SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Hi Jay,
Now try it with a 910mm refractor instead of a wide field.

Let's compare Apples to Apples.

Oh, no need to be jealous. I have my original Orion ED80T CF, and my Astrotech 130mm EDT.
Just two telescopes with widely varying FOV.

btrlvngthruchem

bwa,

Thanks for the compliment on the image. That was very gracious of you. Although I lurk here from time-to-time and occasionally make a 2 cents comment, I rarely post images anywhere and believe that was a first for this site. The intent was to show Sonny that indeed the nebula looks seagullish when taken with a right-handed 540 mm refractor.

Since I'm addressing this reply to you, I wanted to mention I saw a photo you posted in a different topic that was of your backyard/deck that had about 10' of snow on it. I was going to reply with a photo of my thermometer reading 80ºF with my sunny lanai and pool in the background, but thought better of it. I have a lot of Canadian friends and can say y'all are a hearty lot. I'm also seethingly jealous of your darker skies!

Jay

btrlvngthruchem

Hey Sonny,

Did you use the 130 EDT for the Seagull Head? That should be right around 910 mm I think. Do you have to use a reducer and if so, how much does it reduce your focal length? I used a TeleVue 101NP-IS at 540 mm and the nebula really filled up the 2600 sensor. I think you should do a color image of the head itself as the detail from the 130 should look great. I was looking at more of your B&W images. I love B&W photography but it's not seen much in astro-work. You're a pioneer!

Jay

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

The 130 is all I'm using now. The ED80T CF is setup for the Grandkids to do visual with now.
No, no reducer. In fact, Brian did some processing for me and concurred no flattener was needed for the 130.
So what you see is what I get. All I do is stack, crop, and very little else. Pure Space.
I used to use a color camera, an Atik Infinity a friend loaned me, then sold to me. It was an instant success from the first night.
But I wanted to venture into Mono, so got my ASI 1600MM Pro kit. I'm using the filters it came with, plus added a blacked out filter to shoot Darks and Bias frames in every sequence. The D&B are the last in the sequences I shoot.
B&W, to me, brings out the natural image. Although I do use filters to pop the details, HA7nm, SII and OIII.
On some I will do a second night with L,R,G,B. But all and any get stacked in Mono.

I still refer to myself as a processing minimalist. I don't sharpen either. It doesn't appeal to me.
I like to "get it right in the camera." Although, since going into NINA, and getting all the ducks in a row, I'm nearly at a point of a few clicks and go to bed.
I wake to a parked telescope and a SSD with last nights images stored in fits file format.
I dither every 5 images, Autofocus by Tempurature and HDR readings or filter changes. No more shivering under the stars unless it is necessary, like last night.
Last night things were getting wonky. So I did a quick start over and Polar Alignment, and a Star alignment. Then everything was running true again.
Since it had wasted a couple of hours of dark, I just grabbed onto a star between Bodes Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy and ran with it. Transparency wasn't the best with our stupid weather being what it is.

Here's what I got. 1. As it stacked. 2. Cropped the stacked. 3. After Brightness and Contrast auto, Lightness and Dark auto, and Lomo Effect. (Lomo is something in my Photoshop Elements 12 Editor program I bought over 10 years ago. It ain't fancy, but it's nice and simple.)

All 3 are downloadable if you want to play with them. Done in Narrowband only.
I think the Lomo Effect injected some very slight coloration to the final image.

If I was to go back to color, I doubt much would change. I like doing as little as possible.
So there you have it, about as natural as I can bring it.

To me, downloading each image let's you really see the Picture.

Feel free to download and try your own post processing, But they are jpg's, per file size requirements.

Right out of the file. Stacked image

(Download)

Cropped. To remove any artifacts or gar-bage`.

(Download)

After Brightness & Contrast, Lighten Darken, and Lomo Effect. Final image. No other post processing.

(Download)

btrlvngthruchem

Hey Sonny,

Thanks for answering my questions. I apologize because I just don't have the time to respond to your message in a way that it deserves. We're getting ready to leave for Mexico and an eclipse cruise, viewing it from just off the coast of Mazatlan. As much as I've traveled, this is the first visit to Mexico. Hope y'all enjoy the eclipse. I'll respond more when I return.

Jay

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Have a good trip, Safe Travels!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Here are the following nights LRGB files. (2024-03-26)
Handled the same way as the Mono B&W files.

Downloadable if anyone would like to play or get up close.

Bodes and Cigar LRGB stacked

(Download)

Bodes and Cigar LRGB cropped

(Download)

Bodes and Cigar LRGB Stacked, cropped, and Lomo effect. Final

(Download)