Alexgc

Ok, I think it's an improvement. No clipping at least. StarXterminator is quite incredible but need to play around with it a bit more. Not got my head fully around layer masks as yet. Thanks for all the above advice 🙌

22-9-24 Andromeda 5th 8bit.tif

In the meantime, here's one I took earlier. My 1st ever DSO, 3rd April last year. Burnt out my wife's hairdryer keeping the lens dew free... 

"My god it's full of stars"

Brilliant. I'm so impressed with all the above results and am inspired to keep at it. Thank you all of the above, especially for the advice. I shall have a go tomorrow and if I'm feeling brave enough I'll post the output!

That's spectacular, thanks! Day off tomorrow so I'll spend the time working through it, and look up the star removal tools as well. Apart from aesthetics, presumably if you remove the star field you can alter the DSO without the stars bloating etc

25 minutes ago, david_taurus83 said:

Some nice data there, better than any M31 I've tried. What equipment did you use? The stars look ever so slightly out of focus. Just though.

Thanks. I just started using my new EQ-R 6 Pro and a WO Fluorostar 95. PHD2. (New in terms of number of clear nights since purchase that is...)

Holy cow! It is quite humbling to see what you've turned my data into. Some really beautiful images there. Nothing short of inspirational. Thank you.

Many comments I've read about the learning curve in this game, and this certainly applies to processing as much as image acquisition. What would your advice be for routes to improve photoshop skills? How do you remove the stars for starters...?

Here's the stacked unstretched or otherwise processed tif file. I'm new to autoguiding, this is only the 3rd time I've done it, but thought that the subs I was getting looked pretty good, certainly compared to the unguided efforts previously!

I'd be very interested in your thoughts and observations

22-9-24 Andromeda.tif

Hi, any tips on processing andromeda? Watched the youtube videos, read the books but the result looks a bit over-processed to me. 3hrs of clean looking 150sec subs at iso 1000. Darks flats and bias frames.

In photoshop. Used a layer mask to try to bring out some detail in the middle and then a heavily feathered selection for the galaxy to sharpen in camera raw filter, and get rid of all the vignetting. How would you all have gone about it...?

14 minutes ago, johninderby said:

The old saying about going down the rabbit hole seems appropriate to AP.

When I do arrive in Wonderland, I hope the weather has consistently clearer skies…

Thanks for all the above advice. It’s a real help to have an idea about the process of selection with such a bewildering array of permutations as to how the various elements of the setup affect each other. (With an eye on future upgrades as well)
Good job astrophotography takes place at night. I need to sit in a dark room to think it all through!

Hi, 

Since getting into DSO imaging 18mths or so ago, I've been using a WO Zenithstar 61 on an ioptron Skyguider Pro. It's been great but am now stepping up to a beefier mount, namely the skywatcher eq6-r pro. What thoughts do people have regarding a larger scope? I would prefer to stick to a refractor for now and was thinking 90-100mm. I really like the build quality of the WO scopes and was thinking of a Fluorostar 91. I've been saving up but is the price tag justified? What are the options do you think?

Thanks