Canon 350Da ISO800 13(20)x300s (1h05m) 20 flats, darks, 10 bias. Kappa Sigma stacked 2.5 3 in DSS. All processing in DSS. Centre of image processed only. Nearly forgot, captured using APT and PHD with autodithering set to 3px.
I am very happy with this. I wish there hadn't been so much 'clear sky' as I would have had a lot more usable subs. Must get a grip on the processing.
Full resolution version. (http://ancientlight.amateur-astronomy.org/images/M65-66%202011-02-26%7E27%2014x300s%20iso800%20%20APT%20Dither%20Proc%20DSS%20full%20size.jpg)
(http://ancientlight.amateur-astronomy.org/images/M65-66%202011-02-26%7E27%2014x300s%20iso800%3Cbr%20/%3E%20%20APT%20Dither%20Proc%20DSS.jpg)
(About half size).
I like the scale on the half size one and there's some nice detail beginning to emerge there.
The processing has been well executed.
What Focal length and F-ratio were you working at?
Mark
It was about 1250mm f5.5ish using the Baader Telecompressor. I did get Maxim to work out the correct focal length for the combination but didn't write it down! As usual if I'd taken more time and checked the collimation I would probably have got more detail.
Am I correct in thinking that more subs would smooth the background as the noise reduced?
Nice detail there Duncan and it looks like you've worked well to keep the noise down. Could be a bit greenish but that's probably the filter kicking in.
Robert
Thanks Robert.
Here's a bit of a re-process, all in DSS. Still no sharpening. Full Size Version 2 (http://ancientlight.amateur-astronomy.org/images/M65-66%202011-02-26%7E27%2014x300s%20iso800%20%20APT%20Dither%20Proc%20DSS%20KPS%201.1%205%20full%20size.jpg)
(http://ancientlight.amateur-astronomy.org/images/M65-66%202011-02-26~27%2014x300s%20iso800%20%20APT%20Dither%20Proc%20DSS%20KPS%201_1%205.jpg)
That's made quite a difference, nice one,
Quote from: The Thing
Am I correct in thinking that more subs would smooth the background as the noise reduced?
Yes, the background will smooth as you increase the subs.
You've done an excellent job with the re-process.
Mark
Well done Duncan, you are pleased with that! I did not know you could process in DSS
Wow your guiding looks good, well done.
Nice image Duncan, did you use any filters?
Thanks. My best to date by a long way.
Just the usual astronomik CLS-CCD filter.
Guiding with the 50 mm finderscope and QHY5 is much more accurate than when I was using a skywatcher 80AT. The fork mount doesn't like being loaded up even if well balanced. Also I have phd turned down to 70% with 20% hysteresis to smooth the graph.
Duncan, I am very pleased for you that you have a made a big headway!! :) Bet you are straining at the leash for a good DSC now.
Nice capture.
Great image Duncan.
Tony G
You've got in really deep there Duncan. I think there is still a little bit more you could pull out.
I like the re-process.
Carole
Hi all,
I got out and managed to bag some more lights the other night. This image now has 27x300s subs, about 40 darks, flats, bias frames. All processed in DSS. I must try some post-processing, especially to sort out the star colours.
(http://ancientlight.amateur-astronomy.org/images/M65-66%202011-02-26%7E27%2003-7%7E8%2027x300s%20iso800%20%20APT%20Dither%20Proc%20DSS%20mks%201.1%205.jpg)
Larger version (http://ancientlight.amateur-astronomy.org/images/M65-66%202011-02-26%7E27%2003-7%7E8%2027x300s%20iso800%20%20APT%20Dither%20Proc%20DSS%20mks%201.1%205%20big.jpg)
Looking better all the time Duncan!
Looking great Duncan, I keep forgetting you're only processing in DSS as well.
Thats very impressive considering where you are located.
Chris
Looking even better Duncan. That's quite a lot of subs now !
Thanks for the kind comments. I think there is a lot of good data so I might give it a go in Iris and then I am about to clear out my laptop hard drive and then put on Photoshop.
For those who followed the APT thread, I used the image mask function to get the stars lined up for the second set of subs, it works. You can load an existing image, create the mask (little circles you put round prominent stars) and then start snapping subs and lining things up. It even has ASCOM scope control buttons but I found the distance moved for each button click a bit odd.
Looking even better Duncan.
QuoteAPT thread, I used the image mask function to get the stars lined up for the second set of subs, it works. You can load an existing image, create the mask (little circles you put round prominent stars) and then start snapping subs and lining things up
that looks like such a useful tool. I have downloaded APT and looked at the features but haven't got as far as trying it out yet.
Carole
Duncan,
That's beginning to look very good. It's surprisingly deep given your light pollution. I find the CLS filter always does a good job of bringing out the H-alpha in galaxies. You've certainly got some good colour in there.
Mark