Evolution of my Astro Imaging

 I would say I have been electronic imaging since 2005 with my first Canon camera that was
purchased in 

2005 Canon 300d a 6.3mp. 

2007 updated to a Canon 40d.

2014 Starlight Express Sxvm25

2019 Zwo ASO 294Mc Pro

2021 ZWO ASI1600mm

Rosette Again

The weather has been awful for most of the UK this last few weeks and I feel for those in my county of birth in Somerset. It has given me the chance to reprocess my 8 hour image of the Rosette nebula. Stacked with calibration frames using Maxim DL. As mentioned before I am using my new learnt skills using Photoshopto process. The use of levels & curves tease out the detail hidden in a master frame. A DDP algorythym in Imagesplus was the software of choice to do this previously. Various blending modes and layer masks allow me more control over the final result. I have mentioned a few times before that I prefere to under process rather than over do it. Each of us has our own way of doing things and it is always fantastic to see others interpretations of these enigmatic targets we choose to image. I am trying to put together a tutorial for my workflow, I will of course share when I have completed it. For now please enjoy my image. I have certainly enjoyed putting it together.

The Horsehead Nebula.

With a magnitude -11.8 moon causing a little concern. I thought I would have a play. I have imaged the Horsehead a few times before so I was not banking on a perfect image. I must admit though I am again impressed with the sensitivity of the camera and scope. I captured 3 hours in 20 minute sub frames.

 Processed in photoshop only using levels & curves. An unsharp mask & high pass filter has done wonders on the dusty stuff & blended using layer masks. A subtle saturationboost and noise filter applied to complete.

Rosette 8 Hours

Rosette Nebula

 

The skies were surprisingly clear last night allowing me to take another 3 hours of 20 minute sub exposures. Totalling now 8 hours, Work is still progressing. I still want to play with some layer masking to highlight those dust lanes and outer edges of the nebula. There is no way my DSLR would have ever been capable of this level of detail.

New versus Old

I forgot I took these when setting up and testing the new scope and CCD. Approx 40 minutes exposure from each camera of the lovely M27

Canon to the left                                                                                                                           Starlight to the Right

Old favourites

The new set up is better than I would have hoped. Shame the skies have not been so cooperative. However last friday was beautifully clear. I wanted to capture and old favourite a target I was familiar with to put the scope & camera to the test. Guiding was absolutely flawless, sub pixel guiding for ever 3 hours. Captured in 5 minute subs these are the hugely cropped images of M81 & M82 processed in pixinsight by fellow blogger Andrew. It was amazing to see the workflow used by Andrew to pull out the detail in the pair of galaxies. I have also darkened the sky background.

I have a small issue with hot pixels which will be addressed, but I just wanted to get some photons on that CCD. I also have a William Optics 50 mm finder scope which other astrophotographers have used their guider. I think I will have a go and use the GT81 with the 40D Canon. I hope you liking the first results.