Wizard nebula NGC7380 First Light with Esprit100

[Carastro]

I received the Esprit100 back in June, but then had to wait for the focal reducer to come into stock, I didn't want to simply use the recommended flattener as one of the reasons I bought this scope was because I wanted faster optics as I have been thoroughly spoilt with the Samyang lens. 

The Esprit is f5.5 and with the TS Optics TS PHOTOLINE 2 79x reducer, this brings it down to f 4.34.

I then had to mess around for a while trying to get the spacing right.   I have lost the plot now exactly what it is but I think it is now 57.64mm which is the best I could get, especially with stuck spacers and what I had available.   I have screw fit to eliminate tilt, and I have posted the full frame (apart from cropping stacking artifacts).

Anyway, the image:
Atik460EX and Esprit100 +  TS Optics TS PHOTOLINE 2 79x reducer
HEQ5
POD dome had to be taken off the walls onto the dome table as the target was at the Zenith, so also had to wait for the wind to die down.

Ha 28 x 600  4h 40m
Oiii & Sii 18 x 300 binned (each) 3h
RGB for stars 3 x 150 each (binned)

Total imaging time 8 hours during bright waning gibbous Moon (3 nights past Full Moon).

The last time I attempted this target from Bortle 8 it was awful (a number of years ago now).

https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/mC-qLt8aBb0q_1824x0_SH1tglsS.jpg

[Bob-c]

Posted by: @Carastro

I received the Esprit100 back in June, but then had to wait for the focal reducer to come into stock, I didn't want to simply use the recommended flattener as one of the reasons I bought this scope was because I wanted faster optics as I have been thoroughly spoilt with the Samyang lens. 

The Esprit is f5.5 and with the TS Optics TS PHOTOLINE 2 79x reducer, this brings it down to f 4.34.

I then had to mess around for a while trying to get the spacing right.   I have lost the plot now exactly what it is but I think it is now 57.64mm which is the best I could get, especially with stuck spacers and what I had available.   I have screw fit to eliminate tilt, and I have posted the full frame (apart from cropping stacking artifacts).

Anyway, the image:

Atik460EX and Esprit100 +  TS Optics TS PHOTOLINE 2 79x reducer

HEQ5

POD dome had to be taken off the walls onto the dome table as the target was at the Zenith, so also had to wait for the wind to die down.

Ha 28 x 600  4h 40m

Oiii & Sii 18 x 300 binned (each) 3h

RGB for stars 3 x 150 each (binned)

Total imaging time 8 hours during bright waning gibbous Moon (3 nights past Full Moon).

The last time I attempted this target from Bortle 8 it was awful (a number of years ago now).

https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/mC-qLt8aBb0q_1824x0_SH1tglsS.jpg

A lovely looking Wizard .Well processed.

Bob.

[paulgrover68]

That's a wonderful capture. Love the dark ridges - they really stand out. I'm really loving images in that pallette too.

I feel your pain on spacing I think I got mine just about right and then added my filter drawer which as lost me a couple of crucial millimeters.

[Jkulin]

Hi Carole, you have nailed that, lovely star colours, nicely processed and sharp, that really is your best, well done!

[Carastro]

Thanks everyone.

Carole 

[Dmack1]

Posted by: @Carastro

 

Ha 28 x 600  4h 40m

Oiii & Sii 18 x 300 binned (each) 3h

RGB for stars 3 x 150 each (binned)

Total imaging time 8 hours during bright waning gibbous Moon (3 nights past Full Moon).

The last time I attempted this target from Bortle 8 it was awful (a number of years ago now).

 

That is fantastic. The wizard stands out beautifully and the star colours are great. Can I ask exactly how you combine the RGB stars with your NB image - I'm working with an L-eNhance filter sometimes and I would really like to be able to put good coloured stars back in.

[Hallingskies]

That was very brave of you to commit to a reducer on what is already a fast scope, but it looks like it has worked out for you. I also have an Esprit 100/Atik 460 combo but I use neither a field flattener nor a reducer (for various reasons I use an OAG which puts the back focus out). The 460 sits well within the field circle of the Esprit but I do get some eggy stars in the corners.

You have done well with the Wizard given the local conditions these past few days. You are not so far from me and I have struggled with the moon lighting up some high haze and the resultant noisy subs.

[Padraic M]

Lovely work Carole. Hope you're happy with the 100.

Is that an RGB starfield layered and masked with a SHO nebula, or have you blended SHO&RGB across the entire frame?

[MarkAR]

Lovely image Carole.

[TerryMcK]

Great first light with the new telescope Carole

[AstronomyUkraine]

Beautiful image. Nice crisp detail in the nebula.

Brian

[GazAstro]

Very nice Carole ??

[Carastro]

Posted by: @Dmack1

Can I ask exactly how you combine the RGB stars with your NB image - I'm working with an L-eNhance filter sometimes and I would really like to be able to put good coloured stars back in.

In my case I use Mono filters, so I capture a separate set of RGB.  I don't know how the L'eNhance filter works, do you do it all in one capture and then simply stack?

With mono you always need to make sure your stars all line up before combining, using software that will register the images.  In my case I use Registar.  Then once my RGB and Narrowband images are registered/aligned, I select the stars from the RGB image, (I use photoshop), expand the stars by about 4 and then feather them by about 2 and then copy them and paste them onto the NB image.  The stars will normally have a slight ring around them in the expand and feather process, so I then go into layer (top bar) and create a layer mask, and then in layers palette I combine the RGB using blend = color.  Sometimes I also need to shrink down the size of the RGB stars as they tend to be larger than the NB stars. 

HTH

Carole  

   

[Carastro]

Posted by: @Hallingskies

That was very brave of you to commit to a reducer on what is already a fast scope

Thanks, well I always tend to go in feet first and either sink or swim.

Posted by: @padraic-m

Is that an RGB starfield layered and masked with a SHO nebula, or have you blended SHO&RGB across the entire frame?

Thanks Padraic, hopefully my reply to DMack above will explain what I did. 

Thanks to everyone else.

Carole 

 

[Padraic M]

Posted by: @Carastro

my reply to DMack above

Thanks Carole, that's fascinating.

[Dmack1]

Posted by: @Carastro

Posted by: @Dmack1

Can I ask exactly how you combine the RGB stars with your NB image - I'm working with an L-eNhance filter sometimes and I would really like to be able to put good coloured stars back in.

In my case I use Mono filters, so I capture a separate set of RGB.  I don't know how the L'eNhance filter works, do you do it all in one capture and then simply stack?

With mono you always need to make sure your stars all line up before combining, using software that will register the images.  In my case I use Registar.  Then once my RGB and Narrowband images are registered/aligned, I select the stars from the RGB image, (I use photoshop), expand the stars by about 4 and then feather them by about 2 and then copy them and paste them onto the NB image.  The stars will normally have a slight ring around them in the expand and feather process, so I then go into layer (top bar) and create a layer mask, and then in layers palette I combine the RGB using blend = color.  Sometimes I also need to shrink down the size of the RGB stars as they tend to be larger than the NB stars. 

HTH

Carole  

   

Thanks Carole - thats pretty clear.

 

So with the L-eNhance its a matter of collect the filtered data which is then separated out into Ha and Oii channels (I use APP which has a great algorith to do that) then recombined to give a HOO image (like the Heart neb I posted previously). I will now collect some rgb data (DSLR without the L-enhance) and try your method. I will register the two final images - ( probably in pixinsight) then take into PS as you described. (I expect that it could be done in Pixelmath within pixinsight but since I am not very mathematical "pixel or otherwise!) I do it your way.

 

Thanks for the help.

David

 

[P Holdsworth]

Beautiful image Carole. You must be thrilled with the Esprit 100 as the sharpness looks really good to me. I agree with earlier comments the processing is superb.

[P Holdsworth]

@dmack1

Hi David, I too have an optolong l enhance with a stock dslr and it's possible to get a SHO image with it. I saw a guy on youtube using the the same extract Ha then O111 algorithms but then used the extract HA O111 'mono' algorithm to create a sulphur layer in Astro pixel processer which he combined in photoshop for the full SHO. It's maybe worth a try ?

[Dmack1]

Posted by: @p-holdsworth

@dmack1

Hi David, I too have an optolong l enhance with a stock dslr and it's possible to get a SHO image with it. I saw a guy on youtube using the the same extract Ha then O111 algorithms but then used the extract HA O111 'mono' algorithm to create a sulphur layer in Astro pixel processer which he combined in photoshop for the full SHO. It's maybe worth a try ?

Thanks - that sounds really interesting.  Would you have a link or a name to help me find that youtube?

 

[P Holdsworth]

@dmack1

Hi David , here is the link to the you tube video for SHO using a OCS in astro pixel processor

https://youtu.be/52N4kJfUSno

I've also included a screenshot of the video in case the link doesn't work