Sterrenland

Had another play with the data and came up with this pseudo-Hubble palette...actually a bit more subtle than my original above. Got to try out some new Pixinsight techniques. Endless possibilities!

Finally got around to processing the data from the first shots taken with the new camera. Pretty pleased considering this is just over an hour of integration (120s lights) and was taken a few days before a full moon. I used an Optolong L-Enhance filter. Just think the Veil Nebula/Witches Broom is such a beautiful thing. It was all a steep learning curve as not only was it the first time with the camera, it was also the first time I tried guiding and dithering. I can definitely see the improvement with a substantial reduction in background noise. I realise you can produce a different image every time you process information, but I kind of liked the colours in this one. A magical target I don't get tired of seeing.

Thanks to you both for checking the sub I attached. So it would seem to be possibly something in my copy of Pixinsight that isn't playing ball 🙄 Thanks again for helping.

Thanks for your reply...I use WBPP in Pixinsight and have manually selected RGGB as well as trying Auto - both produce the gridded background and no colour.

I use Pixinsight WBPP and have tried manually selecting RGGB (which I believe is the right pattern for the ASI291MC Pro) and using Auto - both produce the same gridded background. I've attached one of the subs. Any help is very much appreciated! Light_NGC7380_120.0s_Bin1_20210719-001646_0C_0034.fit

Despite buying it over a month ago I only managed to try it out a couple of nights ago. So far I've only managed one stack of pics - I think it'll be a case of getting used to all the settings in the software for guiding, dithering, etc. Previously I never did any of this when I used my DSLR. All the required spacers are included in the box and from the first pics the spacing seems to be OK ( though I do seem to have some 'gridding' in the background...I suspect this may need eliminating via Pixinsight and it's not a fault with the camera! ). I did get myself a power adapter so I could plug the camera into the mains as it's recommended for running the cooling. When I get something worth showing I'll let you know - though you may beat me to it!

I finally managed to get outside last night and try out my newly purchased ASI294MC. Getting used to the ASIAIR PRO software there's plenty of scope to mess things up! Below is the first stacked image from the camera - it's supposed to be the Wizard Nebula NGC7380. This hasn't been adjusted in Pixinsight other than being cropped and having run DBE. Despite debayering RGGB there seems to be almost no colour in the image. It opens as an RGB image in Pixinsight, but seems almost greyscale. Also the background seems to be gridded almost as if showing the chip row/columns. I tried out guiding and dithering last night for the first time and both seemed to be running OK at the time. The camera was run with Gain=121 and the exposures were 120 seconds. Any ideas what I've done wrong concerning the lack of colour and the background?

Just watched the video...although I've only just acquired a dedicated astro camera (ASI294MC-Pro) I'd love to try this in the future. Found the video very well-explained and inspiring! Out of interest is the Optolong L-Extreme one of the better filters to try with a OSC camera to replicate the Hubble effect?

Thanks for the suggestion of creating a darks library...sounds like an excellent idea to keep me busy during the cloud and rain!

Well, I pushed he button and got myself the 294MC-Pro! Having spent the last 2 years using a DSLR and creating my workflow, I think there will be an initial learning curve using the new camera and the ASIAIR PRO and the app on my tablet...hopefully it'll be worth it. Fingers crossed! I've not had a chance to try the camera yet...as soon as it arrived the clouds came over! And thanks for your help/advice above.

Well, thanks to everyone for their input. I've finally gone for the 294MC-Pro. Time for a new learning curve!

After much research I'm about to click the 'Buy it' button on a ZWO ASI294MC-PRo for my Skywatcher Evostar 80ED. I just wanted to have people's opinions on whether it's a good choice and matched to my scope. I know everyone has their own views on what's their favourite cameras, etc., but just wanted to see if it's a good choice. I only really image deep sky and have been using an unmodified Canon 650D so far. Budget-wise my limit is £1,000. I've looked at the 533 and although I love the lack of amp glow, I'm just not sold on the square format. Thanks.

Thanks...looks a whole lot better than my effort. I like the more sharpened effect you've achieved and the colours are better too. Thanks for taking the time.

Had another play with the data...bit of an improvement, but agree that dithering, guiding and a better camera would help substantially! But thanks for your kind comment and help.

After months of bad weather and other things getting in the way I finally got the scope out...beautiful clear night. Decided to spend a couple of hours on M101 with my SW 80ED and Canon DSLR. Still haven't got around to guiding and dithering...and still thinking about getting a ZWO 294MC camera!

Despite the breezy conditions I couldn't resist the clear sky last night so thought I'd try NGC6960 for the first time. It was also the first time using a UHC filter I acquired a few months ago. As always when you manage to capture something for the first time, I was quite thrilled to have something to show at the end of it. This was about 70mins of data (70s lights). I think the filter definitely has potential. And what a beautiful thing this nebula is. ** I'm not sure why the stars are not particularly round. Having introduced a flattener/reducer a few months ago I'm not convinced that this isn't the reason for the oblong stars as I seem to remember them rounder before. Could it be back-spacing or some kind of flex in the imaging train? **

I was umming and ahhing myself. In the end I've set things up. As stated above, if it turns clear and you miss it you'll be annoyed.

Isn't it just!! Having seen so many of these things in books and magazines it's just amazing when they appear on your screen after a few hours photographing them outside. Magic!

After weeks of cloud second consecutive clear night last night... Had a go at capturing the Crescent Nebula...really wasn't sure I'd get anything. I managed about 2 hours of 120 sec exposures and am pleased with what I got. It's not very detailed, but it's there and as I'd never seen it before it's ok for a first attempt. I really should bite the bullet and start tracking...keep putting off learning a whole new pile of stuff.

I finally managed to get my scope into the garden for only the 2nd time in about 2 months...and amazingly it stayed clear for hours. Decided to try the Dumbbell Nebula for the first time. Here is my effort based on 2.25 hours of 90 second lights (plus darks, flats and bias frames). Amazed at that beautiful colour.

I've used these with both DSLR lenses as well as my SW ED80 and, so far, they've kept dew at bay every time. I initially powered them through a USB power pack, but I now power it through a USB/mains adapter. Simply means I can put them on the high setting and not worry about running out of juice. Even the high setting is not 'overly hot', but sufficient for most bouts of dew.

My latest and, probably, best ( for me ) attempt at the Andromeda Galaxy. Managed 2 hrs total integration time before the moon appeared from behind my garage. I never quite cease to be amazed.

Managed to get the scope (Skywatcher ED80) out last night for the first time in weeks and try out the Skywatcher 0.85x reducer/flattener for the first time. I chose M31 and after throwing away sub-standard lights I was left with about 80mins worth of data. There was moonlight to contend with so am pleased I got what I managed, but am annoyed at the dark line of noise/light gradient near the top of the photo. Please ignore the dust motes...what I'm not sure of is the long dark linear feature that stretches from about M110 to M31. Any ideas what has caused this? I don't think it's the new reducer/flattener as it appears only here in the image as a linear feature. I've marginally lightened the 2nd lower image to make the dark line show even more clearly.

As someone who uses a DSLR himself, that's an awesome image! I'd be more than pleased with that!

Another beautiful evening under the stars...first attempt at the Fireworks Galaxy in Cepheus. Just short of a couple of hours of lights (90s). Probably around this time of year that an uncooled DSLR starts to generate extra noise. Still, another galaxy seen for the first time. And the added bonus of the Flying Geese Cluster too!