First time with an OSC camera

[Nigella Bryant]

Okay folks, don't laugh but this is the first time I've used an OSC camera. I bought it quite a few months ago but only just started to use it. It's a new learning curve as I've only used a canon all but briefly and many years ago an MX7c I think it was called, also very briefly. I've been using planetary cameras for some time so know a little about processing but not got to grips with taking flats and bias or darks, etc. So this is a stack of an integration time of around 10mins with various exposures from 10sec, 40sec and 60sec. I stacked using DSS and tweaked in Photoshop CS2 (an old copy now). 

Taken with a C11 @ f6.3 on an Eq8 R Pro mount and Altair Astro 26C camera. I know I am going to have to take flats in the future but just wanted to test the camera combo with the C11 and f6.3 focal reducer. I also add that this was unguided as I've also got to get to grips with setting up the off axis guider and control of all that too.  

[saac]

That's a cracking start then Nigella and a lovely thing to photograph, one of my favourite targets.

Jim 

[Nigella Bryant]

13 minutes ago, saac said:

That's a cracking start then Nigella and a lovely thing to photograph, one of my favourite targets.

Jim 

Thanks Jim, much appreciated. It's always been one of my favourite objects too Jim. 

[Sunshine]

Nothing to laugh at there, it’s a great image! 

[Nigella Bryant]

14 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Nothing to laugh at there, it’s a great image! 

I'm quite critical, I see all the mistakes, especially no flats, lol. I forgot to take any.

[Sunshine]

41 minutes ago, Nigella Bryant said:

especially no flats

To someone who knows diddly about imaging, this is an apartment in london. 😅

[ollypenrice]

You're in the wrong loo!  This is the Observing section...

That's astonishingly good, isn't it. Sharp and clean.

Olly

PS There's a truly demon trick for OSC users on emission nebulae. In Ps, go to Image - Adjustments - Selective Colour and it opens by default in Reds. Just move the top slider to the left to lower the cyans in red. It boosts Ha signal. You can do this on the standard image or you can make a top copy layer, set the blend mode to luminance and do it. This will boost the brightness of Ha regions but not the colour.

 

Edited February 4 by ollypenrice
PS

[Nigella Bryant]

32 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

You're in the wrong loo!  This is the Observing section...

That's astonishingly good, isn't it. Sharp and clean.

Olly

PS There's a truly demon trick for OSC users on emission nebulae. In Ps, go to Image - Adjustments - Selective Colour and it opens by default in Reds. Just move the top slider to the left to lower the cyans in red. It boosts Ha signal. You can do this on the standard image or you can make a top copy layer, set the blend mode to luminance and do it. This will boost the brightness of Ha regions but not the colour.

 

Thanks Olly, much appreciated for the tip. Yeah, my mistake posting in the wrong place. I've posted one in the imaging section too, lol. I'm blaming my age, lol. 

[Neil H]

Nigella,  that is brilliant I would love to be able to take that photo 

[Lee_P]

That's a good start, nicely done!

[Nigella Bryant]

Thanks Neil H and Lee P much appreciated. I've tweaked it a bit more in photoshop. 

[Neil H]

It must gets better Nigella