M12 - First attempt

Hey guys ... finally got back out under the stars last night and tried my hand at M12. Still struggling to polar align as I am boxed in quite well in my backyard with a limited view.

This is 7min 15sec (29 exposures @ 15sec) with equal parts light to dark subs. Was guiding (badly) and didn't want to push it. Though did get a couple of subs at 1min at the end which I'll play with tonight and see if it adds to the image.

Keen to hear feedback and processing tips ... after Deep Sky Stacker did its thing, took this into Photoshop and tried the Levels/Curves 1,2,3 technique, though suspect that is better for nebulae than globs?! Any other ideas?

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I see a very nice GC ! It does need to be edited in PS tho maybe working with the Color balance and variations . Just watch the BP closely cause your close to clipping it anyway . If you can add more data to this or increase your exposure time this can come out looking even better . But as i said this is a very nice GC now ! Also you might increase the Resolution to 150 which will slightly enlarge the image without adding noise .

Hey Ron, thanks for the comments. Never sure how to adjust the colour balance with astopics, I'm wanting to keep it as true to life but then want it to be as clear and contrasy as possible and my creative side takes over. Was quite careful with the Black Point, and keep and eye dropper on the darkest region and brightest region ... how black do you go? I know to stay clear of RGB: 000 ... or do you try to keep the faintest detail?

Had a look through my unused subs and found only one 1min sub to add to the mix, makes such a difference! In DSS I've re-stacked my 15sec subs and added the 1min, as well as enabled 3x drizzle, below is a comparison between both 16bit TIFs (straight out of DSS):

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The last one looks good.
That's your first DSO posting, isn't it ? Way to go.

Steve.

Read this section that Jerry Lodriguss has on his website . With help of better pros than me i usually try to use this as a guideline . SteveInNZ is good at this also so take heed what he may advise . Another here also is NightHound (Steve) . Hes' also very good .

You must have me confused with someone else. I'm nowhere near the league of Nighthound, Cat, etc.

SteveInNZ wrote in post #12635335
You must have me confused with someone else. I'm nowhere near the league of Nighthound, Cat, etc.

Now how am i suppose to take this Steve when i've seen your pictures ??

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=954461

I rest my case.

Hahaha ... hey!!! Didn't mean to cause an argument!

1. Celestron, thanks for the link will check it out.
2. Steve, thanks for praise ... think it is my first DSO on here.
3. Steve, you picures rock! Stop being so modest ... makes us mere mortals feel bad, haha.

Now for me to get back out there and capture longer subs.

Thanks again all for the support. THough was hoping for some harsher constructive criticism??

Cool cluster shot. I'm going to have to have a go at this one, maby after Omega centauri though.

Thanks! I wish I could see omega centauri from my yard

I'm doing Omega centauri right now, its looking good. There is lots of things you guys can see that we down here cant.