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Daf1983

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Everything posted by Daf1983

  1. Thanks. I use a HEQ5, and used 5 minute exposures. I tend not go over that (even though I could, because the guiding is quite good), because I get noise/banding in my 600d. I use even shorter subs when not using the l-enhance (2-3 minutes usually), again because of the camera rather than the mount
  2. Thanks for the kind words! That's a very good question. At the minute I'm saving for a dedicated camera (probably a 533 or 294mc pro). So in the meantime I tend to spend 3-4 hours on each object before moving on, just to gain some experience and develop my (limited) skills before I get a new camera. When I get a new camera, I will probably spend a lot more time on each target to get the best picture possible
  3. This is my attempt at the Horsehead Nebula. About 3 hours of data gathered over 2 nights during full moon, using the l-enhance filter. I also used my Canon 600d and evostar 80ED. Could probably do with a bit more data, so it's a bit noisy. But time and clear nights are at a premium😔 As always, CC welcome. Dafydd
  4. I don't have an image to share because my laptop gave up on me last night. But since getting the l-enhance filter, I never consider the moon (a major) factor. As long as my target is relatively far away from the moon, I consider clear nights too rare to lose.
  5. Thanks for the reply. What kind of clock speeds are we talking about, the one I'm looking at has 2.6ghz, is that acceptable? It's been a long time since I shopped for a laptop, and I feel a bit out of touch
  6. My trusty laptop of 7 years died on me last night. Running a diagnostic test revealed the ram has gone. This could be repaired, but I'd been contemplating upgrading anyway. I'm currently using photoshop for my processing, and will continue to do so for now. However, I would like the option of moving to pixinsight at some point. I see pixinsight minimum requirement is an i5 processor with 8gb ram. But what is the reasonable real world minimum which would make it workable without taking a day to process one photo(I've heard some operations take a long time). I have a budget of about £500, and a refurbished laptop seems the best option. I've seen a few options with i7 processors and 16gb ram for about my budget, but was wondering if anyone had some recommendations. Would the options below be any good?
  7. Capturing the horsehead before it disappears behind the neighbours house😁
  8. I agree! The original does seem to have more detail, I'll have another go🙃
  9. Had another go at processing this data from scratch following the advice from @ollypenrice and @ONIKKINEN. Not sure if I prefer the overall image to the first attempt, but I definitely prefer the more natural looking background (even if it is noisier). Thanks again for the advice, as I've learned a lot about how to use layer masks in photoshop after doing this. Might have another go at processing my M42 data to see if I can preserve the core using the technique Olly outlined above
  10. Noise reduction is definitely something I need to work on, so thank you for the tips. I'll give this method a try when I get the chance
  11. Thanks for taking the time to explain this, very much appreciated! I have experimented a little with a masks, but with limited success to be honest. This gives me a much better idea of what to do👍 I will definitely give this a go when I have the time.
  12. Hi, thanks everyone for their comments. @ollypenrice I use photoshop for my processing, for which I also have the astronomy set plug ins and astro flat pro. I agree with you with regards to the noise reduction in the 2nd photo.
  13. Another clear night! Captured about 3 hours of data just before Xmas, using my Canon 600d and evostar 80ed. For some reason, dithering didn't work during the session, so it's a bit noisy. Still not happy with my processing skills, although I feel I'm getting there slowly. I've had 2 attempts at processing this. Any CC with regards to processing would be welcome, also let me know which you prefer . Dafydd
  14. This is my attempt at M42, taken last week with a Canon 600d and 80Ed. Consists of about 2 hours worth of 1 minute subs with the l-enhance filter.
  15. Interesting. Is the laser the only way to polar align, or is there a polar scope aswell?! Surely the laser alone wouldn't be accurate enough for astrophotography?!
  16. Here's my first attempt at M42. Equipment used was Evostar 80ED, HEQ5, Canon 600d with an l-enhance filter. I stacked about 2 hours worth of 1 minute subs. Quite happy with how it turned out considering it was shot under full moon, with the neighbours Xmas lights flashing in (very) close proximity (so much so, my guide camera kept losing the guide stars!😂, so this is unguided). I'm sure the processing could be a lot better, but I just wanted to produce an image after 2 months of back to back clouds. CC welcome Dafydd
  17. I've been thinking the same lately! Loads of pictures on here, not a clear sky in sight here. Having said that, with work and family commitments, I can't really stay up until the early hours in hope of some break in the clouds, so that might be a factor. I'm also saving up for a dedicated astro camera, and these endless cloudy nights make me question if it's worth the outlay. But then that one clear night(when it/if comes) will change my mind again😂
  18. I suppose expectations change when you spend a lot of money and see results others are getting. But when you put it like that, it's amazing that we can photograph a galaxy from our backyard. If someone showed me that picture 2 years ago, I would probably have been quite impressed. It's good to have some perspective though, so thank you😁
  19. Gathered this data a couple of months a go, but never posted as I wasn't particularly happy with it, and was hoping to add more integration time. The weather has scupper that plan, and if we ever do get some clear nights I have other targets in in mind by now. Anyway, here it is, a rather underwhelming and badly processed version of m31, if I remember correctly, the total integration time was about an hour. Shot with the 80ed and a canon 600d on a heq5.
  20. Not the postman, but a birthday present from the sister in law👍
  21. Having had no imaging opportunities in over a month, I thought I'd have a go at the moon. Only had a brief window without clouds, so only about 20 shots with the 600d and 80ed. Pipp, as3 and Photoshop used for stacking and processing.
  22. I've used this for about a year, and find it to be pessimistic regarding cloud cover. However I still use it alongside met office, CO and ventusky
  23. 😂Your could try astro buy and sell, that's where I got mine👍
  24. Yes, my 600d is also modded. I've only recently purchased the l-enhance, so have only had a chance to use it once(with this target), but from my limited experience, I found processing was much easier after using the filter, the data seemed to be cleaner, and the nebula seemed to 'pop' more. Definitely don't regret buying it. Worth having a look at the 2nd market, as a lot of people seem to 'upgrade' to l-extreme which I believe is not as suited to a dslr. I got mine for nearly 1/2 price
  25. Ordered last sunday, arrived yesterday morning, great service from Deep sky dad! Didn't realise how small this is!
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