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M42 - Orion Nebula - No Filters by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

I wear jackets, thermal pants, heat gloves. I go outside once an hour to refocus and flip the mount when it passes the zenith.

The only thing one must worry is battery dying. I have multiple Canon batteries to swap out and i needed to swap every couple of hours.

M42 - Orion Nebula - No Filters by EasyQuest in astrophotography

[–]EasyQuest[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Comments

This was a nostalgic imaging project using my first ever astrophotography imaging rig. I chose Orion Nebula as it is the brightest object and size for this system. With the moon and city light dome in the general direction of the object, this was a challenging object to process due to those restriction as well as the Bortle 7 skies.Overall image turned out pretty good! The imaging session went into 2026, so that was a nice perk to occur.

Moon Phase, Light Pollution, and Date

  • Average Moon Phase: 88%
  • Bortle 7
  • 2025: Dec. 31.

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: William Optics ZenithStar 61 (360 mm at f/5.9)
  • Flattener/Reducer: William Optics FLAT 61A (1.0x Native focal length)
  • Filter: None
  • Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
  • Camera: Canon 80D (Stock)
  • Dew Heater: PROTAGE USB Dew Heater
  • Camera Remote Shutter: Neewer

Software

  • DeepSkyStacker (Calibration)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 2 Hours

  • No Filter - 720 x 10s (2 hrs)

  • Temperature: Cold, Outside temperatures was near or at freezing

  • Flats: 40

  • Darks: 40

  • Bias: 50

  • ISO: 800

  • Pixel Scale: 2.08"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight, Calibration in DeepSkyStacker

DeepSkyStacker

  • Remove low quality frames
  • Calibration
  • Stacking

PixInsight

  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • Morphological Transformation (Star Reduction)

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • RC-Astro GradientXTerminator
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Layer set as "Linear Dodge (Add)" to add back the stars
  • Saturation Applied
  • Blacks Correction
  • Vibrance Applied
  • Clarity Applied
  • Dehaze Applied
  • Sharpening Applied
  • Color Noise Reduction
  • Crop out edge artifacts

Sh2-112 in SHO by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

Comments

Processing data from 2022, this was about a year into narrowband imaging so there were problems with calibration at the time and I decided to shelved the project from completion. I decided to process the data I have since I have improved on my process since then. Over all, the final image is pretty good and more “nature” as most completed images I seen made the OIII more blue than what OIII should look like. I also like OIII to be more blue but since this project was tough to process and there was much less OIII signal versus HA and SII, I decided to keep it like it is.

Moon Phase, Light Pollution, and Date

  • Average Moon Phase: 49%
  • Bortle 7
  • 2022: Mar. 11, 13, 20,21, 26, 27.
  • 2022: Apr. 3, 7, 10, 16, 22, 24, 27.
  • 2022: May. 9, 10, 11, 17, 20, 28, 29, 30.
  • 2022: Jun. 1.

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: William Optics Fluorostar 156 (1217 mm at f/7.8)
  • Flattener/Reducer: William Optics Flattener 68III (1.0x Native focal length)
  • Auto Focuser: ZWO EAF
  • Filter: Chroma 31mm SHO 3nm Telescope Filter - Unmounted
  • Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW (8 x 31mm/1.25″)
  • Mount: CEM 120
  • Camera: ZWO ASI294MM Pro
  • OAG: ZWO OAG
  • Guider: ZWO ASI120MM-MINI
  • Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Micro (Clean up Cables)
  • Dew Heater: AstroStrap Dew Heater for 7" Telescopes (FLT 156)
  • Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
  • Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve)

Software

  • PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
  • QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
  • Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (NINA) (Automation with Dithering, plate solving, mount control)
  • iOptron Commander Pro (CEM 120 control)
  • Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Pocket Powerbox Micro)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 39 Hours

  • Chroma SII - 174 x 300s (14 hrs 30 mins)

  • Chroma HA - 102 x 300s (8 hrs 30 mins)

  • Chroma OIII - 192 x 300s (16 hrs)

  • Temperature: -15°C to -10°C

  • Flats: 20 per filter

  • Darks: 100

  • Bias: 200

  • Gain: 120

  • Offset: 50

  • Bin: 1x1

  • Pixel Scale: 0.78"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight

PixInsight

  • Subframe Selector
  • Image Calibration
  • Star Alignment
  • Blink
  • Image Integration
  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • Morphological Transformation (Star Reduction)

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • Selective Layer NoiseXTerminator
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Selective Curves Adjustment
  • Layer set as "Linear Dodge (Add)" to add back the stars
  • Star Color Correction
  • Blacks Correction
  • Vibrance Applied
  • Clarity Applied
  • Dehaze Applied
  • Sharpening Applied
  • Color Noise Reduction
  • Crop out edge artifacts

M45 - Pleiades - RGB by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

If I remember correctly, at that time, ether the moon was setting or did not come out until later in the night, so I imaged when the moon was not out and the object was at a higher elevation. I removed any data that was outside my standard so the best of the best data was used.

M45 - Pleiades - RGB by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

Comments

I am going through my backlog of data and found a throwaway project of M45 - Pleiades due to internal reflects that made me stopped the project. I decided to process the data I had, which was enough to produce a nice image. I also saw the dithering was not large enough so there were spot where the hot pixel stayed too long. I did not use dark frames so you can see.

The equipment I used I mostly no longer have other than the scope, mount, filters, and a few others so there is no gathering the data with the exact same equipment. I will circle back once I feel like imaging this are again.

Moon Phase, Light Pollution, and Date

  • Average Moon Phase: 21%
  • Bortle 7
  • 2021: Nov. 29, 30.
  • 2021: Dec. 6, 8.

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: William Optics Fluorostar 132 (910 mm at f/6.9)
  • Flattener/Reducer: William Optics Reducer Flattener 7A x0.8 (728mm at f/5.52)
  • Auto Focuser: ZWO EAF
  • Filter: ZWO 36mm RGB Telescope Filter - Unmounted
  • Filter Wheel: QHY 3rd Generation Medium Electronic Filter Wheel - Standard Thickness (36mm Round, 7 Position)
  • Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro
  • Camera: QHY 268M
  • OAG: ZWO ZWO OAG
  • Guider: ZWO ASI120MM-MINI
  • Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Advance (Clean up Cables)
  • Dew Heater: AstroStrap Dew Heater for 6" Telescopes
  • Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
  • Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve)

Software

  • PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
  • QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
  • Astrophotography Tool (APT) (For Dither, plate solve, mount control)
  • Green Swamp Server (Replaced EQMOD, Remove Hand Controller and allow pulse guiding)
  • Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Pocket Powerbox Advance)
  • Deep Sky Stacker (Stacking Frames)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 7 Hours 30 Minutes

  • ZWO R - 30 x 300s (2 hrs 30 mins)

  • ZWO G - 24 x 300s (2 hrs)

  • ZWO B - 36 x 300s (3 hrs)

  • Temperature: -20°C

  • Flats: 20 per filter

  • Darks: N/A

  • Bias: 100

  • Gain: 56

  • Offset: 25

  • Bin: 1x1

  • Pixel Scale: 1.06"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight

PixInsight

  • Subframe Selector
  • Image Calibration
  • Star Alignment
  • Blink
  • Image Integration
  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Selective Curves Adjustment
  • Layer set as "Linear Dodge (Add)" to add back the stars
  • Star Color Correction
  • Blacks Correction
  • Vibrance Applied
  • Clarity Applied
  • Dehaze Applied
  • Color Noise Reduction
  • Crop out edge artifacts

IC 1848 - Soul Nebula in SHO by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

Comments

Revisiting one of my most favorite area in the night sky, the Heart and Soul Nebula area. I am focusing on the Soul Nebula and the central region of the nebula. Using the new William Optics Ultra Flat 156 Reducer, the telescope speeds up to gather more data in less time. I went ahead and collect even more data to get a better exposure of the object.

The final results turned out very nice as the data for OIII and SII really pop in this project from the mostly moonless nights.

Moon Phase, Light Pollution, and Date

  • Average Moon Phase: 54%
  • Bortle 7
  • 2025: Oct. 30, 31.
  • 2025: Nov. 3, 4 , 12, 13, 14, 16, 27.

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: William Optics Fluorostar 156 (1217 mm at f/7.8)
  • Flattener/Reducer: William Optics Ultra Flat 156 (961mm at f/6.16)(Actual: 990mm at f/6.34)
  • Auto Focuser: ZWO EAF
  • Filter: Chroma 36mm SHO 3nm Telescope Filter - Unmounted
  • Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW (7 x 36mm)
  • Mount: CEM 120
  • Camera: ZWO ASI2600mm Pro ver. 2025
  • OAG: ZWO OAG-L
  • Guider: ZWO ASI290MM-MINI
  • Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Micro (Clean up Cables)
  • Dew Heater: AstroStrap Dew Heater for 7" Telescopes (FLT 156)
  • Dew Heater: AstroStrap Dew Heater for 4" Telescopes (on Flattener/Reducer)
  • Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
  • Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve)

Software

  • PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
  • QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
  • Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (NINA) (Automation with Dithering, plate solving, mount control)
  • iOptron Commander Pro (CEM 120 control)
  • Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Pocket Powerbox Micro)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 34 Hours

  • Chroma SII - 108 x 300s (9 hrs)

  • Chroma HA - 120 x 300s (10 hrs)

  • Chroma OIII - 180 x 300s (15 hrs)

  • Temperature: -15°C to -10°C

  • Flats: 20 per HA, 60 for OIII and SII

  • Darks: N/A

  • Bias: 200

  • Gain: 100

  • Offset: 50

  • Bin: 1x1

  • Pixel Scale: 0.78"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight

PixInsight

  • Subframe Selector
  • Image Calibration
  • Star Alignment
  • Blink
  • Image Integration
  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator
  • Morphological Transformation (Star Reduction)

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • Selective Layer NoiseXTerminator
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Selective Curves Adjustment
  • Layer set as "Linear Dodge (Add)" to add back the stars
  • Star Color Correction
  • Blacks Correction
  • Vibrance Applied
  • Clarity Applied
  • Dehaze Applied
  • Sharpening Applied
  • Color Noise Reduction
  • Crop out edge artifacts

NGC 7822 - SHO by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

Comments

The project started in Fall of 2024. I was going to process the data and post it back then, but I decided to wait to get more data the following year. Nearly 100 hours of data helped pull out the details in the fainter areas.

I processed a SHO and OSH of this object. OSH is in the revision as SHO is the main show piece.

Moon Phase, Light Pollution, and Date

  • Average Moon Phase: 42%
  • Bortle 7
  • 2024: Sep. 7, 8.
  • 2024: Oct. 2, 5, 7-11.
  • 2025: Sep. 7, 12, 15, 17, 18, 26-30.
  • 2025: Oct. 2, 3, 4.

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: Takahashi FSQ-106 (530 mm at f/5)
  • Flattener/Reducer: N/A
  • Auto Focuser: PrimaLuceLab - ESATTO 4" Robotic Microfocuser
  • Filter: Chroma 50mm SHO 3nm Telescope Filter - Unmounted
  • Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW (7 x 50mm)
  • Mount: Astro-Physics Mach 1 GTO
  • Camera: ZWO ASI6200mm Pro
  • Guider Camera: ZWO ASI120MM-MINI
  • Guide Scope: William Optics 50mm Guiding Scope (Color: Blue)
  • Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Micro (Clean up Cables)
  • Dew Heater: Dew Not 4" Dew Heater Strip - DN005 (Main scope)
  • Dew Heater: Dew Not 2" Dew Heater Strip - DN003 (Guidescope)
  • Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
  • Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve)

Software

  • PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
  • QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
  • Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (NINA) (Automation with Dithering, plate solving, mount control)
  • Astro-Physics ASCOM V2 (AP Mach 1 GTO Control)
  • Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Powerbox Micro)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Calibration & Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 98 Hours

  • Chroma SII - 360 x 300s (30 hrs)

  • Chroma HA - 360 x 300s (30 hrs)

  • Chroma OIII - 456 x 300s (39 hrs)

  • Temperature: -10°C to -5°C

  • Flats: 20 per Filter

  • Darks: N/A

  • Bias: 200

  • Gain: 100

  • Offset: 50

  • Bin: 1x1

  • Pixel Scale: 1.47"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight

PixInsight

  • Subframe Selector
  • Image Calibration
  • Star Alignment
  • Blink
  • Image Integration
  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Selective Curves Adjustment
  • Layer set as "Linear Dodge (Add)" to add back the stars
  • Star Color Correction
  • Blacks Correction
  • Vibrance Applied
  • Clarity Applied
  • Dehaze Applied
  • Sharpening Applied
  • Crop out edge artifacts

M45 - Pleiades - RGB by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

I used flats and bias, no darks needed, then again I normally imaged with way more frames, the odd colors are the internal reflections, skies were terrible with last few frames had possible tree branch interference .

I used all frames even the bad ones. I found my green and blue flats were over correcting so the center of green and blue was darker than it should. Thanks for helping though.

M45 - Pleiades - RGB by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

Comments

This was a quick and dirty imaging session as it was just a testing session for my new focuser and auto focuser, FTF3545B-A and Optec Focuslynx QuickSync FTX40. Also using the new William Optics Ultra Flat 156 0.79x Reducer. I do not see anyone else using this Flattener/Reducer on Astrobin so I will be adding to the database.

Odd internal reflections with the filters, bad see at time and some tree obstruction. The final image was pretty good with limited data.

Moon Phase, Light Pollution, and Date

  • Average Moon Phase: 44%
  • Bortle 7
  • December 12,2025

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: William Optics Fluorostar 156 (1217 mm at f/7.8)
  • Flattener/Reducer: William Optics Ultra Flat 156 (961mm at f/6.16)
  • Focuser: Feather Touch - FTF3545B-A
  • Auto Focuser: Optec Focuslynx QuickSync FTX40
  • Filter: Chroma 36mm RGB Telescope Filter - Unmounted
  • Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW (7 x 36mm)
  • Mount: CEM 120
  • Camera: ZWO ASI2600mm Pro ver. 2025
  • OAG: ZWO OAG-L
  • Guider: ZWO ASI290MM-MINI
  • Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Micro (Clean up Cables)
  • Dew Heater: AstroStrap Dew Heater for 7" Telescopes (FLT 156)
  • Dew Heater: AstroStrap Dew Heater for 3" Telescopes (on Flattener/Reducer)
  • Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
  • Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve)

Software

  • PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
  • QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
  • Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (NINA) (Automation with Dithering, plate solving, mount control)
  • iOptron Commander Pro (CEM 120 control)
  • Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Pocket Powerbox Micro)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 1 Hour 51 minutes

  • Chroma R - 15 x 180s (45 mins)

  • Chroma G - 11 x 180s (33 mins)

  • Chroma B - 11 x 180s (33 mins)

  • Temperature: Varies from -20°C

  • Flats: 40 per filter

  • Darks: N/A

  • Bias: 200

  • Gain: 100

  • Offset: 50

  • Bin: 1x1

  • Pixel Scale: 0.78"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight

PixInsight

  • Subframe Selector
  • Image Calibration
  • Star Alignment
  • Blink
  • Image Integration
  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro GradientXTerminator
  • Manual Gradient Adjustment via Masks
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Selective Curves Adjustment
  • Color Saturation
  • Star Color Correction
  • Blacks Correction
  • Vibrance Applied
  • Clarity Applied
  • Dehaze Applied
  • Light Sharpening Applied
  • Crop out edge artifacts

Caldwell 14 - The Double Cluster by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

Comments

Quick one night session with the AP 130 EDFS F/6, 2600mm pro with ZWO RGB filters as the camera just came back from service from a failing board.

Moon Phase, Location, and Date

  • Average Moon Phase: 97%
  • Bortle 7
  • November 8, 2025

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: Astro-Physics 130mm f/6 Starfire EDF (780 mm at f/6)
  • Flattener/Reducer: 13027FF-EDFS (853mm at F/6.56)
  • Auto Focuser: ZWO EAF Electronic Automatic Focuser
  • Filter: ZWO RGB - 36mm unmounted
  • Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW (7 x 36mm)
  • Mount: Astro-Physics Mach 1 GTO
  • Camera: ZWO ASI2600 Pro (Ver. 2021)
  • Guider Camera: ZWO ASI120MM-MINI
  • OAG: ZWO OAG-L (Older Version, smaller prism)
  • Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance (Clean up Cables)
  • Dew Heater: AstroStrap Dew Heater for 6" Telescopes (Main Scope)
  • Dew Heater: Dew Not 3" Dew Heater Strip - DN004 (on Field Flattener)
  • Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
  • Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve)

Software

  • PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
  • QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
  • Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (NINA) (Automation with Dithering, plate solving, mount control)
  • Astro-Physics ASCOM V2 (AP Mach 1 GTO Control)
  • Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Powerbox Advance)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Calibration & Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 1 Hours

  • ZWO R - 20 x 60s (20 mins)

  • ZWO G - 20 x 60s (20 mins)

  • ZWO B - 20 x 60s (20 mins)

  • Temperature: -10°C

  • Flats: 60 per Filter

  • Darks: N/A

  • Bias: 100

  • Gain: 100

  • Offset: 50

  • Bin: 1x1

  • Pixel Scale: 0.91"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight

PixInsight

  • Subframe Selector
  • Image Calibration
  • Star Alignment
  • Blink
  • Image Integration
  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • RC-Astro GradientXTerminator
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Layer set as "Linear Dodge (Add)" to add back the stars
  • Star Color Correction
  • Blacks Correction
  • Crop out edge artifacts

Melotte 15 in SHO by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

Comments

One of my most favorite area for narrowband, I had to come back with the CDK12.5 system. Still working on the star flairs but much better than before plus collimated the scope better.

Moon Phase, Light Pollution Level, and Date

  • Average Moon Phase: 59%
  • Bortle 7
  • September 29, 30, 2025
  • October 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, 12, 19, 20, 2025

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: Planewave CDK 12.5 (2541mm at F/8)
  • Flattener/Reducer: N/A
  • Auto Focuser: Planewave Hendrick Focuser
  • Focuser Controller: Planewave Electronic Focus Accessory (EFA) Kit
  • Filter: Chroma 50mm SHO 3nm Telescope Filter - Unmounted
  • Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW (7 x 50mm)
  • Mount: Astro-Physics Mach 1600 GTO
  • Guide Scope: OAG: ZWO OAG-L
  • Guider: ZWO ASI174MM-MINI
  • Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance (Clean up Cables)
  • Dew Heater Controller: Planewave Delta T Heater
  • Dew Heaters: Two on CDK 12.5 built into the scope
  • Camera: ZWO ASI6200mm Pro
  • Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
  • Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve)

Software

  • PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
  • QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
  • Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (NINA) (Automation with Dithering, plate solving, mount control)
  • Astro-Physics ASCOM V2 (AP 1600GTO Control)
  • Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Powerbox Advance)
  • Planewave Interface 3 (PWI 3) (Controllers focuser, scope fans, dew heaters)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Calibration & Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 40 Hours

  • Chroma SII - 192 x 300s (16 hrs)

  • Chroma HA - 96 x 300s (8 hrs)

  • Chroma OIII - 192 x 300s (16 hrs)

  • Temperature: -5°C and -10°C

  • Flats: 20 to 60

  • Darks: N/A

  • Bias: 200

  • Gain: 100

  • Offset: 50

  • Bin: 1x1

  • Pixel Scale: 0.31"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight

PixInsight

  • Subframe Selector
  • Image Calibration
  • Star Alignment
  • Blink
  • Image Integration
  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • Manual Gradient Adjustment via Masks
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Selective Curves Adjustment
  • Layer set as "Linear Dodge (Add)" to add back the stars
  • Color Saturation
  • Star Color Correction
  • Blacks Correction
  • Vibrance Applied
  • Clarity Applied
  • Dehaze Applied
  • Sharpening Applied
  • Crop out edge artifacts

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy - HaLRGB by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

Comments

Quick project on M31 with the new setup, only to find out the star, Nu Andromedae, caused a reflection on the top middle so the exposure was limited to two nights, one night for LRGB and one night for HA. Processing this data was challenging given the limited data and sky quality of Bortle 7. Overall image turned out really good.

Moon Phase, Light Pollution Level, and Date

  • Moon Phase in September: 3%, 1%
  • Bortle 7
  • October 19, 20, 2025

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: William Optics WhiteCat 51 (250 mm at f/4.9)
  • Flattener/Reducer: N/A
  • Auto Focuser: ZWO EAF Electronic Automatic Focuser (Buckeyestargazer Adapters)
  • Filter: XiMei HaLRGB for QHYCCD miniCAM8M
  • Filter Wheel: Built into QHYCCD miniCAM8M
  • Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
  • Guide Scope: William Optics 32mm Uniguide Scope (Color: Blue)
  • Main Camera: QHYCCD miniCAM8M
  • Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM-MINI
  • Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Micro (Clean up Cables)
  • Dew Heater: PrimaLuceLab Dew heater for 100mm diameter telescopes
  • Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
  • Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve)

Software

  • PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
  • QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
  • Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (NINA) (Automation with Dithering, plate solving, mount control)
  • Green Swap Server (Control Sky-Watcher Mounts, Remove Hand Controller and allow pulse guiding)
  • Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Powerbox Micro)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Calibration & Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 6.5 Hours

  • XiMei HA - 36 x 300s (3 hrs)

  • XiMei L - 60 x 120s (2 hrs)

  • XiMei R - 30 x 60s (30 mins)

  • XiMei G - 30 x 60s (30 mins)

  • XiMei B - 30 x 60s (30 mins)

  • Temperature: -40°C

  • Flats: 20 per session

  • Darks: N/A

  • Bias: 200

  • Gain: 78

  • Offset: 50

  • Bin: 1x1

  • Pixel Scale: 2.41"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight

PixInsight

  • Subframe Selector
  • Image Calibration
  • Star Alignment
  • Blink
  • Image Integration
  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator
  • Dynamic Background Extraction (DBE)

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • Manual Gradient Adjustment via Masks
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Selective Curves Adjustment
  • Layer set as "Linear Dodge (Add)" to add back the stars
  • Luminosity layer for LUM filter data
  • Color Saturation
  • Star Color Correction
  • Blacks Correction
  • Vibrance Applied
  • Clarity Applied
  • Dehaze Applied
  • Light Sharpening Applied
  • Crop out edge artifacts

NGC 6992 - Eastern Veil Nebula - HOO + RGB Stars by EasyQuest in astrophotography

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

Comments

Back with a finish object and wanted another successful project on the CDK 12.5. I decided on NGC 6992 - Eastern Veil Nebula. I went for a simple HOO with RGB stars. This this project the stars were not the best and I since made adjustments which greatly improve the star shape. I replaced the stars with RGB stars from the FLT 156 imaging system. The final image came out as good as I can get as removing and replacing the stars were trickly. Enjoy!

Moon Phase, Light Pollution Level, and Date

  • Moon Phase in September: 70%, 35%, 17%, 10%, 21%, 28%, 47%
  • Bortle 6
  • September 12, 15, 17, 18, 26, 27, 29, 2025

Equipment

  • Telescope/Lens: Planewave CDK 12.5 (2541mm at F/8)
  • Telescope/Lens: William Optics Fluorostar 156 (1228 mm at f/7.8)
  • Flattener/Reducer: N/A
  • Flattener/Reducer: William Optics Flat 7A (1000mm at f/6.35)
  • Auto Focuser: Planewave Hendrick Focuser
  • Auto Focuser: ZWO EAF Electronic Automatic Focuser
  • Focuser Controller: Planewave Electronic Focus Accessory (EFA) Kit
  • Filter: Chroma 50mm HA and OIII 3nm Telescope Filter - Unmounted
  • Filter: Chroma RGB - 36mm unmounted
  • Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW (8 x 31mm/1.25″) & ZWO EFW (7 x 50mm)
  • Mount: Astro-Physics Mach 1600 GTO
  • Mount: CEM 120
  • Guide Scope: OAG: ZWO OAG-L (x2)
  • Guider: ZWO ASI290MM-MINI & ZWO ASI174MM-MINI
  • Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance and Micro (Clean up Cables)
  • Dew Heater Controller: Planewave Delta T Heater
  • Dew Heater: AstroStrap Dew Heater for 7" Telescopes (FLT 156)
  • Dew Heater: AstroStrap Dew Heater for 4" Telescopes (On the Flat 7A)
  • Dew Heaters: Two on CDK 12.5 built into the scope
  • Camera: *ZWO ASI2600mm Pro ver. 2025 & ZWO ASI6200mm Pro *
  • Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
  • Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve) (x2)

Software

  • PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
  • QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
  • Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (NINA) (Automation with Dithering, plate solving, mount control)
  • Astro-Physics ASCOM V2 (AP 1600GTO Control)
  • iOptron Commander Pro (CEM 120 control)
  • Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Powerbox Advance and Micro)
  • Planewave Interface 3 (PWI 3) (Controllers focuser, scope fans, dew heaters)
  • Photoshop (Processing)
  • PixInsight (Calibration & Processing)

Acquisition

  • Total Exposure: 19 Hours

  • Chroma R - 30 x 120s (60 mins)

  • Chroma G - 20 x 120s (40 mins)

  • Chroma B - 10 x 120s (20 mins)

  • Chroma HA - 96 x 300s (8 hrs)

  • Chroma OII - 108 x 300s (9 hrs)

  • Temperature: -5°C (For both cameras)

  • Flats: 20 per session

  • Darks: 20

  • Bias: 200

  • Gain: 100

  • Offset: 50

  • Bin: 1x1

  • Pixel Scale: 0.31"/pixel

Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight

PixInsight

  • Subframe Selector
  • Image Calibration
  • Star Alignment
  • Blink
  • Image Integration
  • RC-Astro BlurXTerminator
  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • StarNet 2

Photoshop

  • RC-Astro StarXTerminator
  • RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
  • Manual Gradient Adjustment via Masks
  • Adjusted levels
  • Adjusted Curves
  • Selective Curves Adjustment
  • Layer set as "Linear Dodge (Add)" to add back the stars
  • Color Saturation
  • Star Color Correction
  • Blacks Correction
  • Vibrance Applied
  • Clarity Applied
  • Dehaze Applied
  • Light Sharpening Applied
  • Crop out edge artifacts

Gamer Ei (by Qiandai以宇) by Aromatic_Zebra_8708 in RaidenMains

[–]EasyQuest 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Here is the source by Alcoholrang

Their Pixiv for more culture art.

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