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M8 and M20

Started by eafrica, 06/29/2007 02:22AM
Posted 06/29/2007 02:22AM Opening Post
Hi all,

This has been a rocky year for me. I have quite a few unfinished projects in the works. I either have images with less exposure time than I'd like, and/or images that I consider incomplete for one reason or another, or images that I just can't seem to get right. Maybe it's the perfectionist in me.

Anyways, here's an RGB that I shot of the Lagoon/Trifid nebulae. This was shot last June 9-10 at a local park/dark sky site. This data is part of a collaboration I am having with John Noble: I shot most of the RGB data, and he shot H-alpha data. The RGB data alone looks pretty good, so I decided to share it anyway (I hope you don't mind, John wink

This is an RGB of 45 minutes each channel with 5 minute subs.

Camera: SBIG STL-6303
Scope: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Takahashi EM200 Temma 2
MaximDL used for acquisition, calibration, alignment and stacking
Photoshop CS used for final processing

I averaged the aligned and stacked RGB data to create an artificial luminance for this image; that seemed to smooth the data out a bit.

I've hemmed and hawed about the color balance. One big hint is that the cloud of stars between M8 and M20 in the image had a green cast
to it, which I processed out but maybe at a cost of real data? I'm not 100% sure I have it right. What do you think?

1/3 sized image attached.

50% sized image here:
http://members.nuvox.net/~on.aunt/DSO/M8-20Medium.jpg

Thanks,
Eric


Attached Image:

eafrica's attachment for post 37660
Posted 06/29/2007 03:55AM #1
Wonderful shot Enrico!
Exquisite fine detail & bright colors.... a beauty! 8)

Thank you!

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 06/29/2007 04:27AM #2
Eric,nice seeing another shot from you !very nice job you did on It mate and as for the color,looks great on my monitor !

Regards


LouieĀ  8)

www.atalas.net
Posted 06/29/2007 04:00PM #3
Looks like you've avoided the rocks on this one! Stunning image.
Larry
Posted 06/30/2007 03:20AM #4
Thanks, Ivan, Louie and Larry! Larry, I didn't run into any rocks, but I did run into trees wink

Eric

Attached Image:

eafrica's attachment for post 115063
Posted 07/01/2007 01:10AM #5
Nice image! It's good to see a post from you -- I hope the rest of the year goes more smoothly for you.

Tom

Starsearch Observatory
Lat 42N 47' 00" Long 112W 10' 47"
Elev 1752m
www.tvdavisastropics.com
Posted 07/02/2007 04:09AM #6
Eric,
It looks pretty good as just the RGB as you say. Congrats.

I gather from your comment that the image presented is the balanced image. Did you have a full image unbalance toward green or did you have to balance portions of the image separately? I have found that varible high clouds can really give me trouble with an uneven balance over the full image.

Jim Thommes

Mak-Newt 152 mm
C8
Megrez II APO
Zenithstar 66 mm APO
G11/Gemini
ST8300M
Artemis285 Camera
Canon 350D DSLR

http://jthommes.com/Astro/
Posted 07/02/2007 07:22PM #7
Eric,
Looks good to me!

Jason