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First light images!

Started by Boxlock, 06/14/2005 02:14PM
Posted 06/14/2005 02:14PM Opening Post
Hi All!
I hope some of you got to do some imaging this weekend. I'm
went to a CCD workshop hosted by Jay Ballauer and the Three Rivers Foundation at the Bowen Ranch this weekend. I had a great time! I got to meet some really outstanding folks, and learned a lot. The weather was Iffy, and we spent most of both nights chasing sucker- holes in the clouds, but the Comanchie Creek facility and Bowen Ranch are amazing, and had some of the best skies I've seen when you did get a break in the clouds, and I did manage to get first-light with my new camera. I going to try an attach my first-light images. Please feel free to critique them, I know they could have been processed a lot better, but these where my first try, and I'm still kinda figuring everything out. I managed to align and stack some of them in CCDSoft, and set the Dark and Light limits in the histogram. I wanted to try playing with Curves in Photoshop, but haven't figured out how to open that dialogue window yet. At this point, I'm just proud that they turned out at all! All of them are fairly short, unguided exposures. I still haven't quite got the auto-guiding thing down yet, but I'm sure I'll get it figured out eventually, if I can just get a few nights off with clear skies!
Thanks, JDBraddy


Attached Image:

Boxlock's attachment for post 24935
Posted 06/14/2005 02:15PM #1
Posted 06/14/2005 02:27PM #2
Nice shots James, well done!
Imaging does have quite a steep learning curve, but you are on the right track, as you got lots of good detail in all your shots.

Keep it up, and keep'em coming! 8)

Ivan Gastaldo 8)
Coconut Creek, FL

Ivan's Observatory
Lat 26N 16' 48" Long 80W 10' 48"
[COLOR="Red"]Personal Website:[/COLOR] http://www.ivangastaldo.com

CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky - Moderator
I like to complain about everything - Moderator
Posted 06/14/2005 04:38PM #3
Welcome to the club, James! I remember my first light, it's very exciting seeing detail after just a few seconds' worth of exposures. Keep it up, learn the processing, and share your results. It will be nice to see your progress. I'm still progressing myself.

Eric
Posted 06/14/2005 05:23PM | Edited 06/14/2005 05:24PM #4
Very nice images James! Welcome to the "Black Hole" of the astro-imaging hobby. It is a black hole of time money sleep etc., but it sure is fun!!!! wink

"The expression of the beautiful is in direct ratio to the power of perception acquired by the artist." (Gustave Courbet)
Posted 06/17/2005 01:21AM #5
Would you mind sharing your setup?

I wish I could get anything close to those.
For those to be your first attempts should make you very happy IMHO!!