Horsehead Region - just brilliant

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Astro Imager's,

I just had to share this with you as an example of what advanced amateurs are producing from backyard observatories. Check this link.http://www.ourdarkskies.com/gallery2/d/837-1/Horsehead_Area_M25C_Greg_Noel_3.jpg

Noel Carboni threw everything including the kitchen sink at this one. It has
about 4 hours of 15 minute RGB subs, 2 hours of 5 minute RGB subs, 4
hours of H-alpha data 1000 second subs, 3 Hyperstar frames at around
4 hours, and a few other bits and pieces from things like an Orion
belt image (2 hours). Processing time for Noel easily matched and
probably exceeded the acquisition time.

All none Hyperstar work was carried out on a Sky 90 with SXV-M25C.

All the best,
Greg

Clear skies...

[phoenix]

That photo is awesome,
The detail in the flame nebula area is a masterpiece !
Now thats what i call dedication :welldone:

[Radar]

That is awesome. :thumbsupmate:

[Astrokid]

What is a hyperstar frame please?

[Duncan]

G,day all,

Wow! that really is one heck of a photo. 'Twould be worth spending the time to get results like that.
Many thanks Shevill for finding that one,i've saved it so i can look at it for inspiration.

Cheers,
Duncan:Chessy_Smile:

[CanisMajorTom]

Is there a limit to how much you can expose one object?

[AstroTasmania]

Unlike film - there is no limit to exposure times on objects like this when using digital cameras.

Films made for everyday use are balanced for exposures between 1 second to 1/1000 sec. After that there are too many colour shifts, different dyes in the colour emulsions react at different levels, also there is the major disadvantage, reciprocity failure, (the longer the silver halide crystals in the film emulsion are exposed, the less image density is produced). Basic physics comes in here. Diminishing returns.

One can keep adding to a digital image over successive imaging sessions, which may even be spread over several years!

Films originally used for astro work were made in a different way.

I did 6 years part time Uni to obtain my scientific/medical/forensic etc. photographic qualifications, and all this basic stuff is still clogging up my brain!

Digital is also at least 10 times faster than any film. Radar...

Clear skies...

[Jimbot]

What is a hyperstar frame please?

Yes I agree with Astrokid, what is a hyperstar frame?? What an amazing photo though, certainly a tribute to his perserverence.
Jim :thumbsupmate:

[AstroTasmania]

Celestron produce a fast focal ratio unit that goes on the front of their SCT's in place of the secondary and operates at around f/2 or better, so it may have produced just a section of the image at a higher mag for more detail.

Wonderful thing about digital, you can mix, match and combine images of the same field from various telescopes and cameras.

Here is all you need to know about the Fastar Unit:

http://www.company7.com/celestron/products/sch9.html
http://home.freeuk.net/m.gavin/fastar.htm

Clear skies...

[Jimbot]

Celestron produce a fast focal ratio unit that goes on the front of their SCT's in place of the secondary

Shevill,
Once again thanks for use of your store house of knowledge. It helps us newier members of the fraternity out immensely.
Cheers
Jim :thumbsupmate:

[AstroTasmania]

Hi,

There is never a dumb question, only people who don't ask the question. You can bet that there will be a dozen other people who would like to ask the same question, but for some reason do not.

Not everyone wants to share their knowledge, which is a pity.

Keep asking the questions - I have been into astronomy a fair while now, and have managed to pick up a few clues on the way, many by asking those with more experience than myself.

Clear skies...

[Noel Carboni]

Wow, just joined up and found a thread where you fine folks have been discussing one of my (collaborative) images... What a bunch of nice comments! Thank you!

Did you notice I accidentally failed to capitalize the first letter of my name? :)


Celestron produce a fast focal ratio unit that goes on the front of their SCT's in place of the secondary and operates at around f/2 or better, so it may have produced just a section of the image at a higher mag for more detail.

You are exactly right, Shevill. It's at f/1.85 actually on a C11. Here is the Hyperstar mosaic that contributed to the final image:

http://zcarboni.home.att.net/Horsehead_Area_Greg_Noel_Small.jpg (http://zcarboni.home.att.net/Horsehead_Area_Greg_Noel.jpg)

As you can see, we didn't go quite as deeply with the Hyperstar setup as with the wider field refactor setup Greg's now using, but this data did help a lot with the detail in the lighter parts.

-Noel

[Radar]

Stunning stuff Noel. :thumbsupmate: