Clarkey

Really great image. I like the processing too. Not 'overdone'. Might put this on my list for next year.

Great result. I'm not really sure of the merits of using Ha or Lum for the Luminance layer but sometime the Ha gives tighter stars. I also find the contrast with the dust/dark is better. However, like all AP, try different options and see which is best. What works for one target is poor on others. I got a good result with this one merging a starless and a starred image to enhance the contrast. I've tried this on some other nebulae and it just did not work.

Thanks to all for the multiple replies to the original post. I think I will get a better PC - but maybe not up to the specifications recommended by PI. Even using some of the software now takes a lot of time, even with my 'quick' computer. My main issue is that when learning or tweaking photo's if I have to keep repeating processes to see the differences, it does get time consuming. Thanks for the reply Ivo. I have actually gone back to using Startools in combination with APP and Affinity after reading some posts on the ST forum. My results have improved hugely just by altering my early processing - generally using a manual stretch after binning and cropping. ST works reasonably well with my existing hardware - it is a little slow with some of the more processor intense operations, but tolerable for now. From the perspective of getting detail out of the images it does exceed the other software I have tried by a fair margin. This was an image I reprocessed in ST with a bit of tweaking in Affinity. It is probably my best to date. (I have only been imaging since last summer). The colour is a bit strong but that is due to the computer I am using for processing - the screen is awful!

Sounds like a faulty connection somewhere. Does it disconnect at exactly the same amount of time or does it vary? For example, if you connected and moved nothing, does it stay connected? Also, if not other kit is connected does it work OK? I have used NINA with the EQDIR cable on and HEQ5 and AZ-EQ6 and both have been fine. The only time I have had problems like this is either a dodgy connection or something else overriding the connection through the USB hub.

Vlaiv has critically assessed some of pictures in the past and it is something I am always grateful for. I am relatively inexperienced and technically far from expert and this sort of help is really appreciated. I would add more constructive criticism myself - if I was a bit cleverer🤪 Nice M82 - that's as critical I can manage at 10pm!!

Pretty good for 2 hours data in NB👍 Well done.

Yes I am inclined to agree. Due to some poor flats during the first two sessions, under-stretching the background gave me a 'cleaner' image, but the black point is probably a bit too close for comfort. I don't use PS so the numbers you have quoted don't mean much to me! Thanks for your kind reply.

About a month ago I managed 3 nights on M51 - albeit over a full moon. Although I got a reasonable result, I always felt there should be more given the 17 hours of data. Anyway I have now had a go at re-processing an I think the result is much better. The JPEG is a bit poor resolution but overall the picture is much more 'absorbing' As always critical comment welcome.

I have the ASI 1600MM which I purchased last year with the full filter set. I have been impressed with it - but I was moving from a DSLR too so it was going to be a big improvement. I think some of the newer camera's have better sensors to the point it is a noticeable performance difference. I still think I would go with mono if I was to chose again - mainly for NB, although the gap between mono and colour is pretty small. There are the nights where I have got 3 of the four channels before the cloud has rolled in - this is when I wished for OSC! I have learnt to rotate my filters more for exactly this reason. PS. Don't start a OSC / mono debate. It can get a bit heated🤣

One of problems I have with ST is that I never get a black background! I seem to get lots of noise instead.... Despite changing settings and watching Ivo's videos I never get clean results. Lots of detail, but much noisier than any other processing. Nice image though. I wish I could get this detail in such a short time.

Oops my mistake.

I have used Startools and really like some of the functions for teasing out detail. I just struggle to get a good background as it seems to pull detail from noise. But I think you have summed up my dilemma in terms of how much is me and how much is the limitations of the software.

Thanks for your very detailed reply. I think my current PC has similar specifications to your old one but with a slightly faster processor. I'll maybe do the PI trial during the summer to see how I get on with it. If I feel the benefit (on a slow PC) then I will invest in a new computer. To be honest I really could do with a new monitor now, regardless of the software I am using!

I need some guidance from the numerous Pixinsight users on the forum. Currently I image process using various bits of software including APP, Startools, Affinity plus a few minor add-ins. Although I am still learning the whole processing workflows, I feel that the images I am producing are not as good as I would like given the amount of integration time. I am seriously considering Pixinsight as this seems to be the best option for processing. I also object to spending £30 a month on PS on principle. However...... Having checked the specifications for the system requirements for PI it would require me to buy a new PC for the processing. Although I have a reasonable PC, it does not meet the recommended requirements for PI. So not only would I have to buy the software but I would need a new computer too. My question is this. Is the improvement with PI, is it worth the cost of a new PC? I do sort of need a new PC anyway, but this would require quite a good specification and higher cost. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks, Ian

Probably my poor processing. I think when I put it through APP star colour calibration it tends to go blue for most things. I probably undid the blue a bit too much. Ooops! New version below - now with blue!!

Having had a couple of clear(ish) nights without a full moon for a change, I managed to get a go on M101. The conditions were not as good as I had hoped with only average seeing from a Bortle 6 location. What was more pleasing is that I did not make any of my usual cock-ups and everything worked🥳 This was 3.5 hours of luminance, 75 minutes per channel of RGB and 2 hours of Ha taken with an ASI1600MM. Processing was done with APP and Affinity. Constructive comment and advice appreciated. I feel I should be getting more detail from the amount of integration time, but maybe I am expecting too much.

Nice detail. I am halfway through my M101 just waiting for a night to complete the Ha. If it looks as good as this one I'll be happy. Perhaps I need a dual rig too. (n+1 rule applies)😁

That's what I thought when I saw the forecast😆

It was one of most incredible things I have seen. In the 20 years I have been in Cumbria it is unheard of. THREE, yes THREE clear nights in a row. No I did not really see a unicorn, but I might as well have - they are more common, believe me😄 Having managed to capture the Sunflower and improve my M106 (in another post), two nights ago I managed six hours on NGC 4565, the Needle galaxy. 3 hours of luminance plus an hour each of RGB. Processed in APP and Affinity. Last night I did the Pinwheel, but I need some more data before releasing to the masses!! Critical comment and feedback welcome as always.

The flats settings in NINA can be a bit odd. Looking at the LED panel from the photo it does not look too dim. Try reducing the max exposure to something like 10 seconds and increase the minimum to 0.1. Also change the step size to 0.1. I am always getting 'to bright' warnings but I just tweak the values an it normally works. It is a software quirk. Also if you do flats in multi mode it on lets you do 50% of ADU regardless of the % you request.

Great image. Is it me or does it look like someone laughing??

It looks like I have a run of three nights in a row of dark skies - yes I know, it has not happened yet and forecasts are just that. Anyway.... I had 3 1/2 hours before the full moon last night so I took advantage of the Bortle 6 'darkness' and used it on M63, the Sunflower Galaxy. 3 min subs, 30 mins of RGB and 2 hours of luminance. Taken on the RC8 with an ASI1600m, processed in APP and Affinity. As there was still a couple of hours after moon rise, I decided to use this time to add Ha data to M106 from a previous session as advised by MartinB. Certainly brought out some of the highlights. This was 5 hours of LRGB plus the two extra Ha. Processed as above. CC and feedback welcome.

Come the autumn and all the nice widefield targets you will be glad of it. I have an SW ED80 which is great, but at a reduced FL of 510mm I would like something wider. I think for the limited data you had this is pretty good result. Personally with an hour of data I think this is excellent.

Good point. Better change my will and send a note to the executor🤣

Great effort with a Redcat. Just be careful with the affinity background tool. It does have a tendency to do too far and clip the data. There is an add in called Astroflat pro that is worth a look.