Astro Noodles

I would contend that as you can find the image on t-shirts, mouse mats, coffee mugs etc, that it is indeed pop-art. It was you who introduced the idea that images not processed to produce a standardised outcome might be considered pop-art. You can't determine what is and what is not relevant to this thread by dismissing those who don't want to discuss the specifics that you do.

What sort of colour balance standard is used in this image? Would it matter if the colour balancing was done differently? Are those stars really pink? What colours should it really have? Is the image in any way inferior because of the palette? Would others process it differently? Is it really a good representation, or should it be regarded as pop-art?

There is no reason not to have a observing rig or a pair of binos as well. I often stay outside observing whilst the camera clicks away.

Doesn't sound like much fun. 😄 I mean, there might be some people who want to devote time and effort to it. And someone has to decide on the correct reference image. It might produce some interesting results. One might ask whether there is a case to be made for removing the human element entirely, to stop people interfering in the process and ruining the colour etc. There surely has to be some level of interpretation. we are human and individual and perceive things differently. The most sophisticated equipment we use is inside our skulls and no-one really understands how it works.

I'm not suggesting that you should. 🙂 in fact, quite the contrary. You have started a very thought-provoking thread. I don't necessarily agree with you, that's all. I think that your remark about mastering technique first is difficult to apply for most people. Many of us are learning as we go along and are simply striving to get a 'better' image than last time. For those advanced enough with their processing skill to enter competitions, I don't know how it would work except for comparing the submitted image against a 'correct' example of that image and see who got closest to it. - pointless!

Comparing Andy Warhol's art with astrophotography images is not comparing 'apples with apples'. I don't quite understand what the point you are trying to make by comparing the two is. One is an attempt to provoke an emotional response by deliberately altering the colours to be striking and unrealistic. The other is not. Are you saying that at least 8 of the 9 galaxy images are wrong? I don't think you can say that. They are personal interpretations of the data, not attempts at pop art. If one of the images were mine, I might feel quite insulted. 🙂 There is a problem in my mind in prescribing one correct way of doing processing/editing/colour. That is that there would be no reason to do it except as a dry, technical exercise as the 'correct' image will already have been produced somewhere by someone else.

This is Al Bean's painting 'That's how it felt to walk on the Moon'. Apparently, the most common question he was asked was 'What did if feel like to walk on the moon?' - a question he did not feel able to answer adequately in words. There is plenty of scientific data to describe the mechanics of getting to the moon, walking on it, and returning to earth. One of the few people ever to have done it, found that a painting better "elicited happier and more exhilarating thoughts and emotions, ones closely related to how it actually felt." M81/M82 has never been seen by human eyes from earth without some form of optical aid. Who's to say what it actually looks like up close? Would it look the same to everyone? I think there is room for limited interpretation in image processing/editing, if for no other reason than to be pleasing to the person doing it, so long as the data is in the original image. @vlaiv's image of the Parthenon is far more extreme than any of the images of M81/82. If one of them was processed with a purple sky background it would be considered ludicrous! These are just different interpretations, all of which have required skill and imagination to produce.

Hi and welcome to SGL.

Hi Rich I have noticed this phenomenon a couple of times now. I wonder if it is something to do with spatial orientation, or something vision related. Were you using a telescope or binoculars or just eyes?

Lesley and I were out for about 10 minutes around 22:30 last night and spotted two Perseids and another meteor heading West to East.

Well that's us told ! 😟

Hi Mainak Welcome to SGL

I would like to join in please. 🙂 I humbly submit Barnard's E taken with my Canon1100D and Askar FMA 135 f4.5 115 x 30 sec iso 3200 Barnards E.tif

Welcome to SGL

Welcome to SGL

AP can be like that. The amount of time I've spent scratching my head, just to realise that my set up is wrong is ridiculous. I am sure I am not alone. 🙂

Have you changed the iso setting? Was it darker/more transparent the first time you took the pictures?

I imagine it makes a good travel scope with all that focal length packed into a short tube. And as it's £3000 less than the Borg, you will actually be able to afford to go on holiday. 😁

Is that the C90 ?

What is the definition of a travel scope? Are we talking about something you can fit in a car boot, or something you can fit in a backpack?

I'm not sure that the best travel scope is one which costs more than the holiday you are going on. 😂

@mikemarotta I don't know if you have offered any meaningful advice here. The manner of your criticisms of the advice offered by other members isn't appropriate.

Also got this from @callisto and this from @Dean Hale So I now have a nice little set up for guiding and automation. Now fingers crossed for some clear skies.

The postman has been busy at my house. A couple f weeks ago I got this from @callisto I have only had one session with it so far, experimenting with exposure lengths and iso levels but I'm very impressed with the sharpness of the images.

Whatever the opposite of an insect repellant is. I think they might think that will prevent other idiots from crashing into them in the dark or something.