Posts Made By: dietmar hager

hi everybody,

my name is Dietmar and I`m new to this forum.
I`m an Austrian hobby astronomer and I have learned that there are many intersting topics being discussed.

here is my observatory and if You find time klick Yourself right through my webpage.
http://stargazer.christelhager.info/index.htm

I wish You all clear skies whenever You find time for astronomy!
best regards

Dietmar

ps: the image attached was taken with my 9" tmb apo...

hi deepsky-friends,

I`m new to this group and would like to introduce myself with this M33 image taken with my 5" Tmb Apo f/9.
I have reduced focal length by making use of a TeleVue 0,8 reducer.
here is the data on the image:
Oct 06: 5" f/7, sxv m25c; 75 minutes total exposure, seeing was quite good but transparencya decreased while imaging due to upcoming fog,...

I used original SX software for image acquisition, color conversion and minor non linear strech.
stacking was done in Images plus
finals processing in PixInsight and PS CS2

the image attached is a downscaled version of this one here:
http://stargazer.christelhager.info/astropics/deepsky/M33-5f7-fullsize-crop.jpg
a medium sized image can be found here:
http://stargazer.christelhager.info/astropics/deepsky/M33-5f7-medsize.jpg
as You can tell by the image size I had to crop the edges of the original due to distorsion coming from the reducer,...

I`m an Austrian hobby astronomer and proudly present my observatory FYI:
http://stargazer.christelhager.info/index.htm

best regards
Dietmar

hi everybody,

here is my ngc 891 captured this year.
I used my 9"f/9 TMB Apo reducing focal length with a televue 0,8 reducer-flattner to make the 9er a bit faster,...

it is one of my last images acquired with original SX software for my SXV H9C.
I also colorconverted and non linear streched the single frames in SX.
(now I use AA4)
70 minutes total exposure time - single frames from 4 up to 12 minutes
stacking was done in Images Plus.
processing in PixInsight and PS CS2

best regards
Dietmar

hi everyone,

here is an M 31 captured with my 5" f/9 TMB Apo.
I reduced focal length with my TeleVue 0,8 Reducer Flattner.
SXV M25C, 60 minutes total exposuretime; single frames from 2 minutes up tp 12 minutes.
I wanted to continue imaging but after one hour fog was the problem,...

SX software for image acquisition, color conversion and non linear streching.
stacking in images plus
processing in PixInsight and PS CS2

due to aberrations on the edges of the image I had to crop it a bit...
here is a full scale image:

http://stargazer.christelhager.info/astropics/deepsky/M31-5f7-fullscale.jpg

I`m still looking for a decent reducer for my f/9 scopes,...if anyone has a good idea - I`d be immensly greatful.

best regards
Dietmar

...interesting, folks

let me introduce this - my new mount.
it is a one arm fork mount.
http://stargazer.christelhager.info/montierung01.htm

it is fully adaptable to the weigh that Mountegra is supposed to carry.
Mountegra can easily carry some 50 kg.

the short horizontal arm is adjustable within its housing so that one can balance the scope perfectly.
the vertical arm can also be extended - all is done with the nice 3-arm-handle.

if You find time You can read this report:
http://stargazer.christelhager.info/reports6.htm

Mountegra is super stable! You can bump the vertical arm and the object obersverd under 450 power still remains in the eyepiece!
the time the mount needs to stop swinging after being hit is only some 2 or 3 seconds - it is a high frequency.

I`m extremly content with the mount - there is no backlash in RA and only a minor backlash in declination.
AstroArt can easily cope with it.

Andras Dan - the head of Gemini designed and built this mount.
it is masterpiece I can tell You!

why pick a one arm fork mount?
`cos I did not want my 9" Tmb Apo f/9 designed as folded refractor being attached to a german eq mount - NO! I do not want to bounce and dacne around the mount all night long.
a fork mount offers much more comfortability.
http://www.astronomy.hu/

best regards
Dietmar

hi guys,

I`d like to show You my result of this very beautiful galaxy - one of my favourits.
the 9" TMB Apo offers an impressive sight in visual observation.
I was pointing the scope to this galaxy (having attached SXV H9C) the first time.

the data on the image:
1,5 hours of total exposure time - single frames from 4 minutes to 16 minutes.
SX for image acquisition, color conversion and slight non linear strech.
stacking and digital devel. in ImagesPlus - white set also.
sharpening the galaxy`s details (with a mask created in PS) and smoothening the background with another mask created in PixInsight.
final processing in PS CS2.

I made 2 serious mistakes:
1. - after I had obtained a decent focus I forgot to turn the CCD (Iusually have the longitudinal axis parallel to RA) and then I commenced automatic image acquisition and took a nice rest,...then, when I got up I realised,...
2. - I should have taken another 1,5 hours,...but I`ll catch up with it next year,...

thanks for Your comments in advance
best
Dietmar

hi guys,

I was thinking about posting this image or not,...but since it was the very first one, using AstroArt 4 for
guiding
image acquisition and
color conversion
I decided to do so.

as I already indicated in a earlier post, AA4 is a great guideing-programme; no doubt about it.

here`S the data on the image:
5"f/9 Tmb Apo using TeleVue 0,8 reducer.
and this reducer actually distroyed me a lot of the image - You can tell that easily by taking a look onto the the full-scale version, which I HAD to crop, cos in the edges the stars were really completely "alien-looking" white straps,...bah!

80 minutes total exposure time (2,4,6,8,10 min frames)
SXV M25C
preprocessing in AA4
draging out all information of every single frame in PS CS2
IP for stacking the frames and digital development .
PixInsight and PS CS2 for final processing.

here is a downcsaled version first 1500x1116
http://stargazer.christelhager.info/astropics/deepsky/m45-5f7-medium.jpg

and full scale version (2503x 1938)
http://stargazer.christelhager.info/astropics/deepsky/m45-5f7-full.jpg

what I really like is the "merope" nebula - it is very impressive to observe this visually
Tim, I hope You have a bino-adapter for Your 9er Tmb - give it a try!
it`s breathtaking!!!

seeing was rather good that night, but transparency wasn`t.
actually when I strated imaging I saw some 4m0 stars and I had to stop at 3m0 after 80 minutes,...fog was creaping over my place,...

I hope it is the last image taken woth the TV-reducer,...some of You know why,...(-:

best regards to all of You
Dietmar

hi greg,

congrats on the huge amount of details in the periphery of the nebula!
it looks very natural.
very nicely done.
but if I may:
I miss a bit of blue in the certain regions of the nebula and the background "suffers" of hot pix.
and if You look at the histogramme You find a bit of clipping.
I understand stl11000xcm is a one shot color cam - is it? did You have to strech the images much or did not take darkframes?
best regards
Dietmar

hi folks,

have You ever heard of Warren Kellers
IP4AP ?
this is a tutorial page he created to support us astrophotographers, providing us with essential information about how to use PS CS-2 in a very professional sophisticated way.
Warren also covers the "secrets" about AA4 - You know there`S been some discussion about displaying stacked images in AA4 and bringing them to PS, finding them pretty dim,...aso.
Warren also offers "one-on-one" sessions for covering individual requests.
I have done 2 sessions yet and I can tell You, it`s absolutely worth it!
Warren is extraordinarily gifted and smart guy, thourough, knowledgable and it`S simply a pleasure watching him processing astropics online.

I always thought I know what`s important in PS - well, quite frankly, I was stuck in the dark basement and Warren lead me out a there, rushing up the stares into the light! (-:

so, my Christmas-gift for You all is a hint:
for everyone who intends to produce decent AP I recommend to drop in at his website and make an appointment.

CS guys!
Dietmar

hello friends and merry Christmas,

last night transparency was exceptionally good, seeing wasn`t (2,8" FWHM) but I enjoyed the night!

4" f/6,2 TMB Apo
sxv m25c
AA4 image acquisition, color conversion, defect map and stacking.
PS CS2 and PixIS for postprocessing.

2 hours totsal exposure (30secds, 1min, 2min, 4min, 7min, 10 min frames)

small "preview" - version:
[http://stargazer.christelhager.info/astropics/deepsky/M42_23_dez_2std_small.jpg]

medium:
[http://stargazer.christelhager.info/astropics/deepsky/M42_23_dez_std_medium.jpg]

full scale:
[http://stargazer.christelhager.info/astropics/deepsky/M42_23_dez_2std_large.jpg]

as You can tell from a look onto the images I have a severe problem with elongated stars to the left - therefore I had to crop the image pretty much!
I do not understand this - cos the night before I imaged with exactly the same setup and had no problem!!!
the only difference: I rotated the CCD the other way round (180°) as the night before,...
see here:
[http://stargazer.christelhager.info/astropics/deepsky/m42-15min-4f6-large.jpg]

thanks for looking

best wishes !
Dietmar