Bluesboystig

1 hour ago, alacant said:

Hi

Excellent shot.

It's slightly tilted, but nothing bad. Usually simply reseating the camera/ff/focuser assembly is all that's required.
Processing: perhaps go with a less-is-more approach? Especially with the background. There's loadsa detail emerging and the stars are wonderful.

Cheers and HTH

Thanks for your comments, as always very helpful! I like you managed to keep the colours! I'll give it another go, I'm sure there's plenty I can do better in processing.

Cheers

On 11/11/2023 at 10:34, alacant said:

Hi

I think you're trying to pre-process frames of different sizes. AFAIK, the aligning/coalescing/distorting/rotating has to be done in the registration step.

In Siril:

Pre-process each night separately then make a new sequence of all the pre-processed files. NOW you can register.

HTH

It worked, all the lights need to be calibrated by night, then put together in one folder, registered together, then stacked. Thanks so much for the help!

So after messing up my first go at this classic, last Friday I managed to get 3.5h of data.Given the brightness of the object I'd have expected to be able to extract a lot of good information from the data keeping noise under control, but either I was (again) mistaken, or I really need to learn to process better. I have the feeling it's going to be both  My stars are elongated, especially int he top left corner, not sure why, guiding was really good. I noticed the same issue on other recent projects, but only in that corner, while here it seems more across the entire image. Not sure if it's poor tracking, weight of the camera, or sensor tilt. 

Acquisition: 70x180s, 10 darks, 20 flats, 20 biases, ISO 800, Bortle 5

Equipment: Star Adventurer GTI, WO z61 with Flat 61, Canon 2000d modded, Optolong L-Pro, AsiAir mini, ZWO mini guidescope and Asi 120mm guide camera. 

Processing: Siril: stacking, crop, colour calibration, green noise removal (I didn't do any background extraction because despite trying basically everything I kept obtaining funky backgrounds, full of brighter and darker patches), star removal with Starnet ++, Generalised hyperbolic stretch. GIMP: levels, colour selection and stretched only the galaxy. Siril: star recombination. I have tried to run Denoise AI but I didn't like the loss in sharpness so kept the noisier version. 

I'd really appreciate any comments/suggestions to help me improve. I'll attach the stacking result from Siril in TIF format if anyone want to have a go at the data. Thanks so much!

result_12600s.tif

1 hour ago, AstroMuni said:

Create a sequence for S03, register it. Then draw a selection, right click & select crop sequence. Siril will create a new sequence with cropped images. If this is same size as the images taken for S01/2 then Sirilc will be able to handle the new set of images and do the stacking etc.

As you have just 1px difference I would suggest doing it using command line SEQCROP.

seqcrop sequencename x y width height [-prefix=]

Crops the sequence given in argument sequencename. Only selected images in the sequence are processed.

 

The crop selection is specified by the upper left corner position x and y and the selection width and height, like for CROP.

The output sequence name starts with the prefix "cropped_" unless otherwise specified with -prefix= option

 

Thanks so much for this, I'll try this weekend!

47 minutes ago, AstroMuni said:

That is the problem. Siril likes all files to be same size. Workaround is to register the odd set and then crop in Siril directly.

Thanks for that. Basically my only option here is to register and stack s01 and s02 together, then register and stack s03 separately, then crop manually both results to the same size in px (not sure how to do that in Siril), then stack the two? 

Hello from a fellow resident in Berkshire. I’m in Bracknell and haven’t found any recent info on the local club. So reaching out individually to people on here.. welcome to SGL and hopefully see you under clear skies!

3 minutes ago, StevieDvd said:

Have you got a rogue file such as a jpg in there? Check the files for any that should not be there, it's a common error.

No, I just checked again to make sure... 

Hi, I'm trying to stack 3 different sessions on the Soul Nebula using Sirilic on mac. I have successfully done it for two sessions, but with 3 I'm encountering problems. When pre-processing the console returns the following message:

log: #TAG#{ [4] Merge ...
log: #
log: # Group Directory
log: Running command: cd
0: running command cdlog: Setting CWD (Current Working Directory) to '/Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/GROUP'
log: Running command: merge
0: running command mergelog: Setting CWD (Current Working Directory) to '/Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/S01/IMAGES'
log: Checking sequences in the directory: /Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/S01/IMAGES.
~~~ warning:Reading sequence failed, file cannot be opened: pp_images.seq.
seqfile 'images_.seq' already exists, not overwriting
Writing sequence file pp_images_.seq
Sequence found: pp_images_ 1->35
Reading sequence file `pp_images.seq'.
Reading sequence file `pp_images_.seq'.
bitpix for the sequence is set as 20
log: Setting CWD (Current Working Directory) to '/Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/GROUP'
log: Setting CWD (Current Working Directory) to '/Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/S02/IMAGES'
log: Checking sequences in the directory: /Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/S02/IMAGES.
~~~ warning:Reading sequence failed, file cannot be opened: pp_images.seq.
seqfile 'images_.seq' already exists, not overwriting
Writing sequence file pp_images_.seq
Sequence found: pp_images_ 1->38
Reading sequence file `pp_images.seq'.
Reading sequence file `pp_images_.seq'.
bitpix for the sequence is set as 20
log: Setting CWD (Current Working Directory) to '/Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/GROUP'
log: Setting CWD (Current Working Directory) to '/Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/S03/IMAGES'
log: Checking sequences in the directory: /Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/S03/IMAGES.
~~~ warning:Reading sequence failed, file cannot be opened: pp_images.seq.
seqfile 'images_.seq' already exists, not overwriting
Writing sequence file pp_images_.seq
Sequence found: pp_images_ 1->40
Reading sequence file `pp_images.seq'.
Reading sequence file `pp_images_.seq'.
bitpix for the sequence is set as 20
log: All sequences must be the same format for merging. Sequence `../S03/IMAGES/pp_images' is different
log: Setting CWD (Current Working Directory) to '/Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work/IC1848/DSLR/GROUP'
log: Error in line 82 ('merge'): generic error.
log: Exiting batch processing.
log: Setting CWD (Current Working Directory) to '/Volumes/T7/External Astrophotography/Siril/Work'
log: Script execution failed.

I think the issue is with "Log: All sequences must be the same format for merging. Sequence `../S03/IMAGES/pp_images' is different" but I'm not sure how to solve it. The only thing that I see that possibly creates an issue is that for sessions 1 and 2 I used the files saved on the DSLR SD card (6020x4019 px), for session 3, because I forgot to put the SD card back in, I took the files saved on the AsiAir mini (6020x4020 px). Is this the problem? Or is that a different and additional problem? I'm still very much a beginner and looking to understand what this issue is about. I tried to manually register all the sessions in Siril but it returns the same error. 

Any tips/suggestions? Thanks so much for the help!

So, I would like to process separately the Ha and Oiii by using Siril's script osc extract HaOiii. But I'm collecting data across multiple nights, so I'd have to use Sirilic. Does anyone knows how to do it/successfully did it and can give me a few pointers? I'm very much a beginner so really looking to learn from all the pros here  I've done a bit of research and it seems someone tried but unsuccessfully. Nico from Nebula Photos pointed out it should be doable, but nothing more than that. 

Thanks in advance for the help!

Cheers

I don't have the AM5 but I know that the AsiAir can polar align even if you cannot see Polaris (all sky polar alignment I believe it's called). Youtube has a few tutorials on the subject which might come in handy (I'm planning on trying it myself). Re the range question, not sure about 25m, I have only tried 10m with the AsiAir mini and it was all good.

Managed to get 3 more hours of data on the Soul Nebula. The AsiAir mini was so good to reframe exactly on the same patch of sky and helping with rotating the camera for good framing (managed to get it 0.5 degrees off, pretty decent I'd say).

In total now I have around 5h40mins of integration time, 68x300" subs, 11 darks, 30 flats, 30 biases. Night 1: Bortle 5/6. No moon. Night 2: Bortle 6, 57% Moon. Equipment: SA GTI, WO z61 with flattener, Canon 2000d modded, Optolong L-Extreme, Asiair Mini, ZWO Mini Finder-Guider & ASI 120MM-Mini guide camera. 

Processing details:

Sirilic: pre-process multiple sessions.

Siril: crop, green noise removal. Separated the nebulosity from the stars using Starnet. 

GIMP: stretched the nebulosity, separated the nebula from the background and applied levels and curves, adjusted brightness and contrast.

Siril: Star recomposition. 

Topaz Denoise AI for noise reduction.

There are some elongate stars in the top left corner, not sure why, I have the field flattener, and the stars in the rest of the image look ok. I can also see some sort of circular artifact around some stars, no idea what that is. When I tried to do star resynthesis in Siril it would get much worse, so I opted to leave the stars just a bit less stretched.  Quite surprised as well by the difference in colour, the previous image was very much red/pink. Again, any comments/feedback appreciated. 

On 16/10/2023 at 19:23, Bluesboystig said:

After the previous entry this is going to look silly, but I'm very happy with it as I started in this hobby only 2 months ago. Soul nebula, 30x300" subs, 4 darks, 15 flats, 15 biases. Bortle 5/6. No moon. Equipment: SA GTI, WO z61 with flattener, Canon 2000d modded, Optolong L-Extreme, Asiair Mini, ZWO Mini Finder-Guider & ASI 120MM-Mini guide camera. 

Processing details:

Siril: crop, background extraction, photometric colour calibration, green noise removal. Separated the nebulosity from the stars using Starnet. 

GIMP: stretched the nebulosity, separated the nebula from the background and applied levels and curves, adjusted brightness and contrast.

Siril: Star desaturation and full resynthesis. Star recomposition. 

Topaz Denoise AI for noise reduction.

Managed to get 3 more hours of data on the Soul Nebula. The AsiAir mini doing an excellent job at recentering exactly on the same patch of sky and helping with rotating the camera for good framing (managed to get it 0.5 degrees off, pretty decent I'd say).

Soul nebula, 68x300" subs, 11 darks, 30 flats, 30 biases. Night 1: Bortle 5/6. No moon. Night 2: Bortle 6, 57% Moon. Equipment: SA GTI, WO z61 with flattener, Canon 2000d modded, Optolong L-Extreme, Asiair Mini, ZWO Mini Finder-Guider & ASI 120MM-Mini guide camera. 

Processing details:

Sirilic: pre-process multiple sessions.

Siril: crop, green noise removal. Separated the nebulosity from the stars using Starnet. 

GIMP: stretched the nebulosity, separated the nebula from the background and applied levels and curves, adjusted brightness and contrast.

Siril: Star recomposition. 

Topaz Denoise AI for noise reduction.

47 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

Very good. I'm pretty sure there are processing tweaks still available to you, as well. Most beginners bring the black point in far too far and clip out faint data. I think your black point could come in a bit and give you more contrast - but softly, softly!

Maybe ease the green down a whisper as well?

Olly

Thanks for the feedback, I was really trying hard not to overdo it, and I'm learning my way through image processing, so definitely there is still a lot to learn and to improve. I'll try play around with the data and try increase contrast  

37 minutes ago, tomato said:

That's a fine image, well beyond beginner class in my book. You have applied a light touch on the processing which is to be commended, most folks when starting out are tempted to push their data too hard. Hence as has been commented, you could push the data a little further, more subs will help with the noise. 

Meridian flips are a bit scary at first, but well worth mastering, as you will almost double your available imaging time on the session.

 

Woa, thanks so much! Noise is a nightmare, but I have already accepted the harsh reality that for crisp clear result integration time is king! Planning on adding hours more of data to this project, fingers crossed the weather gods will play ball! 

47 minutes ago, Lee_P said:

Oh yes, I remember well the fear of meridian flips. The ASIAIR is pretty good with those though. Maybe sit and watch a few to help with your confidence. Bird poo, I know that fear too! Never happened to me, despite my telescope being a big target, and plenty of seagulls and pigeons overhead. But hey, we've got refractors, it wouldn't be too hard to clean bird poo off!

Agree, meridian flips are next on the list of things to master. This time I already had a lot of stuff to try out for the first time, I felt like I'd have pushed my luck a little.. plus I was freezing the proverbial..  BTW, thanks for all the info on your website, I'm reading everything on it, and your images are something incredible! Absolutely inspiring stuff!

1 minute ago, Lee_P said:

Ah, gotcha. You've got the beginnings of a really stunning image there. I think the trick is to have long integration times, and the secret to that is controlling everything remotely so your rig collects data while you sleep!

Thanks so much for the feedback. I think that two things play up in my mind: I'm still scared of meridian flips 😧 and I'm scared that a passing bird will poo on the telescope (this is probably my paranoia hahahah)..

Just now, Lee_P said:

This is great, good job! Are you able to control everything remotely, to avoid ending sessions because it's too cold for you? 

Thanks! Theoretically yes, thanks to the asiair, but I wasn't at home, I went to a darker location just out of town. But to be fair, the L-Extreme should allow me to shoot from the garden (still learning my ways around all this really). My fault for not dressing for success. 

My 5th project since starting in this hobby and I'm very happy with it, even though I only collected less than 3h of data in total (original plan was for at least double that but boy it was cold out there). This was also the first time using a lot of new kit all at the same time: the asiair mini, the guide scope and guide camera, and the newly modded Canon 2000d. All in all I'm quite pleased, I know it can be much much better, but I'm planning on keep adding data to this, an hour here, a couple of hours there, hopefully ti will soon be an incredible picture. Any comment, suggestion, feedback more than welcome of course!

Acquisition: 30x300" subs, 4 darks, 15 flats, 15 biases. Bortle 5/6. No moon.

Equipment: SA GTI, WO z61 with flattener, Canon 2000d modded, Optolong L-Extreme, Asiair Mini, ZWO Mini Finder-Guider & ASI 120MM-Mini guide camera. 

Processing details:

Siril: crop, background extraction, photometric colour calibration, green noise removal. Separated the nebulosity from the stars using Starnet. 

GIMP: stretched the nebulosity, separated the nebula from the background and applied levels and curves, adjusted brightness and contrast.

Siril: Star desaturation and full resynthesis. Star recomposition. 

Topaz Denoise AI for noise reduction.

After the previous entry this is going to look silly, but I'm very happy with it as I started in this hobby only 2 months ago. Soul nebula, 30x300" subs, 4 darks, 15 flats, 15 biases. Bortle 5/6. No moon. Equipment: SA GTI, WO z61 with flattener, Canon 2000d modded, Optolong L-Extreme, Asiair Mini, ZWO Mini Finder-Guider & ASI 120MM-Mini guide camera. 

Processing details:

Siril: crop, background extraction, photometric colour calibration, green noise removal. Separated the nebulosity from the stars using Starnet. 

GIMP: stretched the nebulosity, separated the nebula from the background and applied levels and curves, adjusted brightness and contrast.

Siril: Star desaturation and full resynthesis. Star recomposition. 

Topaz Denoise AI for noise reduction.

I have recently bought this battery, I tried using it last night for the first time. I have a SA GTI, AsiAir mini, and the usual accessories. The Car port worked perfectly to power the asiair, I wanted to power the GTI using the AC output port (using the Lynx appropriate power cable) but the mount kept switching off, basically the AC outlet kept turning off. Do you guys know how to fix this/encountered similar issues? Any tips more than welcome, thanks!

This is an absolute masterpiece. Total awe!

M33 Triangulum Galaxy on Friday 22/09/2023. This is only my 4th go at astrophotography, quite chuffed with it to be fair. 

Acquisition: 104x100", ISO 800, 20 Darks, 20 Bias frames, 25 flats.

Equipment: WO z61 with flattener, SA GTI unguided, Canon 2000d (unmodded), Optolong L-Pro.

Processing: Siril: crop, background extraction, photometric colour calibration, stretch, green noise removal. GIMP: contrast, stretch, curves. 

9 minutes ago, geeklee said:

I think you've captured a great shot with the equipment Stig - nice natural colour with good detail to enjoy in the galaxy itself.  Nice balanced background too (a little bit of noise but reading your notes above, that's understandable without any NR)

The guide camera should help if the above is unguided - just helping you tidy up those star shapes a little more and let you focus on the next thing (there seems to always be a next thing 🤣)

 

I was played around with Topaz Denoise AI (the trial version). It seems to work very nicely, but because it's the trial version it places a massive watermark on the picture. I'm thinking of purchasing it though, the result looked really nice. I'm also thinking that longer integration times will help to get a much better SNR. 

Re the star shapes: what do you think needs improving? Thanks

Fourth DSO captured ever, this time I tried M33 from my garden in Bortle 6. I managed to get 104x100" subs for a total of almost 3h of integration time, ISO 800. 20 Darks, 20 Bias frames, 25 flats. I tried to manually stack and calibrate in Siril without using biases and darks (just subtracting the offset manually), but it didn't quite work. I'll give it another go to play with Siril though.

Equipment: WO z61 with flattener, SA GTI, Canon 2000d (unmodded), Optolong L-Pro. Siril: crop, background extraction, photometric colour calibration, stretch, green noise removal. GIMP: contrast, stretch, curves. 

Keen to hear feedback and opinions/suggestions. I think that for just under 3h of data it looks good. I'm realising that detail require a lot of integration time, so in the future I might start taking on longer projects over multiple nights. An Asiair mini and guiding camera will help with that hopefully. 

Thanks for your comments, they really help me understand more about this awesome hobby and how to improve. 

Planning to image m31 again asap properly, and ideally putting the hours in! Can't wait

5 hours ago, alacant said:

Keep it simple.

2000d so don't use dark or in camera bias frames. This is almost certainly why you're seeing extra noise.
Simply remove the offset from the flat frames then stack them. Leave the same offset in place to calibrate the light frames. For the latter, don't forget to specify the master flat frame you just stacked.

Here's what it looks like for the flat frames:

 

... and the light frames:

 

So I create a sequence for the flats subtracting 2048, then calibrate the lights sequence using the master flat and I keep subtracting 2048 for biases. I don’t do anything for darks at all? Then register everything and stack? Thanks so much for the help!!

6 minutes ago, alacant said:

What calibration frames are you using?

On Eos it's possible that noise is being introduced by applying bias and dark frames taken using the camera. 

We find that offset subtraction only gives much cleaner calibration. Simpler too.

Cheers 

Darks biases and flats. But I'm intending on re-preprocess everything manually doing the subtraction of the offset. Something that is not clear to me on this is whether I need to subtract 2048 both for the bias and darks or just for bias? Siril's documentation seems to suggest only for bias, darks are stacked in a master. (I know I have been asking lots of questions, so thank you very much for the help, really appreciated)