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NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 8:53 pm
by turfpit
The following were captured on the night of 9/10 October 2018 in a single session. The planning and organisation is getting better and I got the most out of a clear, moonless night.
  • Altair Astro 66ED refractor, Altair 183C V2 camera, AVX mount, Planostar 0.8x flattener/reducer.
  • Capture software SharpCap v3.2 beta.
  • Focus with Bahtinov Mask, unguided.
  • Bias frame checked with FITS Liberator to ensure balanced histogram, used to decide black level setting.
  • Light frame checked with FITS Liberator to ensure Image Statistics min > 0 and max < 65535.
  • Stack produced using Siril plus colour calibration, SCNR & colour saturation.
  • Stack finalised with GIMP 2.10. About 1 hour for calibration and processing.
NGC7635, M31, M45, Alnitak 30x120s lights, 30 darks, 100 flats, 100 bias.
Orion 100x15s, 25 darks, 50 flats, 50 bias.
All images gain=400, black level = 50.

Images and SharpCap capture settings below.

Dave

Re: NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 8:56 pm
by turfpit
Alnitak high res image at https://www.astrobin.com/371363/

Alnitak-30x120s-g400-bl50.jpg
Alnitak-30x120s-g400-bl50.jpg (100.05 KiB) Viewed 3946 times
[ALTAIRH183C]
Debayer Preview=On
Output Format=FITS files (*.fits)
Capture Area=5440x3648
Binning=1x1
Pan=0
Tilt=0
Colour Space=RAW12
Fan=On
Temperature=12.1
Black Level=50
USB Speed=2
Auto Exp Target=120
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Analogue Gain=400
Exposure=120000
Timestamp Frames=Off
Banding Threshold=35
Banding Suppression=0
Apply Flat=None
Subtract Dark=None
#Black Point
Display Black Point=0
#MidTone Point
Display MidTone Point=0.5
#White Point
Display White Point=1
TimeStamp=2018-10-10T03:36:52.1196586Z
SharpCapVersion=3.2.5781.0

Re: NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 9:00 pm
by turfpit
M45 high res image at https://www.astrobin.com/370439/D/

M45-30x120s-g400-bl50.jpg
M45-30x120s-g400-bl50.jpg (120.11 KiB) Viewed 3946 times
Getting nearer to this now http://www.clarkvision.com/articles/ast ... rue.color/

[ALTAIRH183C]
Debayer Preview=On
Output Format=FITS files (*.fits)
Capture Area=5440x3648
Binning=1x1
Pan=0
Tilt=0
Colour Space=RAW12
Fan=Slow
Temperature=11.7
Black Level=50
USB Speed=2
Auto Exp Target=120
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Analogue Gain=400
Exposure=120000
Timestamp Frames=Off
Banding Threshold=35
Banding Suppression=0
Apply Flat=None
Subtract Dark=None
#Black Point
Display Black Point=0
#MidTone Point
Display MidTone Point=0.5
#White Point
Display White Point=1
TimeStamp=2018-10-09T23:08:59.9054796Z
SharpCapVersion=3.2.5781.0

Re: NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 9:03 pm
by turfpit
Orion high res image at https://www.astrobin.com/370493/D/

Orion-100x15s-g400-bl50.jpg
Orion-100x15s-g400-bl50.jpg (80.6 KiB) Viewed 3946 times
gain = 400 makes the processing hard, 100 - 200 next time.

[ALTAIRH183C]
Debayer Preview=On
Output Format=FITS files (*.fits)
Capture Area=5440x3648
Binning=1x1
Pan=0
Tilt=0
Colour Space=RAW12
Fan=Slow
Temperature=6.6
Black Level=50
USB Speed=2
Auto Exp Target=120
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Analogue Gain=400
Exposure=15000
Timestamp Frames=Off
Apply Flat=None
Subtract Dark=None
#Black Point
Display Black Point=0
#MidTone Point
Display MidTone Point=0.5
#White Point
Display White Point=1
TimeStamp=2018-10-07T02:57:11.7824463Z
SharpCapVersion=3.2.5762.0

Re: NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 9:04 pm
by turfpit
NGC7635 + NGC7638 high res image at https://www.astrobin.com/371359/

NGC7635+NGC7638-30x120s-g400-bl50.jpg
NGC7635+NGC7638-30x120s-g400-bl50.jpg (146.68 KiB) Viewed 3946 times
[ALTAIRH183C]
Debayer Preview=On
Output Format=FITS files (*.fits)
Capture Area=5440x3648
Binning=1x1
Pan=0
Tilt=0
Colour Space=RAW12
Fan=Slow
Temperature=13.8
Black Level=50
USB Speed=2
Auto Exp Target=120
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Analogue Gain=400
Exposure=120000
Timestamp Frames=Off
Banding Threshold=35
Banding Suppression=0
Apply Flat=None
Subtract Dark=None
#Black Point
Display Black Point=0
#MidTone Point
Display MidTone Point=0.5
#White Point
Display White Point=1
TimeStamp=2018-10-09T19:26:45.3347733Z
SharpCapVersion=3.2.5781.0

Re: NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 9:06 pm
by turfpit
M31
M31-30x120s-g400-bl50.jpg
M31-30x120s-g400-bl50.jpg (120.9 KiB) Viewed 3946 times
gain = 400 with the 120s exposure made processing harder with the core being bright, maybe try 200 or 100 next time.

[ALTAIRH183C]
Debayer Preview=On
Output Format=FITS files (*.fits)
Capture Area=5440x3648
Binning=1x1
Pan=0
Tilt=0
Colour Space=RAW12
Fan=Slow
Temperature=12.1
Black Level=50
USB Speed=2
Auto Exp Target=120
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Analogue Gain=400
Exposure=120000
Timestamp Frames=Off
Banding Threshold=35
Banding Suppression=0
Apply Flat=None
Subtract Dark=None
#Black Point
Display Black Point=0
#MidTone Point
Display MidTone Point=0.5
#White Point
Display White Point=1
TimeStamp=2018-10-09T21:54:20.7587878Z
SharpCapVersion=3.2.5781.0

Re: NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 9:54 pm
by oopfan
Dave,

I really like your M42. It reminds me so much of an image acquired with a 12-inch Newtonian at an observatory not too far from here.

Brian

Re: NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 11:07 pm
by turfpit
Thanks Brian. A year ago I could only dream about capturing anything decent.

Dave

Re: NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:50 pm
by admin
Some excellent images there Dave - looks like you really made the most of a clear night. It was good chatting to you at the show today too!

cheers,

Robin

Re: NGC7635+NGC7638, M31, M45, Orion (M42/43+NGC1977), Alnitak (NGC2024+IC434+NGC2023) **single session**

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 2:36 pm
by turfpit
Thanks Robin. A carefully planned night keeping settings the same so as to minimise 'downtime' for dark frames. I went out clean shaven and came back into the house with stubble :)

It was good to talk to you also. I hope you took on board my opinions as to the next logical priority for SharpCap's development - the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few ;)

Dave