nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

This is another from this past week. Again, data is available for anyone wanted to try their hand at processing.

NGC7000

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

Once again, beautiful North America Nebula.
Craig

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Thanks Craig!

Marc G Loc: East Grinstead, West Sussex, England

totally stunning & great PP.

can i ask what your set up is & PP work through

:thumbup:

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Gear for deep space: Vixen ED81s, either AVX GEM or iOptron ZEQ25, either Nikon 800e modded (Spencers modded and added a heat reduction system) or Nikon D810a ....also use Orion Starshoot guide camera.

For solar - planetary Celestron SCT 8 inch, AVX GEM, ASI120MC

Vixen ED81s, AVX GEM, Modded Nikon D800e,

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

I use PixInsight to do most of my processing.

1) First I reg and calibrate using script - Batch Processing - load files, run diagnostics, and run

2) Load image when step 1 is complete and run a linear stretch to see if I have something to work with. If yes then

3) Dynamic Crop

4) DBE (extract background)

5) Color calibration - I use the entire image for white and create a preview pane for a part of the background that has zero data, other than noise.

6) Histogram stretch - typically I do this 6 to 10 times.....moving the sliders just a tad each time to avoid clipping ANYTHING. This is my goto stretch, if the image has loads of nuisance stars.....I will use Mask Stretch and manage the feinter stars.

7) Curves - first an RGB cures (I do this 5 plus times) then I do a "saturation" curve for color. Usually only once.

9)Save as tiff and load in Photoshop.

In PS, I use Nik plugin - Vivasa to color fix parts of the image

If DBE didn't remove the gradient to my liking or if my background has blotchingness, I will add a gradient in PS to fix.

If I have little or no noise I am done. When using the DSLR, my ISO is usually 1600 or 3200 and 120 sec exposures introduce very little noise. I always have noise with the CCD camera and I will use Topas plugin, DeNoise to improve on that.

I usually take 100 flats the morning after a shoot with a T-shirt covering the scope. I am careful NOT to change any focus or camera movement from the prior night of shooting. I take 30 darks, 30 bias, and 60 to 100 subs. I use the histogram to determine exposure but normally 60, 90, or 120 second exposures for DSO's.

Software, other than PixInsight, PS CC, Nik and Topax I use BackYard EOS for Nikon to do my DSLR camera control and imaging.

I use APT (Astro Photography Tool) for CCD camera imaging and control.

I also use Astrotortilla for platesolving - multiple night exposures.

Lately I have not been guiding..but when I do I use PHD2. I really cannot tell a difference at 120 second exposures over a 3 hour period...not one that cannot be fixed in PixInsight. Not guiding saves a little time in setting up too.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I figured it was modded. You don't pick up that red in a non-modded camera.

This is a great shot and shows what can be captured. I like it.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Thanks Jim!

Algol Loc: Georgia

Beautiful image. I need to get PinInSite, been wanting it to use with my 14.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

There is a learning curve - prepare to invest some time....but there are also some very well done, and free, online tutorials. With those tutorials, I picked up the basics. I still have a lot to learn. Before PixInsight I used Photoshop to do everything. My one great discovery.....PS cannot begin to handle the data that PI can. When I have time....I am pulling out data that I shot prior and using PI to reprocess. I have had a few pleasant surprises. This pic is one of those....and my best one of M31. I did use an Atik383L color camera.

M31 - Reprocessed using PI

(Download)

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

This is an OMG beautiful work of art NikonShooter.
I can actually feel the DOF in the shot.
Craig

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

WOW! That is really good.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Algol.....I am really interested in your 14 inch images. I struggle with the 8 inch to the point I don't set it up unless I am doing planetary or solar. For one, I have a hard time getting a spot on polar alignment so my stars look like eggs at 60 seconds. Plus I have to guide and dither which adds time to both setting up and imaging.

I am committed to spending more time shooting "up" this fall/winter, clear skies permitting, and will try to nail the polar alignment problem using drift and some software I acquired last year - that I forget to use. I need more reach so Galaxies like M33 can fill the frame.

Again, would like to know any secrets you have acquired with your 14 inch....wow that is huge!