Sterrenland

My first venture outside in 2024 and probably the best weather so far this winter down here in East Kent. I've been meaning to capture this one for ages so pleased I managed nearly four hours of data. Taken with an L-Enhance filter.

Prefer the 2nd version too.

Welcome from Dover!

I didn't want to miss out on a 'souvenir' shot of the current comet that's everywhere in the media, C/2022 E3 ZTF, so got about 3 hours of data on the 6th February. On processing the image I found a slight green smudge beneath C/2022 E3 which looked like another smaller comet. Checking online I found that C/2022 U2 ATLAS was indeed at this point...I believe it was around magnitude 16. Below is a combination of the two comet images, each one processed individually with CometAlignment on each of the two comets. The processing leaves much to be desired, but it's nice to have managed a record of the encounter...and getting the second comet is obviously a bonus! I have slightly boosted the second comet's brightness - the initial 'smudge' I comet-aligned on was dim, but definitely there.

From my new home I have an uninterrupted view of Orion as it arcs across the sky...previously it would appear above my garage and then slowly sink beneath the trees! Despite the better view, I now have more light pollution! Anyway, a couple of nights ago I gathered about 3 hours of data on M42. As I've previously said I'm not a great fan of 'excessive' HDR processing to show the core stars and prefer showing the blinding brightness at the nebula's centre as it is. Other than that I did a fairly subtle processing and managed to bring out some of the more elusive dust at the nebula's edge.

I'm blaming Tony/ @mightymonoped for this one! I was so impressed with his version of the Jellyfish Nebula that I had to have a go myself. For whatever reason I hadn't imaged this one before. I still think his image is amazing and prefer it to mine. I seemed to struggle a bit with the processing. Anyway, it is what it is. About 3 hours of data. I'll probably have another go at processing it.

Hi Graeme...I separate the stars and background after my initial crop, background neutralisation, ABE/DBE, noise reduction. As far as processing the stars I just adjust the saturation and then use MorphologicalTransformation in PI to reduce the star size (a couple of mild 30% Erosion passes usually does it). Adjusting the star curves can also sharpen them a bit I think. I always think my stars aren't sharp enough and are not saturated properly!

Amazing image! The detail is stunning. I may have to add this to my 'to do' list.

My first chance to get the scope out in 2023...the weather just hasn't allowed any imaging since November. Decided to capture the Rosette Nebula/open cluster NGC2244 etc. I managed 3 hours of data despite the guiding figures not being brilliant (between 0.7 & 2.3! ) ...so don't always obsess too much about the numbers! My first proper deep sky image since moving into the town (Bortle 5).

Stunning!

Never fails to impress. Love the colours and the image is wonderfully sharp.

Great images...love the way the dust is almost 3d in places. On my to-do list!

Having recently moved house I no longer have a view North or have a view within 30 degrees of the NCP allowing me to use the standard PA procedure. I am therefore trying to polar align using the new all sky feature. My success so far has been pretty hit and miss. I set up the mount & scope facing north, weights pointing down and latitude set for my location. I then switch on the all sky feature, use the on-screen controls to slew the scope till it points south and then commence the PA procedure where the scope automatically rotates westward and positions are plate solved. The next stage seems almost impossible... reducing the errors by adjusting the bolts in the mount. I seem to find it near impossible to reduce the RA without causing the Dec to increase and vice versa. After 2 hours this evening trying to reduce the error amounts I gave up. Where am I going wrong? Is the error reduction part of the process really that difficult? Previously, when I could see and use the NCP, I had no problem reducing the error amounts. Now attempting to use the all sky method reducing one error seems to increase the other. Any tips, techniques, etc to using the Asiair all sky polar alignment would be very gratefully received!

Having moved from the countryside (Bortle 4) into town (Bortle 5) I finally got around to unpacking my gear and setting everything up again. I've lost my view to Polaris and the North so used the Asiair All Sky PA for the first time...it took a while to get the scope/mount adjusted, but eventually achieved some level of success. I went for a couple of hours on M45 (180 second exposures) using an L-Pro filter. Considering I now have surrounding street lighting to deal with I'm not displeased with the result. At least I'm back up and running and it felt good to be gathering photons again!

Not sure why... it's close to the Heart Nebula so they probably thought the Soul Nebula would accompany it quite well!

I'm about to move house from a village near Dover into the town itself....so things will be very different as I get used to more light polution. As a farewell session I managed 3 hours on the Soul Nebula last night...despite the clear sky the seeing wasn't brilliant...probably due to the heat of the day making the seeing a little soft. Still, it's an amazing region...there is much to see in this region of nebulosity. Another object to come back to in the future.

Ooooooo....I like that! Love the colours and the bright clouds are almost 3-D to me...stunning!

Another stunning night last night...although obviously very short. By 2am there was already some light towards the east. The Milky Way was stunning....as were the sheer number of satellites I saw criss-crossing the sky. This was my first proper attempt to get M31 and although it appeared quite low in the murk I managed 2hrs20mins of shots. The plan was to shoot some shorter subs for the core, which I did, but in the end I've used HDR Multiscale Transform to tone down the core a little. I've also gone for a relatively subdued colour palette. Reckoned to hold a trillion stars it's another of those sights that provoke wonder.

Hahahaha That made me laugh! I'm increasingly prone to the same senior moments!

What a stunningly beautiful night it turned out to be last night...just after midnight the milky way was as clear as I've seen it for years. One of those nights when you try to take it all in. My target last night was comet C/2017 K2 lowish in the south-east and my first attempt to grab a comet with my scope and camera using the Asiair Pro. I'm loving the new Sky Atlas feature as an aid to framing an image. Guiding on stars I got about 140mins of data using 180s lights. Processing the images was a whole new experience using CometAlignment in Pixinsight....so the image is rather rough and ready, but it was useful running through the general process. Think I'll watch a few more videos to pick up some more tips. Fascinating!

Having posted my image of part of the Sadr nebula a few days ago I wasn't overly happy with the processing. I've been doing some research today on a) increasing the available OIII/B component using an L-Enhance filter with a OSC camera and b) trying out some subtle sharpening using modified luminance masks. The result, below, is a definite improvement I think. The two videos I found most useful was one by Cuiv the Lazy Geek ('Rescue the Blue!') and the other by VisibleDark ('Enhanced Luminance Sharpening'). I'd recommend both as worth watching. The techniques might seem a little involved in places, but I think the results are worth it.

I managed about an hour and a half under a beautiful starry sky last night...before some clouds appeared and curtailed the session. Was guiding around 0.4...a shame I couldn't manage a few more shots. I decided to concentrate on the area just below Sadr in Cygnus (well, depending on which direction you're flying to Sadr from, it could actually be left of, right of or above!). I don't think this region actually has a name other than it's part of the Cygnus Molecular Complex including the various LBN/LDN references within the field of view. It's certainly a 'busy' area of sky with dark nebulae, bright nebulae and amazing tendrils of dust sculpted and pulled out into space. It's also not an easy area to process as you try to balance the dark dust, the light illuminated banks of the bright nebulae and the extremes of contrast. I think leaving Sadr out of the frame was a wise move. I would like to come back to this area for a longer session with darker skies.

Nice! Love the colour contrasts and the whispy detail!

I always feel it's a shame not to get out under the stars when it's clear...despite a bright moon hanging about, so managed 3 hours on the Eastern Veil Nebula last night. Despite it being full moon, our lunar friend stayed very low in the south, so it could have been worse I suppose. This is my first processing of the data...so it's not perfect, but I'm pleased to have got this considering the time of year and the lightness of the sky. The L-Enhance filter really helps to get something when the conditions aren't perfect.

Love the detail and colour...great image.