M8 Lagoon. First ever LRGB image

[alpal]

This is my first LRGB, Ha picture with my new QHY9.

3 x 3 minutes each of LRGB plus 10 minutes of Ha 7nm.

Total 46 minutes of data.

Telescope 8" Newt f6, modified NEQ6 mount,

guided with TS9 OAG, PHD guiding & Lodestar, used Ezycap for capturing subframes.

No: flats, darks or dithering were used.

This the first time I processed an LRGB image - used PS CS5.

It was easier to process than a DSLR image.

Stacked in DSS.

Used an RCC corrector which needs further adjustment.

Just checked the secondary mirror -

it needs cleaning & is the cause of the dust doughnuts.

The primary mirror & rest of the optical chain is very clean.

Pic is slightly cropped because the Ha subframe wasn't perfectly aligned with the other frames.

All comments are welcome.

A larger version is here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24719437@N03/7982685347/sizes/h/in/photostream/

[Tom OD]

Very good. Flats will sort out the dust bunnies. Good colour for 9mins each.

[Gina]

Yes, for such little data that's a great result

[alpal]

Thanks Tom & Gina,

I am quite pleased that I got something resonable for my first attempt.

I might take some flats & re-process - we'll see.

I used this dust mote calculator:

http://www.ccdware.com/resources/dust.cfm

I put in correct values & for the giant dust mote

I got 3.029 mm from the sensor.

For one of the small motes I got 0.68mm from the sensor.

That's telling me that I have dust most likely on the sensor itself or very close to it.

I'll check that out.

cheers

Allan

[Shibby]

Very nice, good detail. The overall colour balance looks somewhat magenta, though?

[alpal]

Yes Lewis - you may be right.

I had a go at reprocessing it to get more star colour & less magenta

Is this any better? (a large file )

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24719437@N03/7985711462/sizes/h/in/photostream/

[farunj]

Wow!! That's awesome!!

[Andreas]

Great image dude!