dramatic but maybe a bit ominous). Very glad to be able to help you narrow it down. 🙂 

 

More opinions, more confusion.😁

45 minutes ago, davew said:

I voted for the double cluster. I think it's a stunning representation of the beauty and colour of the stars and would appeal to both Astronomers and artists.

I just might have given the coathanger a second look if it did indeed look like a coathanger rather than one upside down ( Yes, I know )

Dave.

Thanks for the feedback Dave, Double cluster seems to be the frontrunner here. Ref the Coathanger would it have helped if I called it Collinder 399😁

3 minutes ago, Simon Pepper said:

Double cluster! What was that shot with? All are incredible though!

Thanks Simon, that was actually a first light image with my Takahashi Epsilon 160ed. Camera was Asi2600mc. 2 hours 60 second subs.

1 hour ago, tooth_dr said:

I posted a couple of images myself, went for Comet Neowise over Beaghmore Stone Circles and another timelapse one.  I havent decided on a third one yet.  I dont think I have anything really worthy in the deep sky department to enter, but I figured my best hope would be with something transient.

I think that's a good call regarding something transient, very much in keeping with recent interest regarding Neowise. I'm sure that's not true regarding the deep sky department. Plenty of wonderful images posted by you over the past year.

1 hour ago, tooth_dr said:

If I had your images to choose from, I would choose the Double Cluster, its stunning.

That was the one I was considering until Padraig commented. His point about something more pleasing to the public's eye has got in my head.

1 hour ago, tooth_dr said:

I hope you entered your dark nebula mosiac, that would be a deserving winner

Do you mean the Flaming star mosaic? I entered that one and a mono version of the Andromeda Galaxy.

1 hour ago, geeklee said:

All excellent Richard.  Picking images from your collection must be very hard indeed!

I personally voted for the Coathanger.  I remember seeing this one when you posted it and loved it.

As mentioned above, you've always got to keep an eye on what the judges subjective view might be (common targets perhaps) rather than the better photograph   I imagine there will a lot of M42/M43 images entered - yours is exceptional though.

More food for thought, much appreciated Lee.

1 hour ago, Padraic M said:

I see that you can enter up to three photographs so maybe you just need to decide which one NOT to send????

Hi Padraic, thanks for the feedback. I've already entered two images so it's just the final entry to be decided on from the above selection.

1 hour ago, Padraic M said:

Anyway, the judging panel is made up of two creatives and two eminent astronomers, so the entries will need to impress photographically as well as be of astronomical interest. I know that the M42/Running Man is a bit of a cliche to those of us in the know, but yours is a spectacular rendition and would wow on the pages of Irish Times. You've got so much detail in the nebulosity, and your stars are pristine.

I think this is a valid point, while Orion may not seem like the obvious choice to me, it may well be as you say the "wow" image.

You've given me much to consider. Thanks.

15 minutes ago, brandon lamp said:

Yeah the double cluster seems cool

Thanks Brandon, don't forget to vote.

Great potential there Gorann, I think it will be worth another visit.

Superb image Emil. Wish I had data this good just sitting on my hard drive waiting to be processed.😁

An outstanding image elevated to another level. Wonderful image, congratulations Ciarán.

As the Title states I'm entering a few images to this competition https://www.dias.ie/2020/12/16/reach-for-the-stars-diass-astrophotography-competition/ and I can't decide on the final image to enter. I've narrowed it down to the images below and would love to get opinions.

Thanks in advance for any feedback, and don't forget to vote.

CS to all,

Richard.

Both images with a Tak Epsilon 130. 180 second exposures for Imx571 

150 second exposures for the imx071.

I see in your signature you use an Esprit 100. I imaged this with the 071 and Esprit 100. 9 panel mosaic.

Just now, Adam J said:

I see, did you have the original or the pro version? 

I had both, the original had terrible frosting so I got the pro version as an upgrade. This also had frosting but not to the same extent. It was useable down to about -5. I have heard the qhy version is better but not completely immune to issues of its own.

 Imx571

Imx071

6 minutes ago, Adam J said:

Is one of those images the 071 and the other the 571?

No. Top image is a crop to show the reflections the 071 produces. No issues with refractors.

Hi Adam, I rate the 071 very highly indeed, in fact the main reason I sold mine (Asi Version) was because of the frosting issue. Be aware that it does give small halos with a reflector. See image below. I've also shot the same target with both the Imx571 and Imx071 and honestly there's very little between them, certainly not enough to justify the cost difference. 

Very nice Rosette Adam, love the first one.