el_hop87

Thanks so much, all sorted now!

Hello I am trying to download the latest firmware for my az gti on my windows laptop, however I can’t open the MCF file to do this. Does anyone have any suggestions please? Thank you

Thanks for your help everyone, much appreciated! I think I was leaning more towards the ASIAIR mini as I’m not that tech savvy and this sounds the most straight forward/ user friendly option… planning to get second hand to keep it more affordable.

Hey everyone, Happy Christmas! I was hoping to ask for some advice on a potential set up if that’s ok please. I have a Nikon D800 (full frame), Skywatcher AZ GTi, Skywatcher 72ED and am planning to add a guiding set up - I was thinking ZWO miniscope 30mm f/4, ZWO ASI120mm and Asiair Mini. Do you think this would work ok and does anyone have any experience using this set up? Many thanks in advance! Elly

Thank you Steve- thats kind of you to say. Its a steep learning curve but really loving the experience so far. Thank you for all your help! Elly

Many thanks for this - yes, its a great idea to practice on available data, I need to do lots more of this! I'm afraid 60 second exposures are the longest I can get with my current set up (even then I was beginning to get star trails)- I think that guiding would help, once I have the budget for it. It was a moonless night, but light pollution is a factor as I live in a Bortle 6 city. Software I am using is Deep Sky Stacker, Star Tools and final edits in Photoshop and Lightroom. Many thanks again for your help!

Hi Adrian, Thank you very much for reply! - this is really useful. I know what you mean re the stars, good to make things look as natural as possible. I hadn't realised about the star spikes being a result of a reflector, I thought they were developed in post processing (not as a new superficial creation, but as a development of existing stars in the image) - your edit is brilliant, and the large stars look much better than in mine and more detail/ shape on the horse head itself. Can I ask which processing software you used please? Thanks Elly

Hi I have still got a lot to learn with post processing and was wondering if anyone could advise on how to create the "twinkle" on large stars in images please. I am editing my Horsehead Nebula shot but the large stars look blown out rather then sharp and the typical 4 spike twinkle that you see in some image. Please see below link to my current file, and the original file to this post - if anyone could help with this particular issue as well as any other suggestions on how I could improve, that would be very much appreciated! : - Image so far: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9vqn9babg1ff5 ... 3.jpg?dl=0 - Original stacked fits file: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oknlpjw92uv35 ... e.fts?dl=0 For info I used a Nikon 5200, SW AZ GTI, SW Evostar 72ED and IDAS P2 filter - 1.5 hours of data at 60' subs, stacked image (DSS) is lights, darks, flats and bias. Many thanks in advance, Elly Top

Thank you all, thats really helpful! - always feel like I'm learning loads on here.

This is what I have after another edit- not very happy with the detail, but can't tell if its my post processing skills or the quality of images....

Thank you everyone! I'm using a Nikon D5200, AZ GTI, SW Evostar 72ED, IDAS light pollution filter. 25 second subs, for a total of 1 hour 13 mins +10 Darks.

Oh wow, thank you, I have just seen your 2nd image - much better. I will keep trying myself to bring out the details.

Thank you JSeaman! - I suspected the moonlight was a problem. Do you think there is anyway of rescuing the image or at least making the nebula stand out? Thanks again for your help.

Hello both, Thank you for your replies- this is a jpeg file of the same stacked image (unprocessed). Many thanks again Elly

Hi all, I have stacked images in DSS (lights and dark) of the Horse Head Nebula, which I am now trying to process in StarTools. So far I can make out the Horse Head but the colours are v pixelated. I am very much learning post processing skills atm, and still a long way to go! - These images were taken when the moon was 60% so it could be that I am having issues with light. If anyone is able to help with advice, that would be much appreciated! - I have attached the stacked FITS file in case its easier to look for yourself. Thank you very much! Elly Horsehead nebula_00001.fit