R1k

I am shooting with a Canon 800d and SW ED80. apparently the sweet spot for my DSLR is ISO200. Below are 2 single, cropped, 5 minute guided subs at ISO200 and ISO800 using a mounted L-eNhance filter. Which is likely to stack better? The ISO800 image clearly has more signal so I feel reluctant to use ISO200 despite it being the optimum ISO for my camera thanks in advance

First attempt at the Pleiades after taking my first image ever in June. As always keen on receiving CC (I am not happy with the star field). This is 75 minutes (15 x 5 minutes) using a modified Canon 800d and SW ED80, no filter. Stacked and calibrated in APP and processed in PS CS6.

Just to add to this, I added two panels to these images last night to create a four panel mosaic of the Cygnus Loop. I processed this with a slightly different flow (starless processing then star mask blended afterwards). I much prefer the result! Here is my basic workflow: - For each of the four panels, Raw files loaded, calibrated and integrated in APP using the algorithms "Ha-OIII extract Ha" and "Ha-OIII extract OIII". Autostretched images (1 x Ha and 1 x OIII) saved as 16 bit TIFF files - For each of the four panels, Ha and OIII extracted TIFFs combined using Astronomy tools action set action - "Construct RGB image from channel files". Ha assigned to Red, OIII assigned to blue and green (HOO palette) - Mosaic from panels created using Microsoft ICE - Mosaic loaded In PS, manual creation of star mask in PS for later blending onto Starless image - Starnet++ on original mosaic image to remove stars - Curve stretch/levels in PS on starless image - Noise reduction on starless image - Saturation and vibrance to preference - Blended star mask from earlier onto starless image, 90% opacity

18th and 19th September 2020 Manchester Hi guys, these are my latest and best photographs to date. I am very new to imaging (acquired my first mount and scope in May this year and shot my first DSO in June). I am happy with the Eastern Veil Nebula but struggled with processing the Western Veil and Pickering's Triangle - in particular, I would like feedback on this photograph (struggle with star control). Thanks Rik Equipment: - Skywatcher HEQ5-pro (Rowan Belt Mod) - Canon 800d (modded) - Skywatcher Evostar 80ED - Altair Lightwave 0.8x focal reducer/field flattener - ZWO ASI-120MM-mini guide camera - SW 9x50 finderscope - 2 inch mounted Optolong L-eNhance Acquisition: - Sharpcap polar alignment, ST4 autoguiding with PHD2 - Manual acquisition using intervalometer - Lights - Western: 20 x 360s (2 hours) - Lights - Eastern: 32 x 360 (3 hours 12 minutes) - Darks – 20 - Bias – 30 - Flats - 30 Processing: - Raw files loaded, calibrated and integrated in APP using the algorithms "Ha-OIII extract Ha" and "Ha-OIII extract OIII". Autostretched images (1 x Ha and 1 x OIII) saved as 16 bit TIFF files - Ha and OIII extracted TIFFs combined using Astronomy tools action set action - "Construct RGB image from channel files". Ha assigned to Red, OIII assigned to blue and green (HOO palette) - Crop - Further mild stretch of data using levels/curves - S curve to increase contrast between dark sky and DSO · Very Aggressive star reduction using star mask and Astronomy tools action set "Make stars smaller" – I think I ran the action at least 8 times - Colormancer plugin noise reduction - A little sharpening using Unsharp mask in PS - Saturation and vibrance to preference - Watermark added

Thanks for this, will give it a shot! Appreciate the feedback

Hi guys, I hope that you might be able to help. I have recently got to grips (or so I think) with creating star masks in PS with the intention of stretching my DSO independent of the stars. Although I have been partly successful in this task, I have been unable to devise a means of minimising halos around the stars when doing this. I am using the technique described here I have uploaded on of my processed images (North America Nebula) which I hope will provide a visual representation of my issue many thanks for your help

Hi guys, just wanted to say thanks - all cleared up after about 5 days of being kept dry and with the dew heater on for most of it. Appreciate the help

Thanks, will monitor and then try this. Cheers

Fluid/water potentially makes sense, got caught unexpected in rain a few days back for a short period... All the other moisture has now gone, just this area remaining, I’m surprised if it is water as it does not change shape no matter how much I change the position of scope etc. I can’t say for sure that it’s new.

Can anybody tell me what this imperfection is on the rear lens of my doublet Evostar 80ED? Is the coating peeled off? It does not shift on rotating the scope or any positional change for that matter. thanks in advance

Had a quick go and calibrating and stacking in APP then finished off again in PS. Was a fairly similar result. Did mess with the colour balance but here it is. Thanks for the advice, it’s appreciated

Thanks Peter, I should’ve checked there! Appreciate you taking the time to check and reply.

Hi guys, I’m looking to buy an Optolong L-eNhance duo NB filter for use with my setup (canon 800d Modded - Altair lightwave reducer - focuser - SW ED80). Id prefer to purchase a 2 inch mounted filter rather than an EOS clip in one but I’m unsure as to where it fits in the imaging train. I know that people with WO reducers can thread it to the inside of the flattener (the side that enters the focuser). Does anyone know if this is possible with the Altair lightwave reducer? It is threadded on the inside (pictured) thanks!

Thanks Michael, that makes a whole lot more sense, appreciate the time you’ve taken to explain this. I will look to add more data to this image in the coming days/weeks at a lower ISO and will update the thread. Will also have a go at stacking in APP. Thanks again

Thanks michael, I’m still limited by exposure duration as I’m not guiding, would it still be worth going for a lower ISO in this case? I’m not quite familiar with the theory of dynamic range

Incredible job! What is your guiding setup?

Thanks for the very kind comments. I will look to add more data to this in the coming weeks. Appreciate the support

This is my 4th DSO after starting in the hobby in June. This attempt is my best to date. More than happy to receive feedback. Process and equipment below: North West UK 1/8/20, 02.30am Bortle 6 skies Equipment: - Canon 800d unmodified - Skywatcher Evostar 80ED - Altair lightwave 0.8x field flattener - Rowan belt modded SW HEQ5-pro Acquisition: - No guiding, no acquisition software, manual polar alignment - Lights: 34 x 90 second exposures (total integration 51 minutes), ISO 800 - Darks: 20 - Bias: 20 - Flats: 20 Processing: - Stacked sub-exposures in DSS - Loaded stacked TIFF in Astro Pixel Processor - autostretch, crop, rotate 180 degrees (preference), removed light pollution, saved file as TIFF - Loaded APP processed TIFF in PS - set black point, adjust levels to achieve correct colour balance, lasso galaxy and select inverse, gradient Xterminator, very slight further stretch, from Astronomy tools action set - "make stars smaller" x 4, local contrast enhancement, "make stars smaller" x 2, adjust vibrance/saturation, denoise using Colormancer noise reduction plugin for PS

Quick newbie question - where would the 2 inch filter fit in your imaging train? Assuming DSLR - field flattener - scope thanks

RGB* not RBG, sorry.

Hi guys, I have 71 minutes captured using an unmodified Canon 800dDSLR (71 x 60s) on M51 (20 darks, 30 bias, 30 flats) - this is my first DSO image with a refractor scope (Evostar 80ED), I had previously been using a 300mm cheap canon lens on my HEQ5. I have done my best to process in PS CS6 this after stacking in DSS. My workflow is mega basic at the moment and effectively just involves stretch, saturation, gradient removal and denoise. My processing effort for this object is shown below! I would like some feedback on the processing side of things and would be keen for others to have a bash at the data (TIF attached) so that I can get an idea of how much extra can be achieved with the data I obtained. Many thanks, and clear skies! Autosave.tif

Fantastic, the dark space are much cleaner in your version than mine, many thanks for having a go!

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my mount is GoTo so it will find the object for me, the image I posted is only a little cropped. I have uploaded the uncropped version below. The effective focal length is 300mm x 1.6 (as I am using a crop sensor camera).

Sorry I should have qualified this. This is a Canon 800d with the aforementioned lens mounted on a SW HEQ5pro. No guiding, no capture software. Just the camera, lens and mount. Intervalometer used to capture exposures (26 x 90s lights, 15 darks, 60 bias, no flats). Stacked in DSS and processed in PS CS6