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Captured by
Douglas Rollain

Lion Nebula SH2-132 - RC71

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Posts Made By: Jim Thommes

May 6, 2006 05:21 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M17

Posted By Jim Thommes

Louie,
Nice detail on the M16 and M17. They do seem a bit dark on my monitor - but look great if I crank my monitor up. I think we all process "by eye" to some extent and with uncalibrated monitors we are at the mercy of their particular settings.

I will have some of my processing suffer from this phenomena from time to time. I have the opposite problem in a tendency to make images too bright or leave too much background level and noise.

One way to avoid this trap to some extent is to keep a good eye on histogram. Get a good set on white point (full scale 255) and black point (low scale 5-10) and what you expect to be midtones on the image at the midscale - 128. Establish these points, then you can let your eye guide you with final refinements.

Anyway, my 2 cents worth...

May 21, 2006 06:42 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M44 - Work in progress?

Posted By Jim Thommes

Enrico,
Very nice! I like the colors and the stars look great.

I'd say this one is pretty close to declaring "finished".

May 21, 2006 06:46 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Dragon nebula....

Posted By Jim Thommes

Vince,
Yeah, I'd say it turned out acceptable wink .
I really like the detail captured in the image.

May 21, 2006 06:49 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Crescent Nebula with Epsilon 160

Posted By Jim Thommes

Tyler,
Yeah, this data is looking real good. Congrats!

May 23, 2006 02:45 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M81 and M82

Posted By Jim Thommes

Thanks for all the comments. I appreciate the feedback.

May 29, 2006 06:46 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

First light rural observatory

Posted By Jim Thommes

Greg,
What a great image. Congrats!

I am so envious of your observatory under dark skies. Is it where you live, or do you have to travel to get to your observatory?

May 31, 2006 12:27 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M109

Posted By Jim Thommes

Thanks guys for the comments. Yep, I'll go with this equipment for awhile, but it sure would be nice to have the reality of JDBraddy's dream.

June 3, 2006 04:16 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

latest images from New Mexico

Posted By Jim Thommes

Vince,

Really, really fine images. They are an inspiration. I really like the SH2-155 - a lot more nebulaosity than is normally captured. Also, I think I want to try NGC 6357.

Again, great Pics - Cangrats!

June 3, 2006 02:03 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Centaurus A

Posted By Jim Thommes

Greg,
Great image. I was hoping you would post this object one day. Thanks for sharing.

See my post of a Pic on this same object...


June 3, 2006 02:21 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M101 using ZS80FD and Starshoot

Posted By Jim Thommes

Alec,
I'd say your autoguiding looks good and you turned out a fine image.

The image could use a Flat as you say. You can still apply a "pseudo" flat derived form the stacked image. Astroart has plugins for generating a background from an image. Or you can manually generate one in Photoshop.

Nice result fom the Starshoot. Is the Starshoot a one shot color imager?