M45 in HaRGB

[Padraic M]

Back in Bortle 8, and taking a half-opportunity last night to image M45 for the first time. This is a HaRGB composition, although the Ha frames were greatly damaged by patchy cloud, and didn't contribute that much to the end result. Taking @carastro's advice, the red, green and blue frames worked really well.

Two major changes in my workflow:
- I got a new Sesto Senso 2 for Christmas, and I'm really pleased with it. Very robust and reliable.
- I've switched from APT to NINA simply for the autofocus routine, which is spectacular.

The image is made up of:
- 13x300s Baader 3.5nm H-alpha
- 10x180s each of Baader Red, Green and Blue

Still plenty of work to be done - much more data required, there's plenty of noise and the stars are pretty funky.

View on Astrobin. Constructive criticism and suggestions welcome.

Esprit 80, ZWO EFW Mini, ASI1600mm@-20C, Sesto Senso 2
Altair Astro 50mm guidescope, ASI290mm mini
HEQ5 Rowan belt-mod
Processed in DSS and Startools.

[KevS]

That's very good, better than I can get in Bortle 5. ? 

[AstronomyUkraine]

Posted by: @padraic-m

Back in Bortle 8, and taking a half-opportunity last night to image M45 for the first time. This is a HaRGB composition, although the Ha frames were greatly damaged by patchy cloud, and didn't contribute that much to the end result. Taking @carastro's advice, the red, green and blue frames worked really well.

Two major changes in my workflow:

- I got a new Sesto Senso 2 for Christmas, and I'm really pleased with it. Very robust and reliable.

- I've switched from APT to NINA simply for the autofocus routine, which is spectacular.

The image is made up of:

- 13x300s Baader 3.5nm H-alpha

- 10x180s each of Baader Red, Green and Blue

Still plenty of work to be done - much more data required, there's plenty of noise and the stars are pretty funky.

It's coming along great. Maybe swapping the Ha for Lum data would give you a better image. I'm not sure there is too much Ha in that object.

[Padraic M]

@AstronomyUkraine Yes I think you're right about the Ha. I will try to get some Lum data, but I don't have high expectations from it with the high level of light pollution here. I may need to wait until I'm under darker skies.

[AstronomyUkraine]

Posted by: @padraic-m

@astronomyukraine Yes I think you're right about the Ha. I will try to get some Lum data, but I don't have high expectations from it with the high level of light pollution here. I may need to wait until I'm under darker skies.

At least the moon won't be a problem for the next few days.

[Carastro]

Posted by: @padraic-m

Taking @carastro's advice

HaRGB using ha as luminance really only works if the target has a reasonable amount of Ha, galaxies and star clusters are really luminance targets, or if you have one an Idas hutech filter instead of luminance.

Never the less it's a nice looking image.

Carole 

[Padraic M]

Thanks for all the feedback everybody. I've redone M45, dropping the Ha and adding 42mins of luminance, which I managed to salvage from 2hrs of imaging on a cloudy night.

I've redone my flats, which had gone badly out of line for some reason - still not right, but I'll need more time to work them up properly. On the list for next weekend.

Also I've dropped Startools, which often causes a very blotchy texture. This one is processed entirely in DSS and Gimp. Multiple layers of gradient removal. Ah, the joys of city skies ? ! 

[MarkAR]

Second iteration looks really good, well done.