M16 and M57 images from tonight

[keiffer6]

I often browse these forums and read the posts and look at the pictures. I thought for once I would stop looking over everyone else's shoulders and actually post something. Actually had some decent seeing conditions tonight and I decided to do some imaging. Here are the results of tonights efforts.

M16 - 16 x 90 seconds



M57 - 7 x 90 seconds



Always open for criticism and ideas on how to improve. I am still kind of new to this SBIG ST-2000XCM and still have a long way to go before I get really good with it.

Clear skies,

[Ron]

Keith,

Welcome, and glad you decided to post, it's been rather lonely around here lately.

I can't be too critical since I'm still learning even though I've been around for awhile, I contribute that to being a slow learner

M16 looks like it needs a little more red, and M57 is a little lacking in color.

I'm sure you will get much better suggestions than I can offer when others weigh in with comments.  All in all I would say you are doing alright learning new equipment.

Thanks for sharing,

Ron

[keiffer6]

Thanks for your input Ron.

I don't know what happens to the color. Each individual image has decent color to it. I take the images using CCDSoft and then use CCDStack to calibrate, register, stack, and then colorize the images. For some reason once I do a combine of the images, the resulting image never has much color to it. I guess I just need to play around with it more.

[lindendave]

Keith,

It's great to have another contributor to the knowledge base here at ASO, even though you're not brand spankin' new!

I too am trying to learn more about using my SBIG equipment and software, perhaps we could start another topic on the How To aspect. Although I have a color filter wheel it presently is not installed in my camera.

Let me just say that I like your images, they're better than I could probably do! 

[keiffer6]

Thanks Dave.

I just love how the images that come out of this camera are already so good that they don't need much processing. Before this camera I used the DSI-C and then the DSI Pro II. Those were great cameras for starting out, but it seemed to me that more time was spent processing the images to get them to look right then actaully taking the images. This SBIG camera takes such great images that little processing is needed. These images were taken in CCDSoft and then moved to CCDStack where I registered, stacked, combined, and converted to color. I did take the output from CCDStack as a JPG to Photoshop CS3 for a fast tweak with a couple of Astro Tools actions.

I would love to help with a How To section...once I figure out How To. 

I will tell you that my imaging ability has definitely increased since the building of my observatory. Before, when I was mounted Alt Az on the tripod and had to break down the scope each night, imaging was just so difficult. Now with my scope permanently mounted and a pretty good alignment, imaging is that much easier and less stressful. It is so nice to just be able to walk out to the observatory and turn on the scope, point it to a star, sync it, and start imaging. Now if I could just bribe a certain Dr. to make a trip to WWIN Observatory to help me get my alignment tweaked to perfection like his is, I would be in hog heaven. 

[lindendave]

Keith,

I definitely know how you feel about having an observatory and how it makes using the telescope and equipment more enjoyable! 

As for your visitor, LOTS OF LUCK! I can offer a suggestion, get his book "A Complete Manual of Amateur Astronomy". On page 31 is a section entitled Alignment of Permanently Mounted Instruments which definitely helped me get my scope aligned. My copy of the book was printed in 1981 and I know there is a newer revised version out so the page number might be different.

[keiffer6]

Thanks Dave,

I actually do have a copy of his book. It is only because of his help that I have gotten my alignment as good as it is. I just like to pick at him. 

[twilbur]

Keith, very nice results!

I don't use CCD Stack (I hear it's great) and I don't have a single shot camera, so I can't help with the color issues.
Usually the term "colorize" implies adding false color to a grey scale image.

What scope are you using? You've got a very nice field of view to work with and you've captured good detail in the Eagle!
I do note some star elongation pointing toward the center from the corners. You might want to tweek your collimation to reduce this effect.

Overall very nice results, keep up the good work!

[keiffer6]

Thanks for the input Ted.

My scope is a 10" LX200GPS w/ UHTC coating. I am also using a Optec Nextgen .33 reducer.

I don't think the elongation is caused by collimation. I just haven't figured out how to alleviate the problem yet. Here is why...When I take each individual sub, the elongation shows on each sub as a blue streak. It is almost as if the blue "layer" is off from the other layers. I just have not found a way in CCDSoft to fix this. I don't know if the reducer is causing this or what is causing it. See the attached image. It is a single 60 second sub of M20 directly from the camera. You will note that many of the stars have a blue streak.

Thanks again.

[lindendave]

I just like to pick at him.

Even though he gives the impression of a tough hide one can still bruise his feelings.....I know!

Have you tried the Track and Accumulate option in CCDOps yet? I've been tempted to take a break from chasing rocks one night and give it a go on Jupiter. What I really need to do is break down and get the manual printed off the CD so I can have it handy when questions come up! 

[keiffer6]

When I first got the camera I used CCDOps, but once I got a hold of CCDSoft I found it much easier to use. I don't know why, but CCDSoft is just easier to me. I really do need to go back and play with CCDOps at some point but I don't want to confuse myself by trying to figure out two seperate programs at the same time. What I really need to work on is getting the Autoguide feature of CCDSoft working right. Whenever I use it now the camera corrects the telescope way too much and I end up with pretty images with double stars and a line attaching them.

[lindendave]

Well unfortunately I can't help you with that, my 402 is a single chip camera. As for CCDSoft I haven't used that although I have it since I was taught how to chase rocks using CCDOps. When I completed my drift alignment using Doc's method from his book the scope would stay spot on a given star for well over 45 minutes, I didn't try any longer, so I think I have tweaked my alignment into pretty good condition.

I guess I have a canine mentality about chasing asteroids.....someone said "Go get' em" and I did! 

[keiffer6]

WOW....45 minutes. That is awesome. Mine tracks pretty well, but no where near that. Part of my problem is PEC. I have been trying to tune my alignment as much as possible before I work on my PEC training. Right now anything over 90 second subs and I see PEC errors in the images.

I have seen Dr. Clay at work chasing space rocks and I'll tell you, it is a little intimidating. There is a lot to chasing these things. One day I hope to maybe do it as well, but for now I enjoy imaging. However, I am glad that you rock chasers are out there tracking these objects.

[lindendave]

Well the drift alignment got pretty boring towards the end, at least for me. I would set the 9mm illuminated reticle on a star and sit there and wait for a period of time and recheck every so often. I think having had my Meade Super Wedge totally rebuilt at Mitty Industries helped with the fine tuning. When I got it back every thing but the side frames had been replaced and those had been squared. I also think I got an excellent scope from Meade and having it Supercharged just iced the cake!

I've sat there with Doc on a number of nights learning the fine art of rock chasing but the really intimidating thing is when he says, "Here you take over."!  I've never met one so willing to teach and share his vast knowledge and I will forever be grateful!

[keiffer6]

Yeah, that Supercharge is well worth it. Like a whole different scope.

He knows better than to tell me to take over. LOL