Atik Cameras Forum
Images => Deep Sky Images => Topic started by: MapMaker73 on March 11, 2012, 04:31:52 am
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Finally had a chance to try my new HyperStar configuration. It was easier to take images with than I had anticipated. This is only my second night trying to use a CCD with the telescope I got for Christmas. Am very much a newbie and the learning curve seems steep, but I am encouraged that even from my backyard's very light polluted skies I can still take some astro images, even with a Alt-Azm mount. HyperStar is great and so is my ATIK 420C.
Images: 7 images @ 30sec ATIK 420c in HyperStar configuration (only half the images attempted showed round enough stars)
ArtemisCapture
Nebulosity 3 to assist fine focus
Post Processing:
MaxIm DL 5 for stacking/alignment/rotation (all default settings) and for "Histogram Specification" (default settings)
Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 for final level adjustment of mid-range levels
Set-up:
Celestron Nexstar 8SE
Starizona HyperStar 3
IDAS LPS V4 filter
Feathertouch Microfocuser / MicroTouch wired Autofocuser
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Hi,
Nice for a second try! I think there is some more data behind that has bee clipped by a to restrictive background neutralisation or noise reduction. IMO try to less heavier stretch the image, even if there is some noise, you will be rewarded with more details!
I think there is also an issue with your focussing method; the stars are not compact and seem defocussed?
Do you manually focus helped by the FWHM ?
Best
lex
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...7 images @ 30sec ATIK 420c in HyperStar configuration...
Nice image! Hyperstar always amazes me w/ its short exposures even though I know it is an f/2 telescope...
bwa
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Hi,
Another question, considering that the scope is below f3 or something; the shown above image is a heavy crop? Do you have a fullframe?
Best
Lex
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Thank you for the replies and the encouraging words. I will experiment more with MaxIm DL to see if I can tease out more details as suggested; it is exciting to think that I could.
I double checked the apparent cropping of the image. I believe the image area captured is reflecting that the ATIK 420c is capturing about 2.27 arcsec per pixel in my HyperStar configuration (assuming a resulting focal length of 400mm), or an image area of 1.02 x 0.77 degrees (width x height).
Thank you for the feedback about focus.
I tried, for the first time, to achieve focus manually by minimizing the FHWM of one of the stars (via Nebulosity). In hindsight I see that my impatience to get to a series of longer exposures influenced my settling on an out-of-focus setting. I also think that because of the relatively high humidity and the low elevation of my backyard observing site, that I did not have much hope for a true fine focus (I am in Saint Charles, MO, part of the Saint Louis metro area).
Hopefully I can better balance my excitement about using the telescope with practicing the patience needed to learn how to use the telescope and its accessories effectively.
Clear skies,
Jim