NGC 891

[Fay]

This is a spiral in Andromeda. Last night it took me 10 mins to set up & it was one of those nights where everything appears where it should first time!
Except with K3CCD. It froze up about 3 times & I had to keep restarting. It's guiding was haphazard. I thought it may have been that NGC 891 was low & there was a bit of tubulance upsetting the guiding. I went onto NGC 7331 in Pegasus & it settled down.
That will be an interesting subject due to the amount of galaxies in the area. It is called The Deerlick Group & includes Stephans Quintet. There is also NGC 7335,6,7 & 7340.

I went back to NGc891 & it calmed down for the rest of the evening. I have put this image on, because it was 1x 30 minute exposure, & I though the guiding was not bad. I could have done an hour but the aircraft activity was scary on a long exposure.

I also did 2 more attempts, 2 x 20 mins & 7 x 10 mins.
It looks  better on my laptop.





Fay

[Jim]

Fay that's a lovely image.  Do you do all the image post processing in K3?  I can see I'm going to have to pick your brains on autoguiding.

[Fay]

Hi Jim, this looks very dark on the forum, I wish you could see it as I do on my laptop. I process in Photoshop CS. When you take an image in FITS format & transport it to another processing program, it is just black, unless it is saved in 8 bits Tiff & then it will transport it as seen in the capture programme.

I may be wrong on this, someone else may correct me.

I will lighten it up & post again, see what it comes out like.

(i am doing so many corrections in my mails today, it is as if I am writing with a lisp!!)

Fay

[Rick]

this looks very dark on the forum, I wish you could see it as I do on my laptop.

Sounds like something (maybe Photoshop/) is messing with the gamma when you save the image?

[Fay]

I don't know about that Rick. Not technical enough. How would I find that out?

Fay

[JohnP]

Fay - I've compared the one you emailed to me & the one on the forum & they look about the same to me....?

John.

[Fay]

Oh!

[JohnP]

Fay - Obvious question but do you use the same computer to process your images & view on the forum...? I use my laptop for processing etc. & when I post an image & then view it with my desktop PC (different monitor) the differences are quite marked - the desktop PC seems to be a lot more critical etc. & show a lot more problems with the image... I know this is to do with individual setup of each screen but maybe it's the same problem you have....?

John

[Fay]

John,

I process & post with the laptop. I don't view it with the desktop. I think they do not look so good on the desktop.
Before you post, do you look & alter on the desktop first?

My Crescent &  Cocoon  seem to look ok & I posted & processed those in the same way.

I am not very good at processing, perhaps that is the problem.

When I look at the Cocoon, there is a great difference, anyway, between those taken at home & that one as it was taken at DSC.


Fay

[Rick]

I don't know about that Rick. Not technical enough. How would I find that out?

Google is your friend...

Here's a brief explanation.

Here's a random Photoshop-ish tutorial.

Here's something rather technical.

I'm sure there are better explanations to found...

[JohnP]

Fay - this link will make you 'pig-sick'.... it did me.....

http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/NGC891NMM.html

Just look at all those background galaxies.

John

[Mike]

Fay - this link will make you 'pig-sick'.... it did me.....

That is until you check out the gear he is using to get that image. Then it is not so surprising.

[Fay]

You only have to look at the name Rob Gendler.


John, don't show me or anyone else images like that!!! We will never be satisfied. Mine look pathetic!!!!!!



Oh dear

[JohnP]

Fay - yes I know - you & me both.... Must be the weather making me feel depressed or the fact I haven't imaged since last DSC... Not long to go now to I'll hopefully get first light with the 16ic....

John.

[RobertM]

This Rob Gendler has a very interesting site, not only can we be jealous of his images but learn some of his techniques.  For reference here's another one to drool over.

http://panther-observatory.com/gallery/deepsky/media/NGC891_F10_c80.jpg