wesdon1

Hi. What you're doing is admirable, and I will happily support the campaign, because I too am absolutely sick and tired of horrendous artificial lighting beaming all over my flat and from, side and rear gardens! There is literally nowhere I can place my telescope to avoid the lighting. The best I manage is never shooting at a target unless it's positioned so my 'scope isn't pointing directly towards the various sources of lighting. Worst of all, 80% of the artificial lighting is the dreaded broad spectrum white LED's, so light pollution filters offer little protection. I haven't yet reached the level of skill required to do extreme narrowband imaging, with associated filter drawers/electronic filter wheels, expensive narrowband filters, extra processing etc etc etc, so I'm hoping when I do, that might offer more protection from those awful white LED lights. May I suggest, would it be possible for you to erect some sort of screen to protect your 'scope from direct interference from artificial lighting? This is something I'm planning on trying myself soon. I just thought I'd mention this idea I have, incase you hadn't already thought of it yourself. Best of luck and please update the post when you have news of the court case, if you have the time to do so, thanks. Wes, Liverpool ( Bortle 7 on the map, but artificial lighting makes it more like Bortle 10'000! LOL )

Hi all, the weather forecast is looking very promising for this evening. Anyone looking to get imaging, maybe even for the current SGL "DSLR/Mirrorless Sky Challenge" Astrophotography competition, should check their local area forecast and see if it's good for you. I for one will be outside imaging tonight. I have absolutely ZERO chance of winning, but that's not the point! Just entering it with my own astro-photo that I produced myself, is motivation enough! Clear Skies!

@bosun21 Thank you for kind words Bosun21. The Moon was my first ever attempt at an Astro photo too! I used my iPhone 11, it was a blurry mess! LOL.

@Bogmonster please don’t let my dramatics put you off though mate! 😂 Aside from some very stressful problems along the way ( I’m about 4 months into Astrophotography ) this new hobby has been an incredible experience and the highs far far outweigh the lows! So I’d say have a go when you’re ready, and just try keep it super simple and basic in the beginning. Don’t get carried away wanting all kinds of special cameras, mounts etc, like I did. Just use a cheap second hand DSLR camera, and just start taking pictures and see where it takes you. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience. Best of luck, and obviously if I can help in any way, let me know. I’m a new guy still, but I have learned a lot so far, so I can be helpful for beginners. 👍

Aww thanks @carastro. As I said, I was/am eternally grateful for your and others advice/help. 😊 yes funny you should ask about guiding because that’s now my next target ( no pun intended! ) I received the adapter I need to fit my ASI 120MM to my SW 50mm Finder yesterday, and I already own a good Laptop, so I’m going to start learning to do multiple minute guided subs as soon as weather permits. LOL I should have qualified my title “My First Ever Galaxy Image” because although it’s my first Galaxy image, it’s not my first Astrophotography image! I’ve done about 7-8 DSO’s so far, and a couple of planetary, so I hope my title didn’t come across as dishonest!? 🤦‍♂️😂 But yes it was/is my very first ever Galaxy attempt!

@Clarkey Thanks mate. Yes the processing part is definitely much more difficult than the acquisition, which itself is pretty darn difficult in the beginning! LOL. Yes next time, because I only used my small 66mm aperture 400mm FL refractor to image the Leo Triplet, next time I'm going to use my big 200mm Aperture 1000mm FL Newt. Reflector, which actually has a faster FR than the little refractor, F5 compared to the small ones F6, respectively. So with the much larger aperture, more than double FL and faster optics, I'm hoping to get much more zoomed in, much better resolution and faster optics, and I'm also I'm aiming for double the total exposure time, so I should manage a really good image of it. Can't wait! Thanks again! Wes.

Hi again all. I am very pleased to report, I have now learned a lot more after all of your very kind advice, and I've spent my day off work practicing my processing, but instead of using GIMP, I've opted for SIRIL, which I'm finding magnitudes more understandable to use, for me personally. Here is my latest processed image of LEO Triplet. The sky background is darker ( yayyy!! LOL ) and I've cropped and rotated it, just for personal taste. This is only a relatively quick processing, and I'm sure with more processing, I could imp[rove it further still, but I think it's much better than the original, and I'm both relieved and pleased I am now finally getting to grips with processing. May I say again a HUGE thank you to everyone who so kindly took the time to advise me on the best way forward. I cannot thank you all enough! It goes without saying that if ever any of you need my help ( highly doubtful, I reckon! LOL ) then I'm here for you! Thanks! Wes.

@edarter You make some very good points there. The biggest one is keeping it fun, otherwise as you correctly point out, if it's not fun then what's the point! *Just a quick update, I have been off work today so I've been practicing my data processing in Siril. I have never used Siril before, but I'm so glad I tried it out because I've FINALLY got to grips with darkening background and increasing the brightness of my Galaxies! ( I have put GIMP software to one side for a while, while I learn how to process images better with Siril, which for me personally, seems so so much easier to understand learn!? ) I'm now learning how to adjust colour balances/saturation etc and I'm feeling so much more hopeful of my future Astro-abilities! LOL. I will post my updated re-processed Leo triplet later today or tomorrow after work. Thanks again for your advice and encouragement, I really am very grateful to you and others who have helped me!

LOL Thanks I was just about to ask what that meant! LOL. Thanks so much, you and many others have been a life saver, and I am eternally grateful.

Thank You for such kind words! Maybe I need to lower my ambitions a little until I'm multi-year experienced!? ( I'm roughly 4 months in to my astrophotography journey ) If I'm completely honest and self critical, I am looking at images of DSO's that have been done by people with many years of astrophotography experience, and judging my own work by that. It's silly and impatient, I think...

Thanks so much @alacant. I will indeed do what you suggest, thanks! I've received a ton of brilliant ideas and advice which will really help me get to grips with my issues! Thanks so much, I'd be lost without these places and the people who pass on their experiences and knowledge! priceless!

Oh right? I never thought of that Cara? I'll check Histograms, and reduce my flats duration if the histograms are out, like you so kindly suggest. Thanks so much Cara, people would be lost without the advice and support of others on here.

Hi @carastro. Your post has the words behind the image, unfortunately. But I think I get the gist of what you were saying. Thanks Cara, I'm taking yours and everyone's advice and inspiration and really nailing this issue!

oh wow I never even realised/noticed there was a special covering for viewfinder!? Thanks so much! The weather hasn't allowed me to try out new ideas that you so kindly gave me recently, but as soon as the weather allows, I can't wait to get back out n try! Thanks!

Beautiful pics! I remember my first time ever viewing astro objects, firstly the Moon, then Jupiter and Saturn. The excitement when you see them, it's a wonderful feeling.

Thanks for advice/help. I will try out some different things and see how I get on. Thanks again, I really do appreciate it.

Hi, thanks for replying/helping. No I have never thought to cover the viewfinder while imaging, but I think you've hit on a good point there, because I have extremely bright street lights shining onto back of camera/into the viewfinder when imaging, so some of that light could well be getting onto my cameras sensor and "blowing out" the subs? I'll definitely remedy that issue next time and see how that changes my subs, thanks. I'll redo the stacking without darks, and see if it helps, thanks. Thanks again for helping, I'll update the post after doing suggested things, and let you see if anything helps, thanks.

Hi all. I did my first ever galaxy imaging a few nights ago. I only manage just over 1 hour of integration. I did all my calibration frames, and stacked them in DSS. But again when it came to processing, which in this case I used GIMP, I just could not get the background sky to darken, and also couldn't get the galaxies themselves to "pop" or be brighter in the image, relative to the night sky background. I have tried several online tutorials, but no matter what I do, I just seem to be stuck on this one huge issue, getting the night sky background darker!? So I reverted to my usual bailout option, which is simply to do a super basic processing of image in Windows 11 Photo Editor, which allows you to crop, and adjust basics like brightness, contrast, tint, etc etc etc. It's really getting me down... If anyone has a simple and easy to follow routine for getting background night sky darker in processing then I would be profoundly grateful! Target - LEO Triplet Lights - 62 x50 sec Darks - 62 x 50 sec Bias - 20 x 1/4000 sec Flats - 20 x 5 sec ISO - 1600 Telescope - ALTAIR Lightwave 66/400 ED Mount - Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro Camera - Canon EOS T1i DSLR Filter(s) - Optolong L-Pro *Unguided I have included both the raw stacked image, and then the "processed" image after doing a super basic processing in Windows 11 Photo editor. ( for reference, The processed image has a number 7 at very beginning of file name, and processed image has the number 2 at very beginning )

Good Morning all. I am a semi-newbie now, but I still haven't started using guiding for my astrophotography. My question is, what is roughly the longest time you can do unguided subs with a HEQ5 Pro Mount, obviously with very good polar alignment? I currently don't even bother to try anything past 60 seconds, because when I'm outside, my time is especially precious, due to where I live ( I live on 3rd floor flats, and once outside with all my gear, I dare not leave my gear alone for even one second because I have a thief living in building! ). So I like to get all my imaging done asap so I can get back indoors out of cold etc. I forgot to mention, my primary imaging scope is a 66mm aperture ED Doublet refractor with 400mm FL, F6.0 Any advice or comments would be most appreciated! Thanks! Wes.

@imakebeer My goodness they're amazing for a beginner and only 1 hour total integration. I would be well pleased with these mate! I'm still struggling with basic nebula pics and now you're knocking out pics like this! Not fair! LOL.

I use a GoTo system on my HEQ5. It's just so much more convenient when it's below zero and I need to utilise as much of my outside time as possible to gather as much data on a target as possible. I live on the 3rd floor of flats, with no lift, so every session involves carrying the very heavy HEQ5 mount, the 'scope, cameras, power box, everything, down all the stairs, and have to remain outside constantly, for fear of my expensive gear being stolen or damaged! Then carry everything back up the stairs, all in one go, I hasten to add! So the GoTo systems are a God send for me personally! Wes, Liverpool ( Bortle 7 )

Hi @mirrorgirl1980 that's a very impressive M42! I'm a multi-year visual observer, but only recently started astro-imaging. May I ask, did you colour map the data to your own liking/preferences? Also, is it a narrowband image, or osc and natural colours changed/mapped in processing? It's gorgeous!

I would suggest you clean the camera sensor, and also get a qualified electrician to test all the electronic components inside the camera. Just one single capacitor or mosfet being faulty will cause corrupted data and cause havoc with your cameras electronics. Remember your camera is exposed to extremes in temperatures, humidity, and dew, etc so water could easily accumulate on your electronic components, causing short circuits etc. Plus you have the regular heat expansion, then cooling contraction, of electronic components, which over time, causes tiny stress fractures and ultimately failure of said components. So all other causes being eliminated, I would suggest you get the electronics fully tested, and see if that is where the problem lies. Ultimately though, I am hopeful on your behalf that the cameras manufacturers will know exactly what is causing the problems and suggest a solution. Best of luck, please let us know how you get on, thanks.

I find the apps on my phone are really helpful, but I think good old fashioned star hopping is also a greater way of truly understanding the night sky. It’s an investment in your astro future. Thank you for being so kind. wes, bortle 7 Liverpool

@assouptro My goodness, I dream of producing works as beautiful and professional as this! Just stunning!! I am not worthy!! LOL.