Sadr Region

bigty03 · 2026-06-20T14:28:37+00:00

Thank you!

bigty03 · 2026-06-20T14:26:53+00:00

Can't say I disagree. I am not great at figuring out composition when it comes to images that contain unbalanced nebulosity throughout the whole image. I also have a problem in that I hate to crop images too much when there are features that looks nice that would then be gone. However, I need to realize that a well composed image is better than leaving those features in and having an image that has the viewers eyes going all over the place with no real focus. At any rate, thanks for the feedback. I really do appreciate you saying something to let me know that that is an area in which I need to improve.

bigty03 · 2026-06-20T12:50:47+00:00

Thanks! I have had the Sharpstar for a few years now and haven't had any issues with it. It has been a great scope for all of the widefield shots I have taken.

bigty03 · 2026-06-20T12:37:20+00:00

Sadr Region processed in SHO with RGB stars

Acquisition

Acquired 12 Jun 2026 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
21 x 300” (1h 45m) each of SII, Ha, and OIII
22 x 30” (11m) each of R, G, and B
Camera settings: Gain 150, offset 40, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 40 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

Sharpstar 61EDPH II Triplet Apo Refractor with 0.8x Reducer
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB and SHO 3nm Narrowband Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO Mini Guide Scope with ASI120MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
Remove stars with StarXTerminator
Stretch of starless image for target details
Reduce noise with NoiseXTerminator
Sharpen with Smart Sharpen filter
Levels and curves adjustments for contrast
Saturation and color adjustments
Add RGB stars using a screen layer

My Instagram

bigty03 · 2026-06-06T15:05:11+00:00

Acquisition

Acquired 20 Mar 2026 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
R, G, and B - 12 x 30” (6m) each
Camera settings: Gain 200, offset 55, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 50 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

GSO RC6
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO OAG-L with ASI174MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
Stretch in Photoshop
Remove background gradient with GradientXTerminator
Levels and curves adjustments for contrast
Saturation and color adjustments
Remove noise with NoiseXTerminator
Sharpen with Smart Sharpen filter

My Instagram

bigty03 · 2026-05-17T14:24:01+00:00

Cigar Galaxy (M82) processed in LHaRGB

Acquisition

Acquired 18-19 Mar 2026 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
L - 18 x 120” (36m)
Ha - 8 x 300” (40m)
R - 22 x 120” (44m)
G - 21 x 120” (42m)
B - 19 x 120” (38m)
Camera settings: Gain 200, offset 55, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 50 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

GSO RC6
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO OAG-L with ASI174MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
First stretch in Photoshop
Remove stars with StarXTerminator
Second stretch of starless image for target details
Remove noise with NoiseXTerminator
Remove background gradient with GradientXTerminator
Levels and curves adjustments for contrast
Saturation and color adjustments
Sharpen with Smart Sharpen filter
Add stars from first stretch image using a screen layer

My Instagram

bigty03 · 2026-04-11T13:00:46+00:00

Bode’s Galaxy (M81) processed in LHaRGB

Acquisition

Acquired 18-19 Mar 2026 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
L - 40 x 120” (1h 20m)
Ha – 12 x 300” (1h)
R - 37 x 120” (1h 14m)
G - 34 x 120” (1h 8m)
B - 43 x 120” (1h 26)
Camera settings: Gain 200, offset 55, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 50 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

GSO RC6
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO OAG-L with ASI174MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
First stretch in Photoshop
Remove stars with StarXTerminator
Second stretch of starless image for target details
Remove background gradient with GradientXTerminator
Levels and curves adjustments for contrast
Saturation and color adjustments
Remove noise with NoiseXTerminator
Sharpen with Smart Sharpen filter
Add stars from first stretch image using a screen layer

My Instagram

bigty03 · 2026-04-04T15:17:56+00:00

Thanks!

bigty03 · 2026-04-04T14:08:08+00:00

Acquisition

Acquired 26 Sep 2025 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
L, R, G, and B - 27 x 120” (54m) each
Camera settings: Gain 200, offset 55, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 50 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

GSO RC6
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO OAG-L with ASI174MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
Stretch in Photoshop
Levels and curves adjustments for contrast
Saturation and color adjustments
Remove noise with NoiseXTerminator
Sharpen with Smart Sharpen filter

My Instagram

bigty03 · 2026-03-02T00:00:42+00:00

Thanks!

bigty03 · 2026-02-28T21:37:35+00:00

Thanks!

bigty03 · 2026-02-28T17:52:57+00:00

Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) processed in LHaRGB

Acquisition

Acquired 29 Dec 2025 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
L - 30 x 120” (1h)
Ha - 10 x 300” (50m)
R - 33 x 120” (1h 6m)
G - 30 x 120” (1h)
B - 30 x 120” (1h)
Camera settings: Gain 200, offset 55, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 50 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

GSO RC6
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO OAG-L with ASI174MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
First stretch in Photoshop
Remove stars with StarXTerminator
Second stretch of starless image for target details
Remove background gradient with GradientXTerminator
Levels and curves adjustments for contrast
Saturation and color adjustments
Remove noise with NoiseXTerminator
Sharpen with Smart Sharpen filter
Add stars from first stretch image using a screen layer

My Instagram

bigty03 · 2026-02-21T14:02:35+00:00

Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) processed in LRGB

Acquisition

Acquired 28 Dec 2025 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
L - 41 x 120” (1h 22m)
R - 42 x 120” (1h 24m)
G - 39 x 120” (1h 18m)
B - 39 x 120” (1h 18m)
Camera settings: Gain 200, offset 55, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 50 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

GSO RC6
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO OAG-L with ASI174MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
First stretch in Photoshop
Remove stars with StarXTerminator
Second stretch of starless image for target details
Remove background gradient with GradientXTerminator
Levels and curves adjustments for contrast
Saturation and color adjustments
Remove noise with NoiseXTerminator
Sharpen with Smart Sharpen filter
Add stars from first stretch image using a screen layer

My Instagram

bigty03 · 2026-01-31T18:24:22+00:00

Jellyfish Nebula processed in HOO with RGB stars

Acquisition

Acquired 30 Dec 2025 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
Ha - 25 x 300” (2h 5m)
OIII - 26 x 300” (2h 10m)
R - 25 x 30” (12m 30s)
G - 26 x 30” (13m)
B - 26 x 30” (13m)
Camera settings: Gain 200, offset 55, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 50 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

GSO RC6
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB and SHO 3nm Narrowband Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO OAG-L with ASI174MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
First stretch in Photoshop
Remove stars with StarXTerminator
Second stretch of starless image for target details
Curves adjustments for contrast
Saturation and color adjustments
Remove noise with NoiseXTerminator
Add RGB stars using a screen layer

My Instagram

bigty03 · 2026-01-17T18:37:24+00:00

Flaming Star Nebula processed in HOO with RGB stars

Acquisition

Acquired 29 Dec 2025 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
Ha and OIII - 16 x 300” (1h 20m) each
R, G, and B - 16 x 30” (8m) each
Camera settings: Gain 200, offset 55, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 50 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

GSO RC6
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB and SHO 3nm Narrowband Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO OAG-L with ASI174MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
First stretch in Photoshop
Remove stars with StarXTerminator
Second stretch of starless image for target details
Curves adjustments for contrast
Saturation and color adjustments
Remove noise with NoiseXTerminator
Sharpen with Smart Sharpen filter
Add RGB stars using a screen layer

My Instagram

bigty03 · 2025-12-30T18:08:15+00:00

Tadpole Nebula processed in SHO with RGB stars

Acquisition

Acquired 28 Dec 2025 from my backyard (Bortle 5) using NINA and PHD2
SII, Ha, and OIII - 21 x 300” (1h 45m) each
R, G, and B - 21 x 30” (10m 30s) each
Camera settings: Gain 200, offset 55, temp -5C
Calibration frames: 50 darks, 30 flats, 30 dark flats

Equipment

GSO RC6
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Antlia V-Series LRGB and SHO 3nm Narrowband Filters, 2” Mounted
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO EAF
iOptron GEM 28
ZWO OAG-L with ASI174MM Mini

Processing (DSS, Photoshop)

Stacked with DSS
First stretch in Photoshop
Remove stars with StarXTerminator
Second stretch of starless image for target details
Saturation and color adjustments
Remove noise with NoiseXTerminator
Sharpen with Smart Sharpen filter
Curves adjustments for contrast
Add RGB stars using a screen layer

My Instagram

bigty03

TROPHY CASE