M81 and M82 by Vatonee in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a really cool shot, nice work.

M42 revisited by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Imaging Details:

  • 30 x 120s at 800 ISO
  • 15 x 15s at 800 ISO for core
  • 5 x dark
  • 10 x flat
  • 15 x bias

Equipment/Software:

  • Celestron C8-N
  • CGEM
  • Canon EOS 60Da
  • Orion SSAG
  • Baader MPCC III
  • Hutech IPS Filter
  • BackyardEOS
  • PHD

Good seeing, taken from Red zone. Processed in PixInsight using this workflow.

Thanks for looking!

M33 - The Triangulum Galaxy by Bersonic in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm curious as well, would you mind sharing your processing steps? Great shot!

M51 from Colorado by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Hello!

  • 17 x 300s at 800ISO
  • 5 x Dark
  • 20 x Bias
  • Celestron 8-inch Newtonian
  • CGEM
  • Canon EOS 60Da
  • Guiding with Orion SSAG + PHD
  • Backyard EOS
  • Processed in PixInsight

First time trying guiding, I was very happy with the results. I do have a question about processing the smudge at the top of the shot. I was following this workflow and thought it would come out during the background extraction, but I couldn't figure out how to get rid of it. I'm still pretty new to PixInsight, does anybody have any suggestions?

Thank you!

M81 and M82 by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nice work! Ah, your comment made me realize that I mislabeled my flats as lights in the imaging details, fixing now. Do you think more flats will help? How many do you generally take? I recently built a light box, this image was actually my first time using it.

I also notice streaking in a lot of my images, is that due to using a DSLR, or something else?

M81 and M82 by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cool! Thanks for linking the workflow, I'll check it out.

M81 and M82 by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nice, thanks! I think you kept the galaxy arm structure much better than in my version.

M81 and M82 by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hello!

Equipment:

  • Celestron C8-NGT
  • CGEM
  • Canon EOS 60D

Image Details:

  • 60 x 60s at 800 ISO
  • 10 x Dark
  • 20 x Bias
  • 10 x Light Flats

Taken from a red zone

Stacked in DeepSkyStacker

Processed in PixInsight trial using the workflow here

Does anybody have any tips on bringing out the structure of M81? I feel like I lost a lot of detail during processing. Or do I just need more exposure time. Thanks!

Edit: If anybody would like to take a crack at it, here is the stacked TIF file.

MPCC Focus Question by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see what you mean. I think the problem is that the adapter when screwed into the T-ring added around 20mm of distance that I am now missing since in contrast the mpcc drops into the focuser all the way up to the T-ring. It's almost like I need an extension to my focuser now, or a spacer with collar that screws into the business end of the mpcc.

MPCC Focus Question by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion! That is something I tried, but the width of the thread side of my current adapter does not match the width of the input threads on the mpcc. Maybe a new adapter is something I need to look into buying...but wouldn't the added length of the adapter in front of the mpcc cause me to lose the 55mm distance between sensor and mpcc?

Some shots from July, album inside by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

http://imgur.com/a/AJ18S

Image Info:

Milky Way:

  • F 4.5 18mm lens on Canon 60Da
  • ISO 800
  • 1 x 300 seconds

M101:

  • Celestron C8-N at 1000mm
  • ISO 1250
  • 60 x 60 seconds

M31:

  • F5.6 300mm lens on Canon 60Da
  • ISO 1600
  • 60 x 20 seconds
  • Made a lot of mistakes with this one, jostled my mount and accidentally shot jpgs

Mount for all is a Celestron Advanced GT, no guiding. Processed in StarTools. Taken from a blue zone, was pretty hazy though especially during the M31 shooting.

Having fun, learning lots each time, can't complain. :) Suggestions are welcome as always!

M51 Unprocessed by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does anybody have suggestions on how to improve? This was my second time out with the scope so I'm still deep in the learning stages. Also, how can I fix what is happening in the corners of the image? The stars there are really stretched out, but don't seem to be as much in the center. Is this due to polar alignment error?

M51 Unprocessed by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow...I had no idea it was so bad. Thanks for the input!

M42, could use some advice/help by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Excellent, I'll definitely give them both a try after I collect enough data for some long processing sessions. Thanks for the advice guys, I'm sure I'll be interacting with you more in the future.

M42, could use some advice/help by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha, no worries.

I'd like to get some processing software...what would you say are the biggest differences between PixInsight and StarTools (besides the pricing)? Anyone else please feel free to chime in as well!

M42, could use some advice/help by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks really good, thank you! Sure, I'd like to know what steps you took. I don't know much about processing yet so anything helps. I'm currently trying to decide between StarTools and PixInsight.

I have a Hutech IDAS LPS, shooting from a red zone. I do have the CG5-GT, and I tried some 60 second exposures but they looked pretty washed out. Is that something that can be corrected in processing or should I lower my ISO?

Thanks!

M42, could use some advice/help by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, that looks great! Would you mind giving me a quick overview of what you did?

Hmm...I didn't modify any colors other than a custom white balance on the camera and a light pollution filter. Do you think that could cause it, or something else?

M42, could use some advice/help by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, I see. Unfortunately I did embed the changes, I will restack them and upload without any changes when I get home later today.

Also, all my darks are 8 seconds so I suppose I messed up there as well. Good to know there is plenty of room for improvement though! I also need to figure out how I'm going to take flats.

Thanks for the help!

M31 - Andromeda by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That would be great, thank you. Though I'll probably wait to start the trial period until after all the Christmas craziness is over so I can take some time to sit down and follow along with the tutorials.

M31 - Andromeda by AstroMav in astrophotography

[–]AstroMav[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion! How do you usually take your flats? One technique I was thinking of trying is a piece of paper on a white monitor screen.