Rian-Pascal Bergen
Psalm 111:1-10Messier 106, Taken 20220301-20220304
I wanted to try something new with this one. Most of my deep sky images revolve around me taking 60 to 80 5-minute exposures, and then combining them into one master file. With this one, I wanted to see if I could increase the sharpness by taking thousands of really small exposures (5 seconds). I don't think I did this correctly though, and will be changing my process for the next time.
Equipment
Telescope/Lens: Celestron EdgeHD 8 at f/7
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-PRO
Guiding Scope: Celestron Off-Axis Guider
Guiding Camera: ZWO ASI290MM
Mounts: Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro
Filters: Chroma 2" LRGB, Chroma 2" H-Alpha (3nm), Chroma 2" OIII (3nm)
Accessories: ZWO EFW 7x2", .7 Reducer Lens EdgeHD, Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox, Astrozap AstroStrap 8" Dew Heater, Astrozap Flexi-Shield 8" Dew Shield
Software: N.I.N.I, PHD2, Deep Sky Stacker, SiriL-1.0.0-rc2, Adobe Photoshop 2022, StarNet++
Storage Devices and Computers used are not mentioned here.
Location, Weather, and Acquisition
All data was taken from my Bortel 4 backyard over a total of 3 nights between March 1st (2nd) and March 3rd (4th). Location was within a 15-mile radius of Comer, Georgia (USA) (34.0637° N, 83.1254° W).
Date | Temperature | Humidity | Average Moon Phase |
---|---|---|---|
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-02 | Waning Crescent (1.0%) | ||
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | New Moon (0.0%) | ||
2022-03-03 - 2022-03-04 | Waxing Crescent (1.5%) |
Date | Filter | F-Ratio | Gain/ISO | Exposure Time | Number of Exposures |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-02 | R | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 5 seconds | 1200 |
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-02 | G | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 5 seconds | 1200 |
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-02 | B | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 5 seconds | 960 |
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-02 | R FLATS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 1/6 second | 60 |
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-02 | G FLATS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 1/10 second | 60 |
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-02 | B FLATS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 1/14 second | 60 |
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-02 | BIAS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 1/10000 second | 60 |
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-02 | DARKS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 5 seconds | 60 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | L | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 120 seconds | 80 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | L | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 5 seconds | 1400 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | R | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 5 seconds | 3 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | G | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 5 seconds | 2 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | B | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 5 seconds | 685 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | L FLATS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 1/13 second | 60 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | R FLATS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 1/4 second | 60 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | G FLATS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 1/7 second | 60 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | B FLATS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 1/12 second | 60 |
2022-03-02 - 2022-03-03 | DARKS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 120 seconds | 62 |
2022-03-03 - 2022-03-04 | H-Alpha | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 300 seconds | 73 |
2022-03-03 - 2022-03-04 | H-Alpha FLATS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 2 seconds | 60 |
2022-03-03 - 2022-03-04 | DARKS | f/7 | Gain 139, Offset 21 | 300 seconds | 35 |
TOTAL EXPOSURES | L (120 Seconds) | N/A | N/A | 02H 40M 00S | 80 |
TOTAL EXPOSURES | L (5 Seconds) | N/A | N/A | 01H 56M 40S | 1400 |
TOTAL EXPOSURES | R | N/A | N/A | 01H 40M 15S | 1203 |
TOTAL EXPOSURES | G | N/A | N/A | 01H 40M 10S | 1202 |
TOTAL EXPOSURES | B | N/A | N/A | 02H 17M 05S | 1645 |
TOTAL EXPOSURES | H-Alpha | N/A | N/A | 06H 5M 00S | 73 |
INTEGRATION | L (120 Seconds) | N/A | N/A | 02H 24M 00S | 72 |
INTEGRATION | L (5 Seconds) | N/A | N/A | 00H 00M 00S | 0 |
INTEGRATION | R | N/A | N/A | 01H 28M 25S | 1061 |
INTEGRATION | G | N/A | N/A | 01H 30M 05S | 1081 |
INTEGRATION | B | N/A | N/A | 01H 48M 50S | 1306 |
INTEGRATION | H-Alpha | N/A | N/A | 05H 25M 00S | 65 |
TOTAL INTEGRATION | H-Alpha/L(120)/R/G/B | f/7 | N/A | 12H 36M 20S | 3585 |
Download Stacked Files (TIF 101.5 MB COMPRESSED)(GOOGLE DRIVE)
Processing Steps
- Deep Sky Stacker
- Adobe Photoshop 2022
- Combined RGB Stacks into RGB Image File
- SiriL-1.0.0-rc2
- Photometric Color Calibration of RGB Image
- Adobe Photoshop 2022
- Opened H-Alpha Stacked File
- Levels Adjustment
- RC-Astro GradientXTerminator Medium X High
- Levels Adjustments
- Curves Adjustment
- Levels Adjustment
- Copied Red from RGB File into this File
- Combined Using Soft Light
- Levels Adjustment
- Copied Back Into RGB File
- SiriL-1.0.0-rc2
- Photometric Color Calibration of RGB Image
- Adobe Photoshop 2022
- Opened L(120) Stacked File
- Levels Adjustments
- Curves Adjustment
- Found Difference Between H-Alpha Image (Before Combination with R) and Luminance
- Selective Linear Dodge Add
- Adobe Photoshop 2022
- Opened RGB Image
- RC-Astro GradientXTerminator Medium X High - Balance Background Color
- Astronomy Tools Horizontal Banding Noise Reduction
- Astronomy Tools Vertical Banding Noise Reduction
- Astronomy Tools Deep Space Noise Reduction
- Astronomy Tools Space Noise Reduction
- Astronomy Tools Color Blotch Reduction
- Levels Adjustment to Lower Background
- Selective Hue/Saturation Adjustment to Remove Background Color Mottling
- Curves Adjustments
- Vibrancy Adjustment to bring out Red
- Levels Adjustment to Lower Background
- Added L(120) Image as Luminosity Layer
- Curves Adjustment
- Selective Hue/Saturation Adjustment to Remove Background Color Mottling
- RC-Astro GradientXTerminator Medium X High - Balance Background Color
- Astronomy Tools Local Contrast Enhancement
- CROP
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