NGC7023 Iris and Ghost nebula with LBN 468 - 2 panel mosaic

[Barry-Wilson]

I captured the data for this image through July and early August.  I had struggled with the mosaic to match the luminance and gradients across the 2 RGB panels and decided in the end to process the left-hand panel with the Iris and Ghost Nebula before I went on holiday; I then left it sitting on my hard drive (always good advice from Sara).  Whilst away I ruminated on the mosaic and eventually realised I could of course process the two RGB halves before merging rather than my usual work flow of merging in the linear stage.  My main problem was an aberrant green channel in the right-hand panel: Linear Fit helped tame this gradient but I really struggled when linear to merge the two without glaringingly obvious gradients.  My holiday obviously did the trick as my brian re-engaged and I sorted out what to do.  Returning yesterday from holiday, between the mounds of laundry, supermarket restock and trying to not think about work tomorrow, I have managed to process the mosaic.

Elevating the dust is always tricky and I have used many PI masks and scripts to help here and to also bludgeon the stars into submission.  This target will really benefit treatment from a truly dark site and lots of data - I have barely the minimum really and lost hope of clearer skies to collect more.  I have assiduously tried to avoid over PI-ing the dust which I see all too often on the web and render a 'natural' image which is my preferred style and aim.

The details:

• Tak FSQ85EDX at F3.9
• GM1000HPS
• QSI683-wsg with Astrodon filters
• SGP and PI
• Each panel has 30 x 300s and 5 x 600s of Luminance and 8 x 300s each of RG&B giving 5.3 hrs integration each panel, 10.6 hrs total.

Hi res here, https://barrywilson.smugmug.com/Current-Project/i-3r242vk

C&Cs always welcome.

Barry

[gnomus]

Great stuff, Barry.  As usual a natural result.  

[Davey-T]

Excellent work Barry, no criticism from me, wondered what you'd been up to.

Dave

[graemlourens]

stunning! just did the iris a few months ago, and was curious whats all around there, thanks to your sharing i know

Kind regards, Graem

[Martin-Devon]

That's a great result Barry, a superb image and delicately processed - the detail in there is amazing.

Martin

 

[Barry-Wilson]

Thank you Steve, Dave and Graem.  Shame the moon will interfere with LRGB as I really need more RGB and 600s for luminance - the data is pushed a little too hard, although it has turned out well.

2 hours ago, Martin-Devon said:

That's a great result Barry, a superb image and delicately processed - the detail in there is amazing.

Martin

 

There really are a lot of dusty and interesting/challenging targets in Cepheus.  This mosaic could be extended further and further . . . . and there are some great widefield examples on the web, especially Rogelio Bernal Andreo here (very PI but a cracking image).  Many  thanks & nice to hear from you Martin and hope you're busy with your new ccd.

Edited August 21, 2016 by Barry-Wilson

[toxic]

thats a beaut image Barry 

 

[ollypenrice]

Well done, Barry. I've spent many a frustrated hour on these devils myself! The dust is beautifully rendered both in terms of colour and brightness. It should not, in my view, be made to look as if someone is holding a torch behind it. Despite the stretch you have nice tight stars and, as ever, there is nothing 'Pixinsight' about the look of the image. It looks entirely natural.

Olly

[johnrt]

I'll agree with all above, nothing unnatural or forced about the image, not a hint of the "pixinsight" look, just the deft touch of some quality processing! I would never have guessed this was a mosaic if you hadn't stated so.

[Barry-Wilson]

Thank you Chris, Olly and John.

1 hour ago, johnrt said:

I'll agree with all above, nothing unnatural or forced about the image, not a hint of the "pixinsight" look, just the deft touch of some quality processing! I would never have guessed this was a mosaic if you hadn't stated so.

It would be nice to think I could capture the FOV with a sungle frame .  I have read andreluck's thread here about his experiment with the new KAF-16200 chip and the FSQ85 - this does look like a great ccd.

[swag72]

This looks very nice and natural - The stars looks good and the dust is showing through nicely. It looks good with this field of view - and it's given me something to think about, so I won't be thanking you there!

[Barry-Wilson]

Thanks Sara.  The FOV does work well with this target, with the Iris approximately central and the two other nebula on either side - 'almost' a triptych (but only two panels really). Glad I've got you thinking!

Edited August 22, 2016 by Barry-Wilson

[PepeChambo]

Nice and fine mosaic

 

[ChrisLX200]

This is looking really good Barry!

ChrisH

[ollypenrice]

In terms of doing it in one, you can. I've hit it with the tandem Tak106/Full frame 11 meg setup and it goes nice and deep and dusty. But both the Ghost and the Iris thrive on resolution as well. The widefield single frame was not really satisfying (at 3.5"PP) till the higher res stuff went in for the cute bits!

Olly

[Barry-Wilson]

31 minutes ago, ChrisLX200 said:

This is looking really good Barry!

ChrisH

Thanks Chris - your NP127 and 1600 combo would capture this area well . . .

23 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

In terms of doing it in one, you can. I've hit it with the tandem Tak106/Full frame 11 meg setup and it goes nice and deep and dusty. But both the Ghost and the Iris thrive on resolution as well. The widefield single frame was not really satisfying (at 3.5"PP) till the higher res stuff went in for the cute bits!

Olly

Yes, you're right.  Whenever I zoom into the heart of the Iris I am lacking in resolution.  I am pleased to have captured the beginnings of the faint lilac blush to the nebula though.  Your image was an inspiration for this, here, as were your other widefield Iris Ghost images.  Thank you sir!

Edited August 22, 2016 by Barry-Wilson

[PatrickGilliland]

Excellent work Barry as already stated your natural style presents this target very well.  Glad i am not the only one that has brain freeze and forgets what i did last time as well.

So will you be extending it out further now?

Paddy

[Barry-Wilson]

Thanks Paddy.  It would be glorious to extend out . . . if only we had the weather.  Lat night the forecast was clear until about 1am and was looking forward to resetting up my mount with a new model after my holiday . . . total cloud cover by 10.30pm!

[PatrickGilliland]

1 hour ago, Barry-Wilson said:

Thanks Paddy.  It would be glorious to extend out . . . if only we had the weather.  Lat night the forecast was clear until about 1am and was looking forward to resetting up my mount with a new model after my holiday . . . total cloud cover by 10.30pm!

I know that pain - I often end up sitting in a field talking to the horses and occasional rabbit while the cloud hampers what i am there for.  

An extension would make it a one of a kind (or maybe two as you linked the other  ) - see if that persuades you ......

Paddy

[Petergoodhew]

Barry, that's so beautiful.  Well done.

Are you happy with the 10Micron now? I've just shipped one to Spain but haven't fired it up yet.

[Barry-Wilson]

Thank you for the comments Peter.

Yes, I'm very happy with the 10 Micron.  The fault I had with the motor in the first couple of weeks was resolved by Ian King and Baader/10 Micron without any fuss and they sent a new replacement mount promptly: excellent customer support and service.  It took some time to learn how best to prepare the mount for imaging - time synching, refraction and how to build an accurate model, as well as laying an ethernet network and routers within the Obs.  With the reliability of an ethernet connection you remove a further worry.  I am still a novice with it, but my last model gave me an RMS error of 3.9"/px with 66 points.  Key for me was waiting for the scope to have cooled to equilibrium before starting the run, sufficient darkness (not best to learn in the UK's mid-summer astro light) for accurate plate solving, extending the sub-frame time to 5 secs for each synch point, buying MaximDL (unfortunately) to work seamlessly with Per's superb ModelMaker and figuring Maxim's autofocus routine.  I have really worked on any flexure and this is now a minimum/eliminated.  I have managed 20mins unguided with good results and I can improve further I believe.  Five and ten minute subs are a breeze.  Re-reading Per's wise posts on the 10 Micron Forum helps the motivation to succeed .  Balance and PA routine in the mount's control software are second-to-none.  The virtual handset utility mimics all the functionality of the real handset and I use it exclusively.

Not using autoguiding is a further simplification as one less USB (although autoguiding with SGP/PHD2 wasn't difficult) along with dropping auto-centering as the pointing is so accurate.  Auto-meridian flip needs to take place before the meridian but this is not an issue (see the 10 Micron Forum on this point if you haven't done so already).  The support on the forum is good with very useful utilities, eg Time Synch tool, and both the 10 Micron and Per's Ascom driver are robust and have plenty of functionality.  I have found the integration with SGP, AAG CW, BlueAstro Stickstation (for pressure), Meinberg for time, and importantly my ascom roof controller straightforward (the connection with my roof controller is more reliable and less flakey taking Eqmod out of the equation I think).  I've also just bought a USB switch for the mount's On/Off relay switch which also has a failsafe Off setting on a clock timer, so I can now switch remotely (again see the Forum and Thomas' posts).  If you have electrical and scripting skills you can easily build a pulse relay device to do this switching.  Next step is an IP power switch and to set my router for port forwarding and then I can get imaging if I'm away the weekend (have you noticed how the weather clears when you're away for the weekend?)  I am aiming to make the best of the south Devon weather and relative dark skies with which I'm blessed.  More than happy to help/be a sounding board with your mount when you're getting set up in Spain (if you need it).

I know I don't have Per's elan or chutzpah  (and never will have the technical know-how and knoweldge he possessed) but I could easily find myself raving about the quallity of the mount and its performance . . .

[PatrickGilliland]

16 minutes ago, Barry-Wilson said:

I've also just bought a USB switch for the mount's On/Off relay switch which also has a failsafe Off setting on a clock timer, so I can now switch remotely (again see the Forum and Thomas' posts).  If you have electrical and scripting skills you can easily build a pulse relay device to do this switching.  Next step is an IP power switch and to set my router for port forwarding and then I can get imaging if I'm away the weekend (have you noticed how the weather clears when you're away for the weekend?)  I am aiming to make the best of the south Devon weather and relative dark skies with which I'm blessed.  More than happy to help/be a sounding board with your mount when you're getting set up in Spain (if you need it).

 

Hi Barry

Have a look at the Energenie 019 - i use this now and it has been flawless - have working ACP scripts for all power.  Can also run little batch jobs for manual on and off or just control over web.  https://energenie4u.co.uk/catalogue/product/ENER019

The manual is also clear and concise and software can manage all your timers as well.  I run two in the obsy and not had a glitch with them.  Paddy 

[Barry-Wilson]

Thanks Paddy.  I have taken the plunge and just bought one!

[PatrickGilliland]

2 hours ago, Barry-Wilson said:

Thanks Paddy.  I have taken the plunge and just bought one!

Welcome save you the pain of all the other tosh i have tried  

Paddy

[Rodd]

Image looks 3D Barry--nice