Imaging from Bortle 8/9

0.00 Ajith Everester Topic starter ... · view views · Share link
Tony Gondola: Huib Wouters: Usually I can get a reasonable result, but I find the process quite frustrating when computer processing time exceeds imaging time. Still, after doing a lot of narrowband imaging of emission nebula, which is easy even in Bortle 8/9, I find most broadband target much more interesting. To improve my broadband images: choose a target high in the sky I block off streetlights, by putting up a screen in the garden, to decrease direct light onto the telescope. I use Siril for processing the data, and usually get better results doing background extraction per frame, instead of doing it once after stacking I use ASTAP beforehand to automatically select and discard the images with too much background noise and more imaging time, more is always better reduce exposure time of the individual frames helps, I started out with 30 seconds, went up to 120s when I got a better mount and camera, but should try to reduce this next time. That's an interesting comment about applying background extraction to the subs rather than the stacked image. I too have found that to be a very effective approach and use it a lot. The Siril script makes it very easy to do. I just need to dive into the script at some point and make a version that does drizzle too. Any script for PI? Like

0.00

Topic starter

...

Tony Gondola:
Huib Wouters:
Usually I can get a reasonable result, but I find the process quite frustrating when computer processing time exceeds imaging time. Still, after doing a lot of narrowband imaging of emission nebula, which is easy even in Bortle 8/9, I find most broadband target much more interesting.

To improve my broadband images:
choose a target high in the sky
I block off streetlights, by putting up a screen in the garden, to decrease direct light onto the telescope.
I use Siril for processing the data, and usually get better results doing background extraction per frame, instead of doing it once after stacking
I use ASTAP beforehand to automatically select and discard the images with too much background noise
and more imaging time, more is always better
reduce exposure time of the individual frames helps, I started out with 30 seconds, went up to 120s when I got a better mount and camera, but should try to reduce this next time.

That's an interesting comment about applying background extraction to the subs rather than the stacked image. I too have found that to be a very effective approach and use it a lot. The Siril script makes it very easy to do. I just need to dive into the script at some point and make a version that does drizzle too.

Any script for PI?

8.11 Tony Gondola ... · view views · 2 likes · Share link
Moving from a dark backyard in New Mexico to a brightly illuminated Tulsa neighborhood has presented me with just this challenge. For me, the answer was dual-band OSC imaging. Along with lunar work, this is the one thing that allowed me to stay in this hobby. The technique is very effective and I have found that I don't need excessively long integration times to get good results, at least to my standards. The challenge of LP has certainly pushed my skills and I've learned a lot, and that's certainly a good thing. I don't even think about things like IFN and dim reflection nebulae because I know that's not going to happen. Knowing what you can and can't effectively image helps a lot. Honestly, the biggest issue for me are trees blocking much of the sky, limiting not only what objects I can image but for how long in a night. Even that has its plus side because it has pushed me into multi-night imaging as well as getting the most out of the objects I can access. You really have to keep your glass half-full with these situations. If you do, you'll get a lot more enjoyment out of this hobby. Like

8.11

Tony Gondola

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Moving from a dark backyard in New Mexico to a brightly illuminated Tulsa neighborhood has presented me with just this challenge. For me, the answer was dual-band OSC imaging. Along with lunar work, this is the one thing that allowed me to stay in this hobby. The technique is very effective and I have found that I don't need excessively long integration times to get good results, at least to my standards.

The challenge of LP has certainly pushed my skills and I've learned a lot, and that's certainly a good thing. I don't even think about things like IFN and dim reflection nebulae because I know that's not going to happen. Knowing what you can and can't effectively image helps a lot. Honestly, the biggest issue for me are trees blocking much of the sky, limiting not only what objects I can image but for how long in a night. Even that has its plus side because it has pushed me into multi-night imaging as well as getting the most out of the objects I can access. You really have to keep your glass half-full with these situations. If you do, you'll get a lot more enjoyment out of this hobby.

8.64 Brian Diaz ... · view views · 1 like · Share link
here is some image from SQM 16,84 https://astrob.in/6u874n/0/ CS, Brian Like

0.00 Ajith Everester Topic starter ... · view views · 1 like · Share link
Brian Diaz: here is some image from SQM 16,84 https://astrob.in/6u874n/0/ CS, Brian Are all those from bortle 7/8/9? Includinghhe galaxies?? These are awesome. Motivated. Like

8.64 Brian Diaz ... · view views · 1 like · Share link
OSC CAMERA imaging from SQM 16.84 https://astrob.in/avavno/H/ CS, Brian Edited ... Like

14.24 Arun H ... · view views · Share link
Ajith Everester: Are all those from bortle 7/8/9? Includinghhe galaxies?? These are awesome. Motivated. That is a narrow band image. Your original question was: "What are the techniques to be used to collect data from the Reflection nebulae and the other broad band targets?" You specified broadband targets and, in particular, reflection nebulae. It is helpful to be clear on what you want to do. There is an enormous difference between broad band and narrowband imaging. The latter, whether using OSC or mono, is done quite frequently from LP sites. The former is a far more difficult exercise. Edited ... Like

14.24

Arun H

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Ajith Everester:
Are all those from bortle 7/8/9? Includinghhe galaxies?? These are awesome. Motivated.

That is a narrow band image.

Your original question was:

"What are the techniques to be used to collect data from the Reflection nebulae and the other broad band targets?"

You specified broadband targets and, in particular, reflection nebulae.

It is helpful to be clear on what you want to do. There is an enormous difference between broad band and narrowband imaging. The latter, whether using OSC or mono, is done quite frequently from LP sites. The former is a far more difficult exercise.

Edited ...

4.07 Francesco Meschia ... · view views · 2 likes · Share link
I'm under Bortle 7 sky (SQM 18.5 mag/arcsec^2). I have imaged –in broadband– dark nebulae, molecular clouds, and even parts of the IFN from here. Long total integration time. The time it takes to reach a given SNR is linear with the sky radiance. Imaging from my location takes 16x longer integration than from under a 21.5 mag/arcsec^2 sky to get the same results. Or at least in theory, because one must also... Reduce stray light and direct illumination from streetlights as much as possible. Long total integration time also means integrating unwanted light. There's not much one can do with the light scattered from the sky, but try to do something about direct sources of light. MUCH better not to collect stray light than integrating it and then having to remove it. Long integration times will inevitably translate into multi-night projects. Fine tune your automation, and use tools to normalize the subs from different nights (I use the excellent NormalizeScaleGradient script). If mono, do not forgo luminance! Luminance racks up SNR three times faster than RGB. Galaxies can be rewarding if the image scale allows. https://www.astrobin.com/o0bu34/M/ https://www.astrobin.com/rfxb9n/ https://www.astrobin.com/dapied/O/ https://www.astrobin.com/wrb5b1/ https://www.astrobin.com/qbzz65/ https://www.astrobin.com/5yupl8/ Edited ... Like

4.07

Francesco Meschia

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I'm under Bortle 7 sky (SQM 18.5 mag/arcsec^2). I have imaged –in broadband– dark nebulae, molecular clouds, and even parts of the IFN from here.

Long total integration time. The time it takes to reach a given SNR is linear with the sky radiance. Imaging from my location takes 16x longer integration than from under a 21.5 mag/arcsec^2 sky to get the same results. Or at least in theory, because one must also...
Reduce stray light and direct illumination from streetlights as much as possible. Long total integration time also means integrating unwanted light. There's not much one can do with the light scattered from the sky, but try to do something about direct sources of light. MUCH better not to collect stray light than integrating it and then having to remove it.
Long integration times will inevitably translate into multi-night projects. Fine tune your automation, and use tools to normalize the subs from different nights (I use the excellent NormalizeScaleGradient script).
If mono, do not forgo luminance! Luminance racks up SNR three times faster than RGB.
Galaxies can be rewarding if the image scale allows.

https://www.astrobin.com/o0bu34/M/
https://www.astrobin.com/rfxb9n/
https://www.astrobin.com/dapied/O/
https://www.astrobin.com/wrb5b1/
https://www.astrobin.com/qbzz65/
https://www.astrobin.com/5yupl8/

Edited ...

0.00 Ajith Everester Topic starter ... · view views · Share link
Arun H: Ajith Everester: Are all those from bortle 7/8/9? Includinghhe galaxies?? These are awesome. Motivated. That is a narrow band image. Your original question was: "What are the techniques to be used to collect data from the Reflection nebulae and the other broad band targets?" You specified broadband targets and, in particular, reflection nebulae. It is helpful to be clear on what you want to do. There is an enormous difference between broad band and narrowband imaging. The latter, whether using OSC or mono, is done quite frequently from LP sites. The former is a far more difficult exercise. I am trying to photograph broadband targets from bortle 8/9 for past 4 years and not getting a decent output. I have both OSC and Mono cameras. For Mono i use Chroma filters. I have a skywatcher quattro 300p sitting on a EQ8R pro mount and a Celestron C9.25 xlt sitting on a EQ6R pro mount. I am familiar with narrowband imaging and infact doing it most of the time. But my trial to achieve a good broadband image is ending up in vain. Like

0.00

Ajith Everester

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Arun H:
Ajith Everester:
Are all those from bortle 7/8/9? Includinghhe galaxies?? These are awesome. Motivated.

That is a narrow band image.

Your original question was:

"What are the techniques to be used to collect data from the Reflection nebulae and the other broad band targets?"

You specified broadband targets and, in particular, reflection nebulae.

It is helpful to be clear on what you want to do. There is an enormous difference between broad band and narrowband imaging. The latter, whether using OSC or mono, is done quite frequently from LP sites. The former is a far more difficult exercise.

I am trying to photograph broadband targets from bortle 8/9 for past 4 years and not getting a decent output. I have both OSC and Mono cameras. For Mono i use Chroma filters. I have a skywatcher quattro 300p sitting on a EQ8R pro mount and a Celestron C9.25 xlt sitting on a EQ6R pro mount. I am familiar with narrowband imaging and infact doing it most of the time. But my trial to achieve a good broadband image is ending up in vain.

0.00 Ajith Everester Topic starter ... · view views · Share link
Francesco Meschia: I'm under Bortle 7 sky (SQM 18.5 mag/arcsec^2). I have imaged dark nebulae, molecular clouds, and even parts of the IFN from here. Long total integration time. The time it takes to reach a given SNR is linear with the sky radiance. Imaging from my location takes 16x longer integration than from under a 21.5 mag/arcsec^2 sky to get the same results. Or at least in theory, because one must also... Reduce stray light and direct illumination from streetlights as much as possible. Long total integration time also means integrating unwanted light. There's not much one can do with the light scattered from the sky, but try to do something about direct sources of light. MUCH better not to collect stray light than integrating it and then having to remove it. Long integration times will inevitably translate into multi-night projects. Fine tune your automation, and use tools to normalize the subs from different nights (I use the excellent NormalizeScaleGradient script). If mono, do not forgo luminance! Luminance racks up SNR three times faster than RGB. Galaxies can be rewarding if the image scale allows. https://www.astrobin.com/o0bu34/M/ https://www.astrobin.com/rfxb9n/ https://www.astrobin.com/dapied/O/ https://www.astrobin.com/wrb5b1/ https://www.astrobin.com/qbzz65/ https://www.astrobin.com/5yupl8/ These are impressive images from bortle 7. Motivating. Yes infact i have stopped truing a Lum frame. That is seriously hard. RGB is still ok with 30 to 60 sec exposure at 100 gain using ZWO ASI 1600mm camera. But still the reflections from the coma corrector is hard to eliminate. Do you have any specific technique to avoid that?? Like

0.00

Ajith Everester

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Francesco Meschia:
I'm under Bortle 7 sky (SQM 18.5 mag/arcsec^2). I have imaged dark nebulae, molecular clouds, and even parts of the IFN from here.
Long total integration time. The time it takes to reach a given SNR is linear with the sky radiance. Imaging from my location takes 16x longer integration than from under a 21.5 mag/arcsec^2 sky to get the same results. Or at least in theory, because one must also...
Reduce stray light and direct illumination from streetlights as much as possible. Long total integration time also means integrating unwanted light. There's not much one can do with the light scattered from the sky, but try to do something about direct sources of light. MUCH better not to collect stray light than integrating it and then having to remove it.
Long integration times will inevitably translate into multi-night projects. Fine tune your automation, and use tools to normalize the subs from different nights (I use the excellent NormalizeScaleGradient script).
If mono, do not forgo luminance! Luminance racks up SNR three times faster than RGB.
Galaxies can be rewarding if the image scale allows.

https://www.astrobin.com/o0bu34/M/
https://www.astrobin.com/rfxb9n/
https://www.astrobin.com/dapied/O/
https://www.astrobin.com/wrb5b1/
https://www.astrobin.com/qbzz65/
https://www.astrobin.com/5yupl8/

These are impressive images from bortle 7. Motivating. Yes infact i have stopped truing a Lum frame. That is seriously hard. RGB is still ok with 30 to 60 sec exposure at 100 gain using ZWO ASI 1600mm camera. But still the reflections from the coma corrector is hard to eliminate. Do you have any specific technique to avoid that??

4.07 Francesco Meschia ... · view views · 1 like · Share link
Ajith Everester: Francesco Meschia: I'm under Bortle 7 sky (SQM 18.5 mag/arcsec^2). I have imaged dark nebulae, molecular clouds, and even parts of the IFN from here. Long total integration time. The time it takes to reach a given SNR is linear with the sky radiance. Imaging from my location takes 16x longer integration than from under a 21.5 mag/arcsec^2 sky to get the same results. Or at least in theory, because one must also... Reduce stray light and direct illumination from streetlights as much as possible. Long total integration time also means integrating unwanted light. There's not much one can do with the light scattered from the sky, but try to do something about direct sources of light. MUCH better not to collect stray light than integrating it and then having to remove it. Long integration times will inevitably translate into multi-night projects. Fine tune your automation, and use tools to normalize the subs from different nights (I use the excellent NormalizeScaleGradient script). If mono, do not forgo luminance! Luminance racks up SNR three times faster than RGB. Galaxies can be rewarding if the image scale allows. https://www.astrobin.com/o0bu34/M/ https://www.astrobin.com/rfxb9n/ https://www.astrobin.com/dapied/O/ https://www.astrobin.com/wrb5b1/ https://www.astrobin.com/qbzz65/ https://www.astrobin.com/5yupl8/ These are impressive images from bortle 7. Motivating. Yes infact i have stopped truing a Lum frame. That is seriously hard. RGB is still ok with 30 to 60 sec exposure at 100 gain using ZWO ASI 1600mm camera. But still the reflections from the coma corrector is hard to eliminate. Do you have any specific technique to avoid that?? Thank you! Reflections in the setup you describe can come from two classes of sources: some metal part along the imaging train that is shiny at grazing angle, or reflections between two optical surfaces. In the former case, you can try to determine which surface is shiny, and apply a very flat black paint like Musou Black, or flocking tape/paper. This has helped me considerably. The latter case is, unfortunately, widely reported with certain types of coma correctors. A concave last optical surface (as viewed from the camera), can produce a ghost image of the pupil, which is almost impossible to eliminate. You may want to look for posts by people like John Hayes who have touched the topic. Good luck! Like

4.07

Francesco Meschia

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Ajith Everester:
Francesco Meschia:
I'm under Bortle 7 sky (SQM 18.5 mag/arcsec^2). I have imaged dark nebulae, molecular clouds, and even parts of the IFN from here.
Long total integration time. The time it takes to reach a given SNR is linear with the sky radiance. Imaging from my location takes 16x longer integration than from under a 21.5 mag/arcsec^2 sky to get the same results. Or at least in theory, because one must also...
Reduce stray light and direct illumination from streetlights as much as possible. Long total integration time also means integrating unwanted light. There's not much one can do with the light scattered from the sky, but try to do something about direct sources of light. MUCH better not to collect stray light than integrating it and then having to remove it.
Long integration times will inevitably translate into multi-night projects. Fine tune your automation, and use tools to normalize the subs from different nights (I use the excellent NormalizeScaleGradient script).
If mono, do not forgo luminance! Luminance racks up SNR three times faster than RGB.
Galaxies can be rewarding if the image scale allows.

https://www.astrobin.com/o0bu34/M/
https://www.astrobin.com/rfxb9n/
https://www.astrobin.com/dapied/O/
https://www.astrobin.com/wrb5b1/
https://www.astrobin.com/qbzz65/
https://www.astrobin.com/5yupl8/

These are impressive images from bortle 7. Motivating. Yes infact i have stopped truing a Lum frame. That is seriously hard. RGB is still ok with 30 to 60 sec exposure at 100 gain using ZWO ASI 1600mm camera. But still the reflections from the coma corrector is hard to eliminate. Do you have any specific technique to avoid that??

Thank you!
Reflections in the setup you describe can come from two classes of sources: some metal part along the imaging train that is shiny at grazing angle, or reflections between two optical surfaces. In the former case, you can try to determine which surface is shiny, and apply a very flat black paint like Musou Black, or flocking tape/paper. This has helped me considerably.
The latter case is, unfortunately, widely reported with certain types of coma correctors. A concave last optical surface (as viewed from the camera), can produce a ghost image of the pupil, which is almost impossible to eliminate. You may want to look for posts by people like John Hayes who have touched the topic.
Good luck!

4.07 Francesco Meschia ... · view views · 1 like · Share link
=14pxThese are impressive images from bortle 7. Motivating. Yes infact i have stopped truing a Lum frame. That is seriously hard. RGB is still ok with 30 to 60 sec exposure at 100 gain using ZWO ASI 1600mm camera. But still the reflections from the coma corrector is hard to eliminate. Do you have any specific technique to avoid that?? For your luminance (but for RGB as well) you may want to drop gain to zero. Yes, you will have more read noise, but the sky will still be plenty bright to swamp your read noise under a ton of photon noise. You will gain (pun intended) something in full well capacity, you will be able to take longer subs and have fewer files to contend with. Like

4.07

Francesco Meschia

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=14pxThese are impressive images from bortle 7. Motivating. Yes infact i have stopped truing a Lum frame. That is seriously hard. RGB is still ok with 30 to 60 sec exposure at 100 gain using ZWO ASI 1600mm camera. But still the reflections from the coma corrector is hard to eliminate. Do you have any specific technique to avoid that??

For your luminance (but for RGB as well) you may want to drop gain to zero. Yes, you will have more read noise, but the sky will still be plenty bright to swamp your read noise under a ton of photon noise. You will gain (pun intended) something in full well capacity, you will be able to take longer subs and have fewer files to contend with.

8.46 SemiPro ... · view views · Share link
Arun H: Never say never though! https://app.astrobin.com/i/230lig You can still crank out banger broadband images of brighter targets if you are dedicated enough. Please not the lack of faint details in the background, in addition to the almost 80hrs of exposure time. And the massive 305mm aperture. You need a lot of photons for this to get to good enough SNR, and you can do that through aperture, imaging time or (ideally) both. Focal ratio matters more for long exposure DSO's. 80 hours at F/5 on a reasonably bright target ain't bad. Again, I point out the tell-tale that this is from a high bortle level being the lack of faint background objects. Stefan Pfleger: Arun H: Never say never though! https://app.astrobin.com/i/230lig You can still crank out banger broadband images of brighter targets if you are dedicated enough. Please not the lack of faint details in the background, in addition to the almost 80hrs of exposure time. And the massive 305mm aperture. You need a lot of photons for this to get to good enough SNR, and you can do that through aperture, imaging time or (ideally) both. 80hrs for that…coulda been done in a single night b3 or better. I think that is pretty obvious. Its obvious to anyone who has the slightest experience that a lower bortle is better. He wasn't asking if a lower bortle is better, but whether or not its possible to make servicable pictures in a light polluted zone, which I think people in this thread have shown that it is. Like

8.46

SemiPro

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Arun H:
Never say never though!
https://app.astrobin.com/i/230lig

You can still crank out banger broadband images of brighter targets if you are dedicated enough. Please not the lack of faint details in the background, in addition to the almost 80hrs of exposure time.

And the massive 305mm aperture. You need a lot of photons for this to get to good enough SNR, and you can do that through aperture, imaging time or (ideally) both.

Focal ratio matters more for long exposure DSO's. 80 hours at F/5 on a reasonably bright target ain't bad. Again, I point out the tell-tale that this is from a high bortle level being the lack of faint background objects.

Stefan Pfleger:
Arun H:
Never say never though!
https://app.astrobin.com/i/230lig

You can still crank out banger broadband images of brighter targets if you are dedicated enough. Please not the lack of faint details in the background, in addition to the almost 80hrs of exposure time.

And the massive 305mm aperture. You need a lot of photons for this to get to good enough SNR, and you can do that through aperture, imaging time or (ideally) both.

80hrs for that…coulda been done in a single night b3 or better.

I think that is pretty obvious. Its obvious to anyone who has the slightest experience that a lower bortle is better. He wasn't asking if a lower bortle is better, but whether or not its possible to make servicable pictures in a light polluted zone, which I think people in this thread have shown that it is.

1.81 AstRobert ... · view views · 2 likes · Share link
Hi, to give you and everyone else who is in a similar situation my 2 bits. I moved from a sport with >21 to Vienna with ~18 SQM. That made me stop astrophotography for about 5 years now. But since I am undergoin several changes in my life I also took back controll and won't lightpollution stop me from this amazing hobby. I got back into the hobby with a ES127mm Triplet and a TS 80mm Triplet and an IMX571 Color with the tightes dual-narrowband that I could find (Altair in this case). The first tests I made with broadband targets confirms me on the opinion: "just do it!". Will dark skies be better or easier? Sure... should that stop you from doing it at all?? HELL NO. Plus... I anyway don't know what I am missing out so I just work with what I have. Focusing on "distinct" objects like Galaxies or Star Clusters is indeed helpfull compared to intricate and frame-filling IFN or reflection nebulae. Also so far I never had issues with gradients that all the established gradient removal tools couldnt handel. My absoult favourite Toolbox (incl. gradient removal) is the one form SETI-Astro! Regarding sub-exposure time... just pick what feels right and try around. Somewhere between 30 and 120" should be right. I personally don't count too much an alle these calculation tools and "rules" that everyone just keeps repeating. Find your own flow by trying around, thats the beauty of the hobby, isnt it?And if you don't have a proper setup (guiding, collimation, polar align,...) and dont know how to process your images, no dark skies nore optimized "blabla" will make you take great images... Regarding broadband the very first tests I made were these two: M81/82 with only 4 hours a 120" (far form done collecting data) And yes I know that there is beautiful IFN in the background that I might or might not bring out with more data, but that is just even more of a fun challenge :-) https://www.astrobin.com/ewfkuv/C/ M13 with only 30min a 30". https://www.astrobin.com/hr0vru/D/ In generall star clusters are a real fun to image also from light polluted skies! Like this work in progress (1.5h) ET-Cluster: The absolute cheat code though is narrowband! So much so, that I just ordered an imx571 Mono and SHO filters. Due to these initial results with the imx571 Color and Dual-Narrowband Filters: I am still in the process of collecting data, so I cant share links to those narrwoband results but here a sneak preview on the results with imx571C and Dual-Narrowband: 80mm 7h of Ha/Oiii 120sec subs 127mm 4h of Ha/Oiii 120sec subs Are they IOTD-Material? Maybe not. Is it fun and do I like them? Yep best decision ever to go back into the hobby nomatter the light-pollution ❤️ Clear Skies Robert PS: and of coures Sun and Lunar works just perfectly fine as well Like

1.81

AstRobert

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Hi,

to give you and everyone else who is in a similar situation my 2 bits.

I moved from a sport with >21 to Vienna with ~18 SQM. That made me stop astrophotography for about 5 years now. But since I am undergoin several changes in my life I also took back controll and won't lightpollution stop me from this amazing hobby.

I got back into the hobby with a ES127mm Triplet and a TS 80mm Triplet and an IMX571 Color with the tightes dual-narrowband that I could find (Altair in this case).

The first tests I made with broadband targets confirms me on the opinion: "just do it!".
Will dark skies be better or easier? Sure... should that stop you from doing it at all?? HELL NO.
Plus... I anyway don't know what I am missing out so I just work with what I have.
Focusing on "distinct" objects like Galaxies or Star Clusters is indeed helpfull compared to intricate and frame-filling IFN or reflection nebulae.
Also so far I never had issues with gradients that all the established gradient removal tools couldnt handel.
My absoult favourite Toolbox (incl. gradient removal) is the one form SETI-Astro!
Regarding sub-exposure time... just pick what feels right and try around. Somewhere between 30 and 120" should be right.

I personally don't count too much an alle these calculation tools and "rules" that everyone just keeps repeating. Find your own flow by trying around, thats the beauty of the hobby, isnt it?And if you don't have a proper setup (guiding, collimation, polar align,...) and dont know how to process your images, no dark skies nore optimized "blabla" will make you take great images...

Regarding broadband the very first tests I made were these two:

M81/82 with only 4 hours a 120" (far form done collecting data)
And yes I know that there is beautiful IFN in the background that I might or might not bring out with more data, but that is just even more of a fun challenge :-)
https://www.astrobin.com/ewfkuv/C/

M13 with only 30min a 30".
https://www.astrobin.com/hr0vru/D/

In generall star clusters are a real fun to image also from light polluted skies!

Like this work in progress (1.5h) ET-Cluster:

The absolute cheat code though is narrowband! So much so, that I just ordered an imx571 Mono and SHO filters. Due to these initial results with the imx571 Color and Dual-Narrowband Filters:

I am still in the process of collecting data, so I cant share links to those narrwoband results but here a sneak preview on the results with imx571C and Dual-Narrowband:

80mm 7h of Ha/Oiii 120sec subs

127mm 4h of Ha/Oiii 120sec subs

Are they IOTD-Material? Maybe not. Is it fun and do I like them? Yep best decision ever to go back into the hobby nomatter the light-pollution ❤️

Clear Skies
Robert
PS: and of coures Sun and Lunar works just perfectly fine as well

0.00 Ajith Everester Topic starter ... · view views · 1 like · Share link
AstRobert: Hi, to give you and everyone else who is in a similar situation my 2 bits. I moved from a sport with >21 to Vienna with ~18 SQM. That made me stop astrophotography for about 5 years now. But since I am undergoin several changes in my life I also took back controll and won't lightpollution stop me from this amazing hobby. I got back into the hobby with a ES127mm Triplet and a TS 80mm Triplet and an IMX571 Color with the tightes dual-narrowband that I could find (Altair in this case). The first tests I made with broadband targets confirms me on the opinion: "just do it!". Will dark skies be better or easier? Sure... should that stop you from doing it at all?? HELL NO. Plus... I anyway don't know what I am missing out so I just work with what I have. Focusing on "distinct" objects like Galaxies or Star Clusters is indeed helpfull compared to intricate and frame-filling IFN or reflection nebulae. Also so far I never had issues with gradients that all the established gradient removal tools couldnt handel. My absoult favourite Toolbox (incl. gradient removal) is the one form SETI-Astro! Regarding sub-exposure time... just pick what feels right and try around. Somewhere between 30 and 120" should be right. I personally don't count too much an alle these calculation tools and "rules" that everyone just keeps repeating. Find your own flow by trying around, thats the beauty of the hobby, isnt it?And if you don't have a proper setup (guiding, collimation, polar align,...) and dont know how to process your images, no dark skies nore optimized "blabla" will make you take great images... Regarding broadband the very first tests I made were these two: M81/82 with only 4 hours a 120" (far form done collecting data) And yes I know that there is beautiful IFN in the background that I might or might not bring out with more data, but that is just even more of a fun challenge :-) https://www.astrobin.com/ewfkuv/C/ M13 with only 30min a 30". https://www.astrobin.com/hr0vru/D/ In generall star clusters are a real fun to image also from light polluted skies! Like this work in progress (1.5h) ET-Cluster: The absolute cheat code though is narrowband! So much so, that I just ordered an imx571 Mono and SHO filters. Due to these initial results with the imx571 Color and Dual-Narrowband Filters: I am still in the process of collecting data, so I cant share links to those narrwoband results but here a sneak preview on the results with imx571C and Dual-Narrowband: 80mm 7h of Ha/Oiii 120sec subs 127mm 4h of Ha/Oiii 120sec subs Are they IOTD-Material? Maybe not. Is it fun and do I like them? Yep best decision ever to go back into the hobby nomatter the light-pollution ❤️ Clear Skies Robert PS: and of coures Sun and Lunar works just perfectly fine as well Inspiring words. Like

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Ajith Everester

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AstRobert:
Hi,

to give you and everyone else who is in a similar situation my 2 bits.

I moved from a sport with >21 to Vienna with ~18 SQM. That made me stop astrophotography for about 5 years now. But since I am undergoin several changes in my life I also took back controll and won't lightpollution stop me from this amazing hobby.

I got back into the hobby with a ES127mm Triplet and a TS 80mm Triplet and an IMX571 Color with the tightes dual-narrowband that I could find (Altair in this case).

The first tests I made with broadband targets confirms me on the opinion: "just do it!".
Will dark skies be better or easier? Sure... should that stop you from doing it at all?? HELL NO.
Plus... I anyway don't know what I am missing out so I just work with what I have.
Focusing on "distinct" objects like Galaxies or Star Clusters is indeed helpfull compared to intricate and frame-filling IFN or reflection nebulae.
Also so far I never had issues with gradients that all the established gradient removal tools couldnt handel.
My absoult favourite Toolbox (incl. gradient removal) is the one form SETI-Astro!
Regarding sub-exposure time... just pick what feels right and try around. Somewhere between 30 and 120" should be right.

I personally don't count too much an alle these calculation tools and "rules" that everyone just keeps repeating. Find your own flow by trying around, thats the beauty of the hobby, isnt it?And if you don't have a proper setup (guiding, collimation, polar align,...) and dont know how to process your images, no dark skies nore optimized "blabla" will make you take great images...

Regarding broadband the very first tests I made were these two:

M81/82 with only 4 hours a 120" (far form done collecting data)
And yes I know that there is beautiful IFN in the background that I might or might not bring out with more data, but that is just even more of a fun challenge :-)
https://www.astrobin.com/ewfkuv/C/

M13 with only 30min a 30".
https://www.astrobin.com/hr0vru/D/

In generall star clusters are a real fun to image also from light polluted skies!

Like this work in progress (1.5h) ET-Cluster:

The absolute cheat code though is narrowband! So much so, that I just ordered an imx571 Mono and SHO filters. Due to these initial results with the imx571 Color and Dual-Narrowband Filters:

I am still in the process of collecting data, so I cant share links to those narrwoband results but here a sneak preview on the results with imx571C and Dual-Narrowband:

80mm 7h of Ha/Oiii 120sec subs

127mm 4h of Ha/Oiii 120sec subs

Are they IOTD-Material? Maybe not. Is it fun and do I like them? Yep best decision ever to go back into the hobby nomatter the light-pollution ❤️

Clear Skies
Robert
PS: and of coures Sun and Lunar works just perfectly fine as well

Inspiring words.

0.00 Huib Wouters ... · view views · Share link
Tony Gondola: That's an interesting comment about applying background extraction to the subs rather than the stacked image. I too have found that to be a very effective approach and use it a lot. The Siril script makes it very easy to do. I just need to dive into the script at some point and make a version that does drizzle too. Copy/paste fromdifferent scripts will get you a personalised Siril script in no time. For multi session stacks, with different flat frames, I use the Sirilic wrapper to control my image processing. Like

0.00

Huib Wouters

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Tony Gondola:
That's an interesting comment about applying background extraction to the subs rather than the stacked image. I too have found that to be a very effective approach and use it a lot. The Siril script makes it very easy to do. I just need to dive into the script at some point and make a version that does drizzle too.

Copy/paste fromdifferent scripts will get you a personalised Siril script in no time.

For multi session stacks, with different flat frames, I use the Sirilic wrapper to control my image processing.

8.42 Rob Johnson ... · view views · Share link
Great advice form the many replies above but don’t give up and get frustrated, I’ve been imaging from B7/8 for many years and although no IOTD 😆 I get results that are pleasing to me. I go after anything that interests me, Solar system, clusters, galaxies and all in broadband without filters without excessively long integration times. I experimented with filters but found the inevitable light block was equivalent to doubling up the exposure to get the same result without. https://www.astrobin.com/users/fornaxtwo/ Like

8.42

Rob Johnson

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Great advice form the many replies above but don’t give up and get frustrated, I’ve been imaging from B7/8 for many years and although no IOTD 😆 I get results that are pleasing to me. I go after anything that interests me, Solar system, clusters, galaxies and all in broadband without filters without excessively long integration times. I experimented with filters but found the inevitable light block was equivalent to doubling up the exposure to get the same result without.
https://www.astrobin.com/users/fornaxtwo/

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