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M33 in Triangulum

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Posts Made By: Charles Hakes

August 28, 2010 02:19 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M16 LRGB

Posted By Charles Hakes
Finally got this processed from a few weeks ago. 60x30 seconds on L, and I added the previous H-alpha as a 35% overlay to the L. I still would like tighter stars, but this is what I have right now. Maybe some re-collimation and better seeing? Details are here:

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=226

Charlie


August 31, 2010 01:00 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Quick Cocoon

Posted By Charles Hakes
RGB only version of IC 5146. I did some quick processing on images by Chris Hardrick while waiting for a chance to get L and other channels. I think this was 2 hours total so far.

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=227

Charlie

September 21, 2010 12:42 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M74 and rounder stars.

Posted By Charles Hakes
I have been fiddling with collimation for a while. Very frustrating exercise. Nice symmetric donuts in the middle and "angels" (or are they comets?) on the edges. As of now I think there had been a problem with the mirror lock - I tended to start locking the primary down tighter and tighter while tracking down guide issues. So I tried the opposite, and unlocked the primary and re-collimated. The AO-8, makes "mount" guiding issues less important. I think the stars on the edge look much better, and I am happy with the results so far. This is just the clear filter, 90 minutes total. There was a funny gradient on the new flat I took, so I would like to re-do that and stretch the background some more to see the faint galaxies. Still lots can be seen here though. Image and details are here:

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=228

Anyone else have issues locking the primary on an SCT?

Charlie

September 22, 2010 04:22 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M74 color added

Posted By Charles Hakes
There was about an hour of dark this morning after the moon set, so this is 20 minutes each of RGB, and I re-took the flats. Definitely a monitor thing going on, so after processing on one screen and then looking on a different screen I re-tweaked and ended up with two versions...

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=230
http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=231

The high res are ~.52"/pixel. Of course it could use more time on everything, but I don't know when I will next get the chance, so better go with what I got. Version comments?

Thanks,
Charlie

September 30, 2010 03:08 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M56 - a forgotten glob?

Posted By Charles Hakes
I didn't find too many images of M56 here. Probably overshadowed by neighboring M57, or just other, bigger, globs. I think the 8' size is a good match for the focal length and sensor size. Image and details are here:

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=233

Processing globulars is "different", so any hints would be most appreciated.

Charlie



October 3, 2010 02:03 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M57 again

Posted By Charles Hakes
One more time with updated "stuff". Exposure and processing details are here:

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=234

(Be sure to click on "high resolution".) There is also a link to the 2008 version. Shows a hint of the halo, the "nearby" (very distant) IC 1296, and many other background fuzzies... I will try to add some H-alpha next, but I'll be that won't work through the AO-8.

Charlie

October 29, 2010 03:28 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M74

Posted By Charles Hakes
More data from a couple of weeks ago that I just hadn't had time to process. New color subs were much better, and new L was a mix of good, poor, and so-so... There were apparently some stacking issues (CCDStack) that I think were from some of the subs having more or less background gradients than others. I wanted to stretch the image a bit more, but also didn't want to just crop the edges. So I compromised. Any suggestions on a fix would be most welcome.

The high-resolution version is ~.52"/pixel. Image and details are here:

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=235

Charlie

November 2, 2010 11:59 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M103

Posted By Charles Hakes
A quick one on Halloween night. I didn't have as much time as I first thought I would, so took a couple of Cassiopeia clusters. Details are here:

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=237

Also, since processing stars is "different", this is good practice. I see quite a few different theories/preferences on star results - smaller cores but with glowing "halos", or bigger stars overall with sharper edges. Hard (at least for me) to get that ideal mix of smaller with sharper edges.

Charlie

And why is it when a string of nights with what looks to be great conditions is coming up do I have so much already scheduled!?!

November 6, 2010 06:07 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M78

Posted By Charles Hakes
This is a single 10 minute luminance frame I processed while waiting on the others to come in. I hope I don't mess up the full stack when I get around to it. I plan on getting some color soon, but we shall see...

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=238

Charlie

November 12, 2010 09:37 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

NGC 654 etc.

Posted By Charles Hakes
I finally processed the "other" cluster I took Halloween night - NGC 654.

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=240

I would still like a way to have the "red" stars stay that way when I add luminance. Oh well. The "etc" is just a shot at a star party last weekend.

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=239

And it is clear again, so may get some more data tonight.

Charlie

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