June 7, 2008
My NexStar 8 GPS continues to serve me well (when the UK skies actually co-operate), and with the Hyperstar attached, it supplies me with plenty of quality image to data to work on. What I do miss is actually looking through my telescope… yes, odd really! 🙂 I would love to look through my telescope more often, but gievn that clear skies here in the UK are in terribly short supply, if its a choice between imaging or observing, then imaging always wins.
I`ve been on the lookout for a suitable observing system for a while. I did toy with the idea of getting a Celestron 6SE, but I wanted something with more light grasp. I also toyed with the idea of a SkyWatcher FlexTube 12″ Dobsonian (which I was fortunate to use at Kelling star party in Spring 2008), but there is something to be said for the old saying “Being in the right place at the right time”. With my annual bonus arriving recently, I was offered two great (and complimenatry) deals by two friends at the same time, so I jumped at the chance to expand my equipment list, and it can be used for observing and imaging, depending on the seeing and sky quality.
So, here it is, my latest addition: EQ6 Pro, Celestron C11 XLT, ED80 Pro, all on an ADM Side-By-Side plate (the C11 OTA is not Fastar compatible, but probably best in the long run 🙂 )
It will take me a while to get used to this new system, as I have never used a GEM before. A bit of a learning curve ahead for me, learning to use the polar scope, having to do the real polar alignment the hard way (unlike the oh so easy Celestron Wedge Align routine!), plus the joys of EQASCOM look tempting but overwhelming. More news as it happens… thats if I ever get to see clear dark skies again!
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments (2)
May 30, 2008
After having a few issues with Rob Gendler’s method for HaRGB, someone pointed me at Russell Croman’s solution, which appears to be a lot easier and more flexible (at least for a newbie to it like me).
Global Rent-A-Scope
Remote System: Global Rent-A-Scope GRAS-012 (TAK FSQ 106, SBIG STL-11000M)
Images: Ha 36 x 300s , Lum 24 x 300s, RGB 9 x 45 2xbin (for each channel)
Stacked: DeepSky Stacker
Post Process: Images Plus + PSCS2 + Noels Astro Tools
(Click on image for larger version)
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments (1)
May 30, 2008
Just spent rather a lot of time on this reprocess of the new Ha data (without the autoguder induced trailing visible n the previous large version). I have to say that I have learned quite a lot from this one. I could bring the detail out in the nebula but had horrible noise issues in the darker areas, so have learned a lot about the color range, expand, feather options, as wel as how to manually make a star mask.
So, as reference, this was the original:
and this is the new version (click on image for the HUGE version)
Far more subtle, far more detail, zero dark rings around stars from deconvolution… I`m really quite pleased with this rework, and have learned some new techniques along the way that I can use in future processing sessions.
I now also have a lot of Luminance and RGB data to play with for his target, but as a OSC imager, I`m finding this hard to combine without it looking utterly pants.
The huge Ha version is going off to Pixum to get printed out as a 30″ x 20″ poster 🙂
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on NGC3372 Ha rework
May 22, 2008
“Variety is the spice of life” or something… whatever…. anyway, I thought I`d try something a bit different this time, and mix it up a bit. Not only did I choose a target that I will never see from the UK, but I also used GRAS while I was at work (instead of over breakfast like the last time 🙂 ).
(Note: This image has been reprocessed and updated since this post was first creqated).
Global Rent-A-Scope
Remote System: Global Rent-A-Scope GRAS-012 (TAK FSQ 106, SBIG STL-11000M)
Images: 21 x 300s, Ha filter, unguided
Stacked: DeepSky Stacker
Post Process: Images Plus + PSCS2 + Noels Astro Tools
(Click on image for larger version)
With a lot of my processing, if there is any movement in the subs at all over the imaging run, I tend to 2 x drizzle and then software 2 x bin to raise the Signal to Noise ratio. Well, with this one, I did the 2 x drizzle… and it was still so smooth that I worked on that image! The master for this is 8000 x 5200 (or thereabouts).
The GRAS system did “lose” 3-4 subs in the automated upload procedure, which were found and sent to me by the GRAS support team. I will add these new ones into the stack and reprocess ovre the weekend, just to see if those extra subs make any difference at all. I can see a great 20″ x 30″ poster of this coming up soon (orders being taken shortly…. 🙂 ), along with my M16 from the other day. I need a bigger house to gain wall space for the amazing images that keep getting spat out of my machines.
The GRAS system will empty your bank balance very very quickly if you are not careful, but being astronomers, we all know that problem with the temptation of buying new kit. I will attempt to limit my use to ONLY objects I`ll never see from the UK from now on… but expect that promise to go out the window after 3 weeks of constant cloud, or the upcoming “no dark” nights.
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on NGC3372 Eta Carinae in Ha (GRAS012)
May 19, 2008
This image was taken over the weekend while I was down in Selsey, working on Sir Patrick Moore’s Observatory/Roll-Off-Roof shed project.
10 x 600s, Ha Filter, TAK TOA-150, SBIG ST-10XME
(Click on image for larger version)
It was quite difficult to get this image… it was daylight in Selsey, and I was stuffing myself with a lush bacon and fried bread breakfast at the time 🙂
OK, so I rented some scope time from Global Rent-A-Scope (GRAS) last week, and finally got to use it on Sunday morning. GRAS is all web based, so I logged in, chose the rig I wanted to use (GRAS003, located in New Mexico), chose the target, the filter, the number and length of the subs, and set it going. After the imaging run had completed, I downloaded my FITs light files, and the pre-created darks/bias/flats, and then stacked and post processed. Yes, it really was that easy.
My own thoughts on this:
Did I actually learn anything or progress my own experience by using GRAS? No
Will I be using it again? Yes, definitely!
Under what circumstances would I use it again?
- Southern Hemisphere Targets
- If its been cloudy for weeks and weeks and I`m getting stir crazy!
- UK summer meaning longer days and short (or non-existant) dark nights
- Target/Mosaic investigation for future imaging runs of my own at home (mostly stuff in the East that I am unable to see for several months yet, due to the house blocking the sky almost up to the Zenith)
I am also curious to see what LightBuckets.com come up with when that goes live very shortly.
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on M16 Ha taken via GRAS
May 13, 2008
Just thought I`d post some of the better astro related shots I managed to take while away in the USA for 2 weeks. These were all taken with my unmodded 350d on a normal camera tripod, so excuse any trails that you might see
OK, for starters, this was how clear the sky was in Death Valley (the sun is hiding behind my fingers), and it was a bit hazy that day.
When the sun went down, the sky was black… and I do mean completely black! This following image was made up from a few 15 second exposures stacked together, but absolutely no light pollution or gradient removal has been applied… and this was taken from the middle of the lawn area at hotel complex at Stove Pipe Wells.
(Click on image for larger version)
(Click on image for larger version)
The image below was supposed to be a single “star trail” image at ISO100 for 20 minutes, but had to be cut short when the lawn sprinklers fired off at 11pm and I had to retreat rapidly with the camera and tripod
Later in the trip, we stopped at Sedona (Arizona). Again, no light pollution or gradient removal is applied.
(Click on image for larger version)
and then this one, also from Sedona, needed a little light pollution and gradient removal, but only because of the location of the bright light in the image causing some issues:
(Click on image for larger version)
Of the 14 nights I had over there, only 3 were cloudy, and one of those was at Las Vegas and the sky was orange anyway! I was also pleased to see that even as we march onto towards the summer months, sunset was early due to their more southerly location… sunset at 7.15-8.00pm (depending on location), and “astrodark” in 90 minutes or so. Then I come back to the UK and get a nasty shock when I find out just how late it gets dark here
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on USA Dark Clear skies
April 24, 2008
OK, so it was almost a full moon, but it was low on the horizon and gave me a chance to image something.
First up was M44, which from Kelling was big a bright fuzzy patch in the sky, just asking to be looked at… unlike my back garden, where I couldnt see it at all
OTA: NS8GPS @ f/2 (Hyperstar v3)
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
RGB Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 90×40s, CLS (yes, thats a lot… I was waiting for M13 to rise over the house!)
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker
Post Process: ImagesPlus + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
(Click on image for larger version)
Next up was a very short M13. How short? This was only 4 x 300s before I spotted something else….
OTA: NS8GPS @ f/6.7
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
RGB Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 4×300s, CLS
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker
Post Process: ImagesPlus + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
(Click on image for larger version)
M13 is actually the very first Deep Sky Object I ever imaged back in May 2007. So, here is that version in all its glory, a comparison of then an now:
(This is actually MartinB’s reprocess of my image)
Just after I had taken the Hyperstar off the front and reassembled the kit with the camera in the back… I was looking around the sky and… err… what on earth? No, surely that cant be right…. that looks like Cygnus, oh.. so that means,… ah yes, there is Cepheus.
Rush back to the kit, swap over to the Hyperstar again, and away I went, but having to use the Ha filter now as the moon was above the horizon and causing the haze to “glow”.
IC1396 Elephant Trunk Neb
OTA: NS8GPS @ f/2 (Hyperstar v3)
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
Ha Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 20 x 300s, Ha
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker
Post Process: ImagesPlus + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
(Click on image for larger version)
I left this one imaging until the sky was noticably lightening, then had one last quick look at what was appearing in the western sky (or at least the bits I could see past the house). Where on earth did the spring skies go? Seems to have gone from winter direct to summer… but it was there, in the sky, just over the neighbors roofline…
M16 (widefield)
OTA: NS8GPS @ f/2 (Hyperstar v3)
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
Ha Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 5 x 300s, Ha
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker
Post Process: ImagesPlus + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
I have big plans for this one in a widefield project…..
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on Finally, a clear night, all night! :) (M44, M13, IC1396, M16)
April 14, 2008
No, I didnt get lost… I really am posting a Lunar image 🙂
Spending most of my time trying to avoid (or cursing at) the moon, I had a very short time before the clouds rolled in on Friday, and the Moon was nicely positioned for imaging. I`d forgotten what a beautiful object this is to image, big, bright, very short subs, great stuff!
40 x 0.02s with the QHY8 on my C8 @ f/10, stacked/wavelets in Registax, post process in PSCS2
(Click on Image for the full size version)
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on Lunar Image from 11th April
March 31, 2008
FINALLY the clouds cleared… nearly 4 weeks without more than an hour of clear dark sky, and finally I get out.
It was actually just a test for some new bits and pieces to get the rig balanced again before Kelling heath (AstroZap dew Solid shield for Hyperstar, and the quite mesmerising DewBuster dew controller with its blinking LEDs), but the sky was clear and so it seemed a waste.
Couldnt quite get my head around just how late it is before it gets “astro” dark… it was at least 9.20-9.30pm. Goodbye winter! 🙁
I have also reverted back to using my CLS filter. I tried the IDAS 3 times now, both with and without the moon being up, and I still find that my “black” backgrounds are better with the CLS filter from my location. Unsure why, will need to do further investigations on this issue.
Anyway, here we go. Certainly not one of the best I`ve ever done, and completely the wrong kind of target for the optical setup last night, but after 4 weeks, I dont care!
OTA: NS8GPS @ f/2 (Hyperstar v3)
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
RGB Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 21×300s, CLS
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker
Post Process: ImagesPlus + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
(Click on Image for Larger version)
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on M81/M82 Hyperstar Widefield
March 27, 2008
Any other UK based astro-imagers out there getting more than just a bit fed up with the amount of cloud cover we are experiencing (especially in the east of the country)? In the 3+ weeks since my last imaging session, I have seen clear dark skies for no more than an hour in any one go. The weather forecasts are depressingly accurate, with clear sky periods during the day, and as soon as the sun thinks about heading towards the horizon, the thick cloud banks roll in, covering the sky with a thick blanket of the grey stuff, usually accompanied by heavy rain and howling winds…. or even snow!
I hope its clear for at least one night at the Kelling Heath Spring Star Party next weekend. I really dont enjoy the whole camping experience, its something I endure for the sake of getting away to dark skies, but if its cloudy/rainy for the entire 5 days I am there, I think I will lose the plot totally.
Frustrated of Cambridge
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on Never ending clouds… grr!!
