Posts for: bwana
Apr 14, 2024 23:52:16 #
Just a few big clouds floating through so fired up the Astro-Tech 64EDQ with a Hershel Wedge Prism and Baader Solar Continuum filter. I used a QHY 715C astro-cam for this imaging session; 1st light for this high resolution color camera. Double the resolution of my QHY 462C and about 2.5x the resolution of my Sony A7R V.
I was going to shoot two long video sessions, top and bottom halves, of the sun; however, I ended shooting five sessions because of annoying clouds putting an end to video sessions. I salvaged 1000 frames of the bottom half and 743 frames of the top.
Processed the video in PIPP to select the best 10 frames from each half, then manually selected the single best frame from these. Used AutopanoGiga to combine the halves for a full solar image (the 1st image below).
I then extracted six active regions from the two halves and processed them separately.
If any of these active regions is going to cause problems, it will probably be the one shown in the 2nd last image; lots of magnetic cross-bridging just waiting to 'pop'.
Enjoy!
bwa
I was going to shoot two long video sessions, top and bottom halves, of the sun; however, I ended shooting five sessions because of annoying clouds putting an end to video sessions. I salvaged 1000 frames of the bottom half and 743 frames of the top.
Processed the video in PIPP to select the best 10 frames from each half, then manually selected the single best frame from these. Used AutopanoGiga to combine the halves for a full solar image (the 1st image below).
I then extracted six active regions from the two halves and processed them separately.
If any of these active regions is going to cause problems, it will probably be the one shown in the 2nd last image; lots of magnetic cross-bridging just waiting to 'pop'.
Enjoy!
bwa
Apr 14, 2024 16:56:46 #
claytonsummers wrote:
While setting up for M81 and M82, I took a couple of snapshots of the comet. This is 120 seconds iso 400 (644mm focal length at f/5.6) and is unprocessed, SOOC. I did convert it 8 bit to get under 20MB. It gets nice and dark out in the desert.
Really a lovely image after a bit of postprocessing!
bwa
Apr 14, 2024 12:55:20 #
Craigdca wrote:
I've used Autostakkert over the years but have never had much success with getting it to align and stack properly. However, it does a decent job of determining the best quality frame/image in a set.
bwa
Apr 13, 2024 23:40:35 #
Railfan_Bill wrote:
my photo of the M101 with the supernova. June 17, 2023
RFB
RFB
M101 has had several Supernovas. I was an hour late in discovering SN 2011fe in 2011. It was a bright one as well.
bwa
Apr 13, 2024 12:20:40 #
I chased the comet right into the clouds and trees on the horizon but it never got dark enough to really get a good result; however, here's the best of the worst...
bwa
bwa
Apr 13, 2024 12:17:35 #
The Pinwheel Galaxy is a face-on spiral galaxy about 170,000 light-years in diameter and probably contains in the order of a trillion stars, about double the size of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. It is approximately 21 million light-years from Earth.
Captured with a Sony A7R V and Astro-Tech 65EDQ on an Evolution mount.
Shot 252x10sec. subs @ ISO3200.
Preprocessed in Lightroom. Aligned and stacked in PixInsight. Postprocessed in Lightroom/Photoshop.
I fought thin cloud/haze for most of the imaging session, obvious from the fuzzy stars, but still a reasonable night under the stars.
Enjoy!
bwa
Captured with a Sony A7R V and Astro-Tech 65EDQ on an Evolution mount.
Shot 252x10sec. subs @ ISO3200.
Preprocessed in Lightroom. Aligned and stacked in PixInsight. Postprocessed in Lightroom/Photoshop.
I fought thin cloud/haze for most of the imaging session, obvious from the fuzzy stars, but still a reasonable night under the stars.
Enjoy!
bwa
Apr 12, 2024 14:20:13 #
PhilS wrote:
I am wondering if anyone can explain what happened... (show quote)
Looks to be badly overexposed and out of focus.
bwa
Apr 12, 2024 00:06:41 #
SonnyE wrote:
No matter what, every night of trying brings something new.
I'm pretty sure I have more blunders than images.
I bet you were cold and just wanted to get back inside before your boots froze to the ground.
My Intervalometer (Separate, cheap) has an LED (tiny) indicator on it. So, I can see if it is triggering from inside the house.
Been years since I've used it.
I'm pretty sure I have more blunders than images.
I bet you were cold and just wanted to get back inside before your boots froze to the ground.
My Intervalometer (Separate, cheap) has an LED (tiny) indicator on it. So, I can see if it is triggering from inside the house.
Been years since I've used it.
I was using, or thought I was using, the intervalometer built into the A7R V...
bwa
Apr 11, 2024 17:33:43 #
bwana wrote:
Took another run at the California nebula with the Sony A7R V and Astro-Tech 65EDQ on an Evolution mount. This time I remembered to turn on the intervalometer.
Captures 278x13sec (60min) subs @ISO3200. Preprocessed in Lightroom. Aligned and stacked in PixInsight. Postprocessed in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Enjoy!
bwa
Captures 278x13sec (60min) subs @ISO3200. Preprocessed in Lightroom. Aligned and stacked in PixInsight. Postprocessed in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Enjoy!
bwa
Did a little rework on the postprocessing...
bwa
Apr 11, 2024 12:18:06 #
Took another run at the California nebula with the Sony A7R V and Astro-Tech 65EDQ on an Evolution mount. This time I remembered to turn on the intervalometer.
Captures 278x13sec (60min) subs @ISO3200. Preprocessed in Lightroom. Aligned and stacked in PixInsight. Postprocessed in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Enjoy!
bwa
Captures 278x13sec (60min) subs @ISO3200. Preprocessed in Lightroom. Aligned and stacked in PixInsight. Postprocessed in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Enjoy!
bwa
Apr 11, 2024 12:08:16 #
I always enjoy seeing Moon glow (or Earthshine as some call it)...
bwa
bwa
Apr 10, 2024 13:52:47 #
Took a look at the sky about 10:30pm, thin cloud, almost said the heck with it... But with nothing better to occupy my time I set up the Evolution (Alt/Az) mount with Sony A7R V and Astro-Tech 65EDQ scope for a few short subs.
My first target was the California Nebula (NGC1499) and my first blunder. I shot a couple of subs to make sure everything was working and in focus then let it run for an hour. However, I forgot to start the intervalometer... The result, two 13sec. subs @ ISO6400. I processed them anyway; the first attachment. Not an award winner but at least I know I shot the right area of the sky!
I moved on to the Whale & Hockey Stick (NGC4631 & 4656) galaxies. Being high in the sky shooting 13sec subs was not a good idea due to field rotation. But processed anyway... The second attachment.
My last effort was a target centered on a no-name galaxy, NGC4819, with the intent of popping out a few of the obscure galaxies in the region. It was beyond the capability of 13sec subs but I did get one reasonable galaxy and a couple of questionable ones... The last attachment. Once again field rotation was a problem.
All in all a learning experience.
Enjoy!
bwa
My first target was the California Nebula (NGC1499) and my first blunder. I shot a couple of subs to make sure everything was working and in focus then let it run for an hour. However, I forgot to start the intervalometer... The result, two 13sec. subs @ ISO6400. I processed them anyway; the first attachment. Not an award winner but at least I know I shot the right area of the sky!
I moved on to the Whale & Hockey Stick (NGC4631 & 4656) galaxies. Being high in the sky shooting 13sec subs was not a good idea due to field rotation. But processed anyway... The second attachment.
My last effort was a target centered on a no-name galaxy, NGC4819, with the intent of popping out a few of the obscure galaxies in the region. It was beyond the capability of 13sec subs but I did get one reasonable galaxy and a couple of questionable ones... The last attachment. Once again field rotation was a problem.
All in all a learning experience.
Enjoy!
bwa
Apr 10, 2024 12:51:02 #
pfrancke wrote:
M51 from last couple of nights, and I can see that the space time continuum is starting to rip again...
Lovely result!
bwa
Apr 9, 2024 19:26:58 #
lmTrying wrote:
Well, that kind of changes my thinking on sun spots. I was thinking they were more like depressions on the surface.
Thanx.
Thanx.
They're actually cool spots on the sun with a large amount of magnetic activity, i.e.: sorta looking down on prominences with this activity showing up as the bump you noticed.
Apr 9, 2024 19:24:03 #
pfrancke wrote:
love the color scheme! I tried to get it a few weeks ago but was already struggling with how little time it is there, and I think my exposures were much too long. Beautiful job!! But dag gone it, since you have it star aligned and comet aligned, can you remove stars and but them back in from the star-aligned photo?
Per your request...
bwa
