daemon

Well here is my first attempt at processing the ubiquitous M42 with my trial download of PixInsight. I started the trial about a week ago and have been studying various online beginners tutorials on You Tube (thanks Mitch!). 🙂 The data is from a few weeks ago (Nikon D5300, S/W ED72 on a Star Adventurer) but was very limited due to a short session (before Orion disappeared). This is about the best 30 minutes of an hour or so session of lights. Calibrated with darks and flats. I realise that I have missed the star reduction and I need to practice this more, but I think that the HDR Multi-scale Transform has really brought out some detail of the nebula core. It is a pretty amazing tool!! But then I guess M42 does have High Dynamic Range so maybe it stands out more. Maybe I have over saturated this but then I guess that is to taste. I'd be happy to hear any criticism or comment. I have a number of gripes with the Pixinsight software as it is so non-intuitive. Having said that, it does have amazing capabilities if you can get to grips with it. Time will tell, and I will process some more data on other targets over the next few weeks before deciding whether or not to purchase a license. Cheers & clear skies!! daemon

Welcome Supreme Commander! 😉 Cool handle! Give my regards to the Federation!

Fully agree on the LRGB integration. It is straightforward and I Iike the workflow of APP. I have another integration running right now on some Needle Galaxy data. Let's see! 😉

Yep, I varied the star threshold various times before registering the coloured channels. I lowered it all the way to 2% and the maximum it could find was 4 or 5 stars. I believe it needs a minimum of 8. I also tried to use the star editor to select other stars but could not make that work either. I really like DSS but for that dataset I just could not make it work. APP seemed kinder with my data, but not sure if it offers enough to buy it. I will test it over the next 30 days and see. Maybe I should just take the plunge into the Pixinsight world!

Thanks Tom! I'm using Unity Gain (139) on the ASI1600 for LUM- I believe this is pretty much a default and I have not had a chance to try anything else yet. I have had the camera for about a year but it saw little use last year. As far as exposure is concerned I was shooting 60 second subs. I could maybe have gone to 90 seconds before the stars begin to trail but 60 seconds seemed to make sense for this session. My biggest problem was that 60s seemed to0 short when using the filters (especially Green for some reason). With hindsight I should have increased the gain for R,G,B - rookie mistake probably. Deep Sky Stacker could not find enough stars with 60s, hence the reason I downloaded APP which stacked them without an issue - although insisted on me shooting flat darks! Clear skies!

A short session - a total of about 2 hours on M51 - LRGB (an hour of Luminance and 15 mins each of RGB). Calibrated with flats, darks and dark flats using my trial version of Astro Pixel Processor - still deciding whether or not to buy this. Final tweaks in GIMP. Imaged with S/W Evostar ED72 with a 2.5x Barlow - mounted on EQ6R-Pro - ASI1600MM. Not guided. Cheers, Daemon

Only about an hours worth of LRGB data from last Monday. ASI1600MM on SW 150PDS. Tracking on EQ6R mount. Stacked in DSS and processed in GIMP. Still struggling with processing. I realise I need more data but also need more time! C&C welcome. Daemon

I have most recently been running mine at -15c when ambient temp was about +12c. The results were pretty good with much less thermal noise when compared to my DSLR. I keep a library of darks shot at -5, -10, -15, -20, -25 so that I'm ready for different conditions. Tonight is expected to be cooler so I may go for -20. Cheers, Daemon

Thanks Mark!👍

This is just an experimental image of M81 and M82 from last night. Only 12 luminence lights of 120s, combined with 2 each of R,G,B (also 120s). I was constrained by time so for only 36 minutes exposure time I was reasonably pleased with the results. The subs were nice and clear. No guiding. Just tracking on the EQ6R Pro. The experiment was mainly to test focus with my set of ZWO filters to check what focus settings would be needed for my Sesto Senso focus controller. I also shot 2 subs each of Ha, OIII and SII - but these are not combined here. I was very surprised to find that all the filters seemed parfocal - I'm not sure that any adjustment is needed between each of them, however I will do more tests. This was with the ASI1600MM on a S/W 150PDS. Stacked in DSS and processed in GIMP. My processing still leaves a lot to be desired, so criticism welcome. Daemon

Wow!

Stunning!

Nice! Similar to my coloured attempt from the same night posted a little earlier. Clear Skies!

I agree, the seeing was pretty poor last night despite the clear sky here on the UK South Coast. I gave up after various test shots, but you've done well..!! Cheers, Daemon

A coloured attempt from a few night's ago. Approx best 80% of 377. Nikon D5300 - S/W ED72 - 2.5x Barlow. Processing:- PIPP/Registax/GIMP A bit blurred - seeing not ideal. Stacking may also have introduced some issues. Not sure about my saturation adjustments. C & C welcome. Daemon

Great images!!

Last night's attempt. Best 144 of 180 1/125" exposures at ISO 150 with Skywatcher ED72, Nikon D5300 DSLR on Star Adventurer. PIPP/Registax/GIMP C&C Welcome Daemon

Here are M81, M82 & NGC3077 imaged from the UK South Coast on 26th March 2020 (yesterday) with the SA.The data is pretty good - even if I only managed to grab 47 decent 60 second subs - but my processing skills let the image down. Criticism and comment always welcome.Details:- Mount:- Star Adventurer Scope:- SW Evostar 72ED Camera:- Nikon D5300 un-modded Guided:- PHD2 in RA only. Lights:- 47 x 60 seconds - ISO1600 Darks:- 20 Flats:- 20 Stacked in DSS and ruined in GIMP (not GIMPs fault). Stay safe and healthy everyone.Daemon Steve

Hi All,Here is M81, M82 & NGC3077 imaged from the UK South Coast on 26th March 2020 (yesterday).I think the data is pretty good - even if I only managed to grab 47 decent 60 second subs - it's my processing skills that probably let the image down. Criticism and comment always welcome.Details:- Mount:- Star Adventurer Scope:- SW Evostar 72ED Camera:- Nikon D5300 un-modded Guided:- PHD2 in RA only. Lights:- 47 x 60 seconds - ISO1600 Darks:- 20 Flats:- 20 Stacked in DSS and ruined in GIMP (not GIMPs fault). Stay safe and healthy everyone.Daemon Steve

I have guided several times with the SA and have had some good results. I think it can be effective. Of course it is only possible to guide in RA as the motor only drives in that axis. Because of that it is important to get your polar alignment as good as possible. I use a Polemaster so I have been able to get it quite accurate. I have found that with a good PA the DEC drift can be quite small. In terms of equipment I use a Skywatcher ED72 with a Nikon D5300 DSLR mostly. Sometimes I use the D5300 on its own with a 200mm prime lens. Both setups are quite light - that is the reason I chose them. In terms of exposure time I am still experimenting, but with a good alignment then I would suggest 2-3 minutes would be achievable. However, depending on setup/camera, more subs with shorter exposure time may be better. All in all I think the Star Adventurer is a fantastic solution for grab and go astrophotography. Clear skies!

So guiding may not be for you. If you are imaging with a DSLR then consider an intervalometer. I picked one up for around £20 and they are great for automating imaging sessions without a laptop. But you may have to rely on good tracking from the mount for decent exposure times if not guiding. For this I really recommend getting your polar alignment as good as possible.

Hi, sorry to step in here, but I also use guiding with my Star Adventurer and I've found it quite effective. I use PHD2, but of course with this mount you can guide in RA only so the configuration needs to be adjusted accordingly to turn Dec guiding off. If you get a good Polar Alignment (I use the Polemaster) then I find the Dec drift is not too bad. If you have a guide scope/camera it is certainly worth trying in my opinion. Cheers!

Great first attempt! Especially under the circumstances! I applaud your determination! Clear skies!

I find the ZWO Mini Guide scope excellent.....https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/zwo-mini-guide-scope.html It's small and light and will not add too much weight to a small rig. I paired mine with an Altair GPCAM2 AR130 and they make a great pair.

I agree vlaiv! 🙂 I'd certainly never add artificial spikes via software!! But I am guilty of making a homemade (clip on) spike generator for using with my ED72 and ED80 refractors! 🤪 It's mostly to experiment and have some fun. It's good to contrast and compare images with different options. But I can imagine people will think I am crazy! They're probably right! 🤪 Nice dog art by the way! 😀 Cheers! Daemon Steve