Intro to image stacking: Step-by-step

[A.S.I.G.N_Baz]

Like a lot of astrophotographers, I get repeated questions on how to do things that although may seem simple, I have to remind myself that they were once beyond me...

So last night, I sat up all night and stacked some images in Deep Sky Stacker, taking screenshots all the way and writing down what I did as I went.

Hopefully this can answer a lot of questions and get the new blood in the game well on their way to adding to the richness of images proliferating amateur astronomy.

http://www.asignobservatory.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=125

Have a crack, enjoy and let's see what you new folks can do!!! YEEEHHARRR!

Baz.

[doug]

     That`s very excellent, Baz.  When you gonna come over to the Old Country and give us all a talk and a demo to the Society, mate?  Us old`uns would lap up your every word and the young`uns could then show you some of the clever images that they have shot. 

     Perhaps the promise of a few jars of Aussie beer might tempt you, hey ???

     Doug.   

[Carole]

Thanks for that Baz, not read it yet, but have stored it away for future use.
I have had one go at using DSS, not that I had much to process, but all tips are welcome.

Carole

[A.S.I.G.N_Baz]

Doug, from what I hear the skies up there are grey most of the time!

Mmmmm...beeeeerrrrrrrrrr....I'm thinking....

Carol, ask me questions anytime mate. You know where to find me...

Cheers,

Baz.

[Carole]

Hi Baz,

I did have ago at DSS following your instructions.  Funny thing was, when I made all the adjustments you stated, I got no image at the end.

If I just loaded the files, checked and registered them and then went straight to "stack" I got an Image.
Using the same files.

Not that I have much to process as yet, but the principal should be the same.

I seem to be prone to things not working as they should, so I'll leave this one until I have got something else to stack.

Thanks for the offer BTW.

Incidentally I am coming back to OZ in August 2010, but not coming to Canberra.  Staying a few days in Sydney and then up to Queensland and Kakadu.

Carole

[MarkS]

Nice work Baz.

Do you always choose median stacking?  I tend to use average or Kappa-Sigam stacking.  But then I tend to use IRIS instead of DSS anyway.

MArk