Beginner pics!

[ebeyonder]

Thanks very much Remus - now I understand!

How does one remove hot and cold pixels though? I can't seem to find instructions in the SSProII manual.

[rcj]

you'll need to use some processing software to remove the hot/cold pixels. IRIS (freeware) could do that. I am currently using CCDSoft for this. You can also do it in Photoshop using the despeckle or dust&scratches filters.

[ebeyonder]

Thanks Remus. I tried despeckle today.

I also took 2 more pictures today. Nothing great, but I am learning along the way (and I thought the practical setting up was tough - nobody warned me about the processing!):





Comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[rcj]

thats a good start for the cluster shots! But the black point is set too dark...you might like to bring up the curve (just a general one) adjustment in PS the bring out the midtones in both shots. Now even though they may not contain much midtonality, M45 does have some from the reflection nebulae. Astrophotography is all about understanding image processing nowadays ever since it gone digital, but it's fun! Obtaining raw data (the practical side) is just the tip of the iceberg!

[ebeyonder]

Thanks very much Remus! i'll try doing that later... how much exposure time is needed to bring out the reflection nebulae for M45? These shots are about 15 x 1 min exposures.

[rcj]

try longer. think for moderate light polluted location, perhaps try going to 5 minutes?

[ebeyonder]

I took some pics again tonight after 2 weeks of bad weather here in the US east coast. The pics are slightly smaller because I downloaded them off my FB account, where they had been resized.

M51:

Shot at 2010-03-07

M51, enlarged:

Shot at 2010-03-07

M81, M82:

Shot at 2010-03-07

M81, M82 enlarged:

Shot at 2010-03-07

M37 - not particularly good... among other things, a tree got in the way (and also no light frames):

Shot at 2010-03-07

M45 - finally got the nebulosity to show after 6 min sub-exposures. But forgot to take light frames, so during editing it was hard to tell nebulosity from other defects:

Shot at 2010-03-07

Double cluster - same problem with M37:

Shot at 2010-03-07

[Bergkamp_]

its pretty good for a start!

[weixing]

M37 - not particularly good... among other things, a tree got in the way (and also no light frames):

Shot at 2010-03-07

M45 - finally got the nebulosity to show after 6 min sub-exposures. But forgot to take light frames, so during editing it was hard to tell nebulosity from other defects:

Shot at 2010-03-07

No light frame??? I think you mean no flat frame. Light frame is the frame that contain the actual image and flat frame is the frame that contain information on the optical defects.

Anyway, not bad... especially the M81 and M82 image is quite good. Will try to shoot them, but don't had the chance to do any imaging or observation lately as recent weather condition was very bad... cloudy and very hazy.

Hope weather will improve soon.

Have a nice day.

[astronoob]

nice!!!!


more pls!!!!!