Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: Jim on Sep 17, 2007, 10:00:43

Title: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Jim on Sep 17, 2007, 10:00:43
Well here it is, my first ever AstroPhoto.  Thanks to all who helped me get it.
(http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/displayimage-lastup-2-0.html)
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Jim on Sep 17, 2007, 10:16:29
I'll try again
(http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10014/Ring_Nebula.jpg)

If it does'nt work pic is in the gallery

Cheers

(You needed the link to the image, not the image's page... R. Oops... Careful what you edit, Rick! R.)
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Rick on Sep 17, 2007, 11:06:37
Looks promising, with detail in the nebulosity, and the central star shows up well.

There does seem to be some weird screening effect tough. It looks like a post-processing artefact, so it should be possible to produce a version without it. Have you re-sized the image? What does the version without the annotation look like?

(Adding annotation to images almost always degrades them, especially if jpeg compression is involved.)
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Jim on Sep 17, 2007, 12:29:20
Yes, not sure what that is.  I processed the image in K3 and noticed they appeared when I used the unsharp mask.  The original image had the same as the jpeg with comments.  K3 has some parameters to use with the unsharp mask, radius, Threshold and strenght.  Not sure what they are but I'll try and play about with those to see if the artifacts go.

Jim
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Ian on Sep 17, 2007, 12:39:09
looks good Jim, but that pattern isn't right. I wonder if you're using one of the input filters that interpret the bayer pattern on a colour webcam. That camera is a Toucam with a mono CCD isn't it?
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Jim on Sep 17, 2007, 14:41:57
It's an Atik II HS Ian which I think is a webcam with the SC3 mod and a mono chip.  Currently in pieces on my desk as I try to glue the chip back...
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Ian on Sep 17, 2007, 15:26:42
I'm not going to ask...
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Ian on Sep 17, 2007, 17:01:53
on second thoughts, I will. Jim, why is your camera currently undergoing surgery?
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Jim on Sep 17, 2007, 17:10:01
The CCD and board are glued down inside the plastic case (no other support) and had basically come unstuck.  I must have knocked it Sat night and that was the final straw.  Explains why after the first session I could not get any other images out of it!  Bad design really but fixable, just going to epoxy it back in.
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Sep 17, 2007, 17:11:38
Well done Jim, when you have glues the thing back together you can add the RGB :-)
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Tony G on Sep 17, 2007, 19:16:14
Well done Jim,

A lot would start with the moon or a planet or two, but the chairman jumps into the deep end and pulls off an image like this.
Impressive!!!!

Tony G
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Jim on Sep 17, 2007, 19:33:07
Thanks Tony
I think luck played a very large part.  The acid test is if I can repeat it!  However I am inspired now to have another go.
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: JohnP on Sep 17, 2007, 20:13:49
Jim - that really is very good - well done - when I look back on my first images it's brilliant... I'd be well chuffed. I hope you manage to get the chip fixed so you can have a 2nd try..

Cheers,  John
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Fay on Sep 17, 2007, 21:42:28
Well done Jim! I bet you were well satisfied with that.
You are now well on the way. I hope you don't start showing off!!!!!

Fay
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Fay on Sep 18, 2007, 08:11:50
I would also wa like to say well done to Miriam also, as I think she,  also, was involved withis first image.
Great things to come.



Fay
Title: Re: Ring Nebulae
Post by: Jim on Sep 18, 2007, 22:23:03
Thanks all for your kind comments.  I'd love to show some of the images we took at next thursdays meet.  Could you all email me which ones you'd like me to show?