astrophotography need help. just begun astrophotography and have a few doubts.

[dwayne dias]

3 minutes ago, Astrosurf said:

I don't use DSS as it's quite clumsy. I'm afraid I don't use Lightroom but I'm sure someone else will advise.

Which software do u use then...???

[Astrosurf]

StarTools, but only for my Ha stuff. It doesn't seem to want to process my DSLR images! But that's me using it wrongly. Then I use Photoshop. Ask on hear about StarTools. It's very good for the price. And do ask about using it for DSLR images. I'll then use the info you get to help me! 

http://www.startools.org/

[spillage]

13 minutes ago, Astrosurf said:

StarTools, but only for my Ha stuff. It doesn't seem to want to process my DSLR images! But that's me using it wrongly. Then I use Photoshop. Ask on hear about StarTools. It's very good for the price. And do ask about using it for DSLR images. I'll then use the info you get to help me! 

http://www.startools.org/

and me...

[happy-kat]

I use DSS and StarTools

GIMP is free look for 2.9 and paint.net is free.

[Stub Mandrel]

6 hours ago, dwayne dias said:

I had a doubt though.....suppose I achieve 3 hours of exposure with 20sec frames and stack them ...would it differ from that of 3 hours of 3 to 5 min frames...??? Or will the images differ...???

Longer exposures help when you are going after really faint detail, but you may end up rejecting more subs. I find 2 minute subs work well for me with my equipment. I can stack the 80% best in DSS knowing I will get decent results.

[dwayne dias]

21 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Longer exposures help when you are going after really faint detail, but you may end up rejecting more subs. I find 2 minute subs work well for me with my equipment. I can stack the 80% best in DSS knowing I will get decent results.

Since my mount is not that accurate and just works using an RA motor...so it's tough to take longer exposures. I do 20 to 30 sec subs. But 90% of them get stacked in dss. May b I should try 1 min...but I'll chase to throw away most of the subs.