Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: JohnP on Aug 20, 2004, 23:50:00

Title: M57 on my Tal-2m at last!
Post by: JohnP on Aug 20, 2004, 23:50:00
Hi,

Anyone at DSC will know how frustrated I got trying to image M57 through my Tal-2m - I just couldn't get it on the CCD. Well last night I was determined to try again. I eventually got it after about an hour of using Skymap pro, my 8X50 finder & the setting circles on my scope.

Image is kind of 'so-so' but at least I got it - I'm amazed at the colours of the stars in the image. Image is approx 20 X 10secs - Toucam Pro at prime on my Tal-2m.

If only I'd got it at DSC with those great skies.... :sad:

Cheers,  John


(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.punnett/graphics/oas/M57_Rev2.jpg)

[ This Message was edited by: johnp on 2004-08-20 15:51 ]

[ This Message was edited by: johnp on 2004-08-20 16:18 ]
Title: M57 on my Tal-2m at last!
Post by: Whitters on Aug 21, 2004, 07:28:00
Fantastic, Well done John
Title: M57 on my Tal-2m at last!
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Aug 21, 2004, 08:28:00
Well I think this is excellent and in colour.  Are you going to try M92?  Apparently some of the stars there a coloured.

Title: M57 on my Tal-2m at last!
Post by: Mike on Aug 21, 2004, 19:17:00
Nice one John.
Title: M57 on my Tal-2m at last!
Post by: JohnP on Aug 23, 2004, 05:36:00
Thks Paul, Chris, Mike,

Not a great image & certainly room for improvement but I was well chuffed getting the thing on the CCD at long last... Look out M27 here I come.....
Title: M57 on my Tal-2m at last!
Post by: Ian on Aug 23, 2004, 18:23:00
striking colours mate, did you use an IR filter?
Title: M57 on my Tal-2m at last!
Post by: JohnP on Aug 23, 2004, 18:56:00
Hi Ian,

Yes - I used my Baader IRB Filter with the Toucam in Raw Colour mode - I'm not sure how accurate the colours are - They are definitely visible on the raws so it's not as a consequence of my processing - some of the star colours are a little 'whacky' maybe a bit to saturated?

Cheers,  John
Title: M57 on my Tal-2m at last!
Post by: Ian on Aug 23, 2004, 21:33:00
hard to say. It may be that you're seeing some aberation in the optical train, or it might be due to the non linear response of the CCD to different colours. Some of the stars will show colour, although bright purple is unusual.

Trouble is, when discussing colours you nearly always invoke the discussion about what true and false colour actually means. This is important, since the ring's true colour is grey, certainly in any of our scopes in any case :smile:

How does the ring look if you adjust the colour balance until the stars look white?
Title: M57 on my Tal-2m at last!
Post by: JohnP on Aug 26, 2004, 05:28:00
I've been trying to learn a little about layers & curves in PS6 so I gave my M57 another go - I also reorientated so N is up & cropped to get rid of the 'strange colour stars'. I think I've managed to squeeze a little more out of it compared to the image above - the central mag 15 is a little more visible. Still a long way to go but it's all good fun... :smile:

Cheers,  John

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.punnett/graphics/oas/m57_004.jpg)