Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: The Thing on Sep 17, 2012, 17:55:09

Title: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: The Thing on Sep 17, 2012, 17:55:09
This was a fantastic target, the individual subs as are good as some of my finished images from a couple of years ago!

HEQ5 Pro (recently re-greased), EQMOD, CdC, LX90 8" UHTC Baader Alan Gee II Telecompressor, Canon 350Da, NO Astronomik CLS-CCD clip filter, Lakeside ASCOM Focuser, Meade 8x50 FinderGuidescope & QHY5, PHD Guiding, APT Astro Photography Tool.

Processed in IRIS. 20 flats, 8 darks, 10 offset/bias frames. 32 x 300s (2h40m) at iso800. Stacked with sigma 1.5 with 1 iterations. Colour and dynamic stretching, wavelet sharpening and binning twicex2.

Full size
(http://www.ancientlight.amateur-astronomy.org//images/M33_32x300s_iso800_RotherValley_sm.jpg) (http://www.ancientlight.amateur-astronomy.org//images/M33_32x300s_iso800_RotherValley.jpg)
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: mickw on Sep 17, 2012, 18:09:31
Looking real good Dunc
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: The Thing on Sep 17, 2012, 18:28:41
Thanks Mick. I'm well chuffed 8).

I reckon you could do a nice image or two if you got yourself and the gear out to the next DSC (or even your back garden!).

BTW the left edge was 'down' hence the skyglow showing up (no CLS-CCD used). I tried the GRAD command in IRIS but it enhanced the vignetting in a negative way, i.e. brighter round the corners!
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: MarkS on Sep 17, 2012, 19:26:24

Looking good Duncan.  M33 is a great galaxy. 

I think overall it is a bit green but apart from that it is an image you should be well pleased with.

Mark
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: The Thing on Sep 17, 2012, 20:14:07
Thanks Mark.

I've reduced the green using IRIS, so if you refresh the browser you should see a better colour balance.
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: Carole on Sep 17, 2012, 20:34:50
Really good Duncan, one of your best.

Carole
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: The Thing on Sep 17, 2012, 21:02:30
Thanks Carole. All done in IRIS.
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: RobertM on Sep 18, 2012, 10:40:05
That's really excellent Duncan, I also think its your best image to date.

Nice colour balance and plenty of detail.

Robert
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: Mike on Sep 18, 2012, 10:57:20
That's really nice Duncan. I also did M33 at Kelling but seem to have a light leak across the images from god only knows where.

I've tried using Iris but it is not at all intuitive to use. It's definitely software for mathematicians not astronomers.
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: MarkS on Sep 18, 2012, 11:25:35

Colour balance is much better now and the H-alpha "knots" stand out well. 
Overall, the image is looking really good.

Definitely one to be proud of!

Mark
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: Carole on Sep 18, 2012, 11:42:41
QuoteI've tried using Iris but it is not at all intuitive to use. It's definitely software for mathematicians not astronomers.
I agree Mike, I tried to use it for a while and even with Mark's crib sheet and it defeated me.

Carole
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: JohnP on Sep 18, 2012, 13:23:26
Well I have to say Dunc your best to date definitely - great result - John
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: Ivor on Sep 18, 2012, 14:04:06
Great image! I look forward to going to a DSC soon if the sky is this good.

Question: I've yet to grasp what to set Sigma and iteration when to adjust this, how did you make the decision to set Sigma to 1.5 and iterations to 1?
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: Fay on Sep 18, 2012, 14:50:05
Really good Duncan, i was on this subject, but was advised it was too low, at the time, will do from home.

That is one of your best, if not THE BEST!!
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: mickw on Sep 18, 2012, 15:01:11
QuoteI look forward to going to a DSC soon if the sky is this good

The sky is always good, it's the clouds and other weather that's crap  ;)
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: The Thing on Sep 18, 2012, 17:24:09
Quote from: Ivor on Sep 18, 2012, 14:04:06
Question: I've yet to grasp what to set Sigma and iteration when to adjust this, how did you make the decision to set Sigma to 1.5 and iterations to 1?
Guesswork!
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: The Thing on Sep 19, 2012, 18:09:00
After Mark's help in removing gradients in IRIS I have removed the gradient from this image, replacing the originals. The 'full size' image is binned x2.
Title: Re: M33 Triangulum Galaxy from Rother Valley Campsite 14 Sept 2012
Post by: MarkS on Sep 19, 2012, 20:35:37
That's looking really good now. 
I'm sure its your best image yet.

Well done.