HotBlack

Well,

Cloud pennance came to an end recently and I got a few hours of first light for the newly modded 300D (thanks to Andy Ellis).

I chose ngc281 as the first test, wasn't really expecting to get too much...

This is a stack of 5 off 120 second + 5 off 180 second + 3 off 240 second subs, taken through the WO Megrez 80II, unguided, calibrated with dark frames and put together with DeepSkyStacker. Post processing in Photoshop with a tweek or two using Noels actions.

I'm really chuffed with this, just need some more clear nights now to have a go at something else.

Chris

Mark,

What sort of area are you expecting to encompass. I may be interested but already attend Cov & Warwick AS and Rugby and District AS so there may be too much coverage here?

Chris

Christian,

That just blows my socks off, what an amazing image you've put together there.

:occasion6:

Chris

Vincent,

You did better than you thought - the small star just to the left and below of Dione/Tethys is Mimas.

:hello1:

Chris

I found an image of some of M31's Globular clusters on the www and had a look at my image to see if I got any of them. Here's the result - amazing to think that these can be picked up by amateurs today!

Chris

That's a great shot under those conditions Mike.

Chris

Nice one Trudie.

:hello1:

Chris

I'm so glad you liked it guys and gals !!!

Chris

This was taken before Xmas, on 13th December.

10 exposures of 180 seconds at ISO 1600, using the Canon 300D through the WO Megrez 80II FD. Stacked and dark frame calibrated using DeepSkyStacker. Post processed in Photoshop CS2.

Hope you enjoy the view.

Chris

Mark,

That's a nice clean image for a single shot. Keep it up m8, you'll get good results that'll make you proud.

Chris

This subject seems to be pretty popular around here. I first came onto this forum with last years' version using 30 second subs with a Canon 300D DLSR through a SkyWatcher ST80. Well, I've upgraded to a WO Megrez 80II FD, still with the Canon, and the results are much better.

This is produced from subs taken over two nights last week, 5th Jan and 7th Jan.

All subs taken with the Canon 300D (unmodified) at ISO800, through the WO Megrez 80II FD. 10 subs at 5 secs to hold the Trapezium, 10 subs at 30 secs for the core, 10 subs at 60 secs and 10 subs at 120 secs for the outer nubulosity.

DeepSkyStacker was used to stack each set of exposures into a separate file using dark frames to calibrate.

Each resulting frame was processed in Photoshop CS2 using techniques learnt from Jerry Lodriguss, flatten, set white point, set black point, set the sky background and use curves and levels to bring up the midtones. Then de-noised using Noise Ninja and sharpened.

Then the individual frames were stacked on top of each other using layers, registered and rotated by hand. Finally some tweaks with Noel Carboni's actions and some colour balance work, cropped and....

...here's the result.

Chris

Actually CC, that is a pretty good shot m8. You caught the gibbous phase really well.

Well done.

Chris

Hi Denise,

Good to see more ladies getting into this rewarding hobby.

Have fun here.

Chris

Hi again,

Barkis asked to see some images from the 14" Newt, so I put this together as a sampler.

All of these can be found on my website on this page http://www.cymbelineobservatory.org.uk/html/previous_deep_sky_.html, wth a few details of how they were taken and processed. They're all taken prime focus with an Atik ATK-2C CCD Camera (long exposure modified webcam).

Chris

I just sold mine for £65

Whoops accidental double post there!!!!!!

I just sold mine for £65

Hmmm, interesting.

Thanks Gordon

Thanks for all of your encouraging comments guys. Hopefully I'll be able to do better now that I've replaced the ST80 with a WO Megrez 80 II FD this weekend. The view through that tonight while I was getting it lined up with the main scope was soooooo much better than through the ST80, the stars were absolutely pinpoint with a classical Airy disk.

Chris

Hi Martin,

I'm new to the forum, but I've been imaging and processing for a couple of years but have only just started using Photoshop Elements, so these primers are really useful. I still find that Paint Shop Pro is better for some things though (e.g. printing the final image, saving to JPEG format).

Chris

I was Googling to find out the going price for Skywatcher ST80 'scopes. Will post an advert in the members for sale section in due course when I've made enough posts.

Chris

Well thankyou to everyone for their warm welcome.

Chris

Hi Guys

Just joined the forum. Thought I'd post my most recent work for you to peruse.

This is a composite of two imaging sessions. First is 35 off 30 secs exposure at ISO800 with an unmodified Canon EOS300D through a Skywatcher ST80. Second is 25off 2.5 secs exposure at ISO800 with the same setup. Both processed in Photoshop Elements 3 and eventually layered in the same to keep the core detail.

Hope you like it.

HotBlack.... desiato By any chance?

Thats some nice kit you have there.

Welcome to SGL

He's my brother .....

Chris

Hello,

I'm Chris.

I've been a member of UKAI for a couple of years and found this forum by accident while doing a Google search. So I joined seeing as it looked interesting. Have a look at my website to get a look at my work and why I'm interested in this game. Looking forward to making any sort of contribution here.

:sunny:

Chris