Rosette - 6 Hours

[strgazr27]

I finally had a chance to finish up processing this when I got back yesterday from vacation. This was shot over the course of 2 nights the week before Christmas. I have shot this before with the MN74 and was happy with it but wanted to see what could be done with the ED80. This was shot using the AT .8 reducer. I had to throw out 3 subs due to sat's . This is the remaining 72.

Thanks for looking!

72 X 300 sec @ ISO 800
Darks, Flats and Bias
SW ED80 with AT .8 reducer
Moonlite Focuser w Stepper motor and Temp Compensation
AT-66/SSAG for guiding
EQ-6
Captured, Guided with MaximDl V 5
Calibrated with IP V3
Stacked with Registar
Final processing in PSCS2

A larger image can be seen here : http://strgazr27.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p374812118.tif

http://strgazr27.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p374812118-5.jpg

[Sorarse]

It's images like that that spur me on to improve my own feeble efforts. Very nice photo indeed - you must be pleased with it.

[Celestron]

Thats a fantastic shot Bobby ! Congrats on a job well done !

[chris.bailey]

Awesome levels of fine detail. Looks like that focal reducer and the ED80 work very well together.

[Desertraptor]

Wow

[dmmiller]

Thats gorgeous! :)

[drevilsmom]

Very nice!!

[Stargazerfrank]

very nice try but it lacks contrast sky is not ink black use Photoshop do levels adjustment to correct it then it whould be great.

[Sorarse]

very nice try but it lacks contrast sky is not ink black use Photoshop do levels adjustment to correct it then it whould be great.

In reality the night sky isn't ink black, so to show an ink black sky in a photo wouldn't look right.

[strgazr27]

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

Frank,

As Derek points out, the night sky is not black in images, even under mag 6+ skies. Making the sky background a nice black does nothing really but help hide noise and gives the image a harsh, unnatural look. If you open up the image in PS you'll see that the levels are set at just about the optimal point in the curve without starting to clip data. Another thing to consider is that most of the sky background in the image is faint Hydrogen Alpha emmision that shows as a faint light red/pink. This may be why you don't think it has an ink black background. Thank you though for the input :)

[Celestron]

In reality the night sky isn't ink black, so to show an ink black sky in a photo wouldn't look right.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

Frank,

As Derek points out, the night sky is not black in images, even under mag 6+ skies. Making the sky background a nice black does nothing really but help hide noise and gives the image a harsh, unnatural look. If you open up the image in PS you'll see that the levels are set at just about the optimal point in the curve without starting to clip data. Another thing to consider is that most of the sky background in the image is faint Hydrogen Alpha emmision that shows as a faint light red/pink. This may be why you don't think it has an ink black background. Thank you though for the input :)


You are absolutely right . No sky no matter how dark is ink black . True the darker the more noise is cleared up but just how much is really noise ?? Just something for all to think on . Thats where multiple stacking as many images as possible does the job replacement of clearing up noise the best way .

[Stargazerfrank]

In reality the night sky isn't ink black, so to show an ink black sky in a photo wouldn't look right. My bad!:oops: I should have said almost ink black sky. Refractors are well know for high resolution I see that in the pic and high contrast I don't see it in the pic the way it is sorry.

[Celestron]

My bad!:oops: I should have said almost ink black sky. Refractors are well know for high resolution I see that in the pic and high contrast I don't see it in the pic the way it is sorry.

Thats' ok , in my SCT the sky is also black and only the stars show , no neb . Hard to see the Neb unless you have a Neb filter . However in my 15x70 binocs i can make out a very dim slightly hazey area around the Rose but no where like what you see M42 in binocs . And your right about refractors being ink black BG and high contrast . I have a Stellarvue AT1010 (80mm , 480mmfl) and it's ink black and high contrast also :) . Refractors do make a difference !

[Nightop]

Great shot!

[Nighthound]

Outstanding image as always Bobby. Nice and deep and refreshing to see this one done as a vertical.