Our Beautiful Universe - Photos and Videos

[Andy Resnick]

just some thoughts ...

I will note that particularly with the Pleiades and the Flame/HH images, I am surprised you haven't captured much more light for 2.5 hours of total exposure ??
You didn't comment on camera or ISO settings ? ...
I wonder if you are using a very low ISO and or the camera is an older one with a less sensitive sensor chip ?

For 2.5 hrs exposure time, the nebulosity around the Pleiades should be so brightDave

Yeah, the images aren't as amazing as I expected, given the parameters (FWIW, most of the images were taken @ 8s, ISO 1000). Surely, some of the problem is the fact that I am imaging in an urban environment with all of those problems. Another is the clear difference in display characteristics between my laptop (Mac) and desktop (Windblows)- it's an issue with 'gamma' and so what you see is likely different than what I post.

Even so, for a couple of years I have tried to get a better understanding of 1) the (stacked) image statistics and dynamic range and 2) the downsampling process that results in posterized images, and haven't made much progress on either one. To be perfectly honest, the various online forums aren't helpful and often fixate on a 'magic button' in Nebulosity or some other program.

If there is interest, I could open a new thread and walk through the entire process, maybe you (or anyone!) have a useful suggestion.

 

[berkeman]

(Windblows)

LOL

 

[davenn]

If there is interest, I could open a new thread and walk through the entire process, maybe you (or anyone!) have a useful suggestion.

awesome idea ... label the thread " astro image stacking" or words to that effect

 

[Andy Resnick]

Ok, here's a quick-n-dirty result obtained by using a different DSS RAW interpolation- no post-processing (background subtraction, noise reduction, etc): on the same stacked set of images that I showed previously on this thread.

I think there's a significant improvement. More to come!

 

[Andy Resnick]

A few quick results after post-processing: First is a full-frame, the second a more pleasing crop, and the third is good ol' Mr. Ed:

It's not really clear how much of an improvement there has been, but there really is a significant improvement at the pixel level. Background subtraction is also a lot easier- the previous stairstep background made background subtraction exceedingly tricky.

 

[DennisN]

First is a full-frame

Awesome photo!
...and even I know what that is, even though I am pretty bad at star navigation.

Spoiler

It is six shiny stars in a night sky.

the second a more pleasing crop

I actually prefer the first one to the second one. I think it's nice to see the vast surroundings of the constellation .

Edit: And you even managed to capture a black hole :

 

[Andy Resnick]

Edit: And you even managed to capture a black hole :
View attachment 237620

Glad you like them! The 'black hole' is what happens when there's a small piece of dust on the lens when acquiring flat frames. There's a few others present around the periphery...

 

[Andy Resnick]

Here's a re-stack of the Orion nebula (M42): 400mm, DX format: About 1hour of acquisition time.

Here's an image comparison showing that choosing a different RAW converter fixed my problem. The first image is the 'old' converter, the second the 'new' converter using the same set of files (bright and flat)

Clear improvement. In addition to fixing the posterization, it's a lot easier to control the color in the new image. This image also demonstrates what I mean by 'improved dynamic range'. The whole image contains both (more or less) clear renderings of the Trapezium (above, the tight open cluster of 4 stars), of which the brightest star (Theta¹ Orionis C), has an apparent magnitude of 5.13 and simultaneously clear renderings of magnitude 13 stars (as checked using Aladin).

That span of magnitudes corresponds to a total brightness variation within the image of 1600. An alternative specification is that the image intensity encodes 11 bits of dynamic range. "Ideally", I should be able to generate images with about 20 bits of dynamic range. Practically speaking, I seem to hit a limit at magnitude 15, which would correspond to a practical limit of 14 bits (that the original RAW files have 14 bits is a coincidence).

Just recall that in the end- the final displayed or printed image- is an 8-bit/channel format. So here, I had to compress the 11 bits into 8, losing some of the 'photometric precision'.

 

[DennisN]

Here's a re-stack of the Orion nebula (M42): 400mm, DX format: About 1hour of acquisition time.

Simply glorious!
It looks like it could be a good desktop wallpaper too (if it's turned + or -90°).
You don't have a flickr account? For uploading images in large resolutions?
See e.g. this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/best-online-free-photo-storage-option.947054/
and e.g. my post #5.

 

[Andy Resnick]

Simply glorious!
It looks like it could be a good desktop wallpaper too (if it's turned + or -90°).
You don't have a flickr account? For uploading images in large resolutions?
See e.g. this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/best-online-free-photo-storage-option.947054/
and e.g. my post #5.

Thanks!

Honestly, I'm very conflicted about 'sharing my gifts' (see Apple's ad: ). A colleague of mine, who teaches photography, has very definite ideas about how 'freely shared photos' has wrecked the profession : https://csuphoto.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/um-no-only-more-polite/ and https://photoprofessionals.wordpress.com/. To be clear, I'm not a professional, nor do I aspire to sell any of my images. Even so, I don't want to contribute to a bad situation.

 

[DennisN]

A colleague of mine, who teaches photography, has very definite ideas about how 'freely shared photos' has wrecked the profession

I understand.
Maybe it was my mention of wallpaper which made you think about "freely sharing", I'm not sure, but I want to say that on Flickr you can reserve your rights (and this is the default setting), see the text to the bottom right on this example which is one of my photos:

Edit: And If I remember correctly you can also mark certain photos as "private" or "semi-private", i.e. only viewable after invitation.

 

[bruha]

Hello,
I just attach my most well-done image of moon up to know- right down is Copernicus I think and right darker elipse is plato (dont know name).
"Bitten" shape in the middle down is some characteristic moon feature as well…
Next two Images is Pocyon and Gomeisa star-it looks quite some color although Gomeisa is cca 4000 K more hot (but is as well cca 15 times mor far..)
All made by Hyperion eyepiece 5 mm f.l. (telescope 600 x 100 mm ) Lot of success and as beginner I appreciate any advices and experiences.

 

[davenn]

I just attach my most well-done image of moon up to know- right down is Copernicus I think and right darker elipse is plato (dont know name).

Hi you and a happy new year

great moon pic ... always good to see the improvements as time goes by

looking forward to more imagesDave

 

[Andy Resnick]

Improved image of the Veil Nebula- this object nearly fills the entire field of view at 400mm:

A few close-up crops:

 

[bruha]

Hi, it is amazing images…
Can you tell me from which place you made it (probably absolutely without light noise..?) and which devices you use?

Lot of success and happy new year …..

 

[davenn]

Went out several Friday nite's ago as a guest of a local astronomy group. There were around 7 of us with scopes of all types
We were in a reasonably dark site about 40km SW of Sydney ( it still produced sky glow in the NE area so we just did imaging
in other parts of the sky. It had been a long time since I was last out with a group of experienced astrophotographers

It's a great way to be able to bounce ideas and issues off each other. Some really nice gear on display !

We set up around 7 - 7:30PM and then awaited the darkening sky

in this second image, my two scopes are on the centre right. A Celestron CPC925 Schmidt-Cassigrain and a Skywatcher 120 x 1000mm refractor

 

[Andy Resnick]

Hi, it is amazing images…
Can you tell me from which place you made it (probably absolutely without light noise..?) and which devices you use?

Lot of success and happy new year …..

Thanks!

My astrophotography is done in my backyard, located in an inner-ring suburb of Cleveland, Ohio (USA) (that is, I live in a heavily light-polluted location). Your assumption is one of the reasons I post my results- going to a dark area is preferred, but in my case unrealistic (or at least more effort than it's worth).

With the exception of the tracking mount, my 'gear' is also my photography equipment: I primarily use a telephoto lens (400/2.8), with or without a 2X adapter. I am beginning to use a 105/1.4 lens and have also done all-sky type imaging with a 15/2.8 lens. All lenses are used with a full-frame camera. The tracking mount is a Losmandy GM8 and I 'star hop' to find objects. I don't have an autotracker, but I do run an extension cord out of my house to power the mount.

 

[Andy Resnick]

Went out several Friday nite's ago as a guest of a local astronomy group. There were around 7 of us with scopes of all types

No fair! You all are clearly dressed for summer whilst we are suffering at -40... I guess being upside down has some advantages :)

 

[bruha]

Hi and thank you to all for post and images
I live in Prague so I can not get unpolluted sky as well. (it is little better on cottage in Bohmerwald mountains but not quite satisfying.) It is great if you could join to group of experienced people. I have just small compact camera (exp. time and clone is auto) so I can not get enough light for enough short exp. time.
(for example I did not manage to image Saturn rings satisfyingly).

 

[davenn]

whilst we are suffering at -40...

Whilst we are suffering at 40C + that nite it was still 30C + after the sun went down

but I do run an extension cord out of my house to power the mount.

You do know there are power packs to take your mount portable ?

I use one of these ...

https://optcorp.com/products/celestron-12v-7ah-power-tank

they are awesomeDave

 

[Andy Resnick]

You do know there are power packs to take your mount portable ?

Yeah, I have a battery that can run the mount for a few hours. Right now it's easier to just run the cord. KISS, right?

 

[davenn]

Yeah, I have a battery that can run the mount for a few hours. Right now it's easier to just run the cord. KISS, right?

So what is stopping you from going to a darker site so that you can do longer exposures and improve your signal to noise ratio ??

Do that and your imaging quality is going to improve "astronomically"

 

[Andy Resnick]

So what is stopping you from going to a darker site so that you can do longer exposures and improve your signal to noise ratio ??

Do that and your imaging quality is going to improve "astronomically"

Again, it's purely a question of convenience, especially since I can't make plans more than a day or two ahead of time. For example- Saturday night it was 12F and clear. No way am I going to pack everything up, trudge out, set everything up and freeze my a$$ off in the middle of nowhere for hours and then come home. What I was willing to do was move the lens and tripod outside for an hour to thermally equilibrate, then dash in and out of the the house to align and periodically check on everything while I sit inside a warm room and watch episodes of 'Deadly Class' while the camera acquires images of the Rosetta Nebula (which I am now processing...)

Right now I can get 'good enough' results. With the reduced opportunity cost of staying in my yard, I am able to regularly practice and improve polar alignment and I don't feel that I've invested a huge amount of time if something goes wrong or some clouds blow in, I can sit outside and have a glass or four of bourbon (Wild Turkey 101: accept nothing less!) and contemplate the universe, etc.

 

[Tom.G]

...and have a glass or four of bourbon (Wild Turkey 101...

Sounds eminently practical!

 

[Andy Resnick]

[...] images of the Rosetta Nebula (which I am now processing...)

And here it is: first pass on stacking- no noise reduction, for example. About 2 hours total integration time, ISO 1600.

 

[DennisN]

Wow!

"I took nearly 50,000 images of the night sky to make an 81 Megapixel image of Tuesday's moon. Uncompressed image linked in the comments."
Source: http://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/arer0k/i_took_nearly_50000_images_of_the_night_sky_to/

 

[davenn]

Wow!

"I took nearly 50,000 images of the night sky to make an 81 Megapixel image of Tuesday's moon. Uncompressed image linked in the comments."
Source: http://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/arer0k/i_took_nearly_50000_images_of_the_night_sky_to/

View attachment 239025

looks awesome but just remember that it's not a single image in 2 ways

1) there are multi-stack images of the moon in mosaic format to build up the moon image

2) this them is merged with a star background image(s)

this is what gives it the feeling of depth of field

Yes stunning but with some tricks in there. I could tell by the comments that many/most people thought this was just a single image,
even tho it was explained that there were 1000's of stacked images to build up the moon partDave

 

[DennisN]

Yes stunning but with some tricks in there.

Are you getting inspired to do some new tricks with your gear?

 

[davenn]

Are you getting inspired to do some new tricks with your gear?

hahaha, not like that

 

[bruha]

Hi its really awesome,-beautiful with really 3D effect-which software you use ?
Have nice day .. and night...

 

[DennisN]

Hi its really awesome,-beautiful with really 3D effect-which software you use ?

Hi bruha, it is regretfully not my photo.
See the link http://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/arer0k/i_took_nearly_50000_images_of_the_night_sky_to/, there may be info about software and such in the comments. But I promise I will try to take such a photo in the future, if I get a better camera and/or telescope.

 

[bruha]

Hi and thank you
I will look, (as I probably said, I have Registax software but unfortunately I have not equipment to make enough number images
of one object suitable for stacking...)

 

[davenn]

but unfortunately I have not equipment to make enough number images
of one object suitable for stacking...)

you just need a camera that can take video

I may have asked in the past what you have been using ? I cannot rememberDave

 

[bruha]

Hi and thank you,
I use just small compact camera Sony -I can make video, but I suppose you need software, to generate series of images from video record. Do you know some
good software for this?
Thank you and good luck….

 

[pinball1970]

Another one I remembered:
Unprecedented 16-year long study tracks stars orbiting Milky Way black hole (ESOcast 2, 2008)


Links:

• A Black Hole at the Centre of our Galaxy
• Unprecedented 16-Year Long Study Tracks Stars Orbiting Milky Way Black Hole (more pictures and videos to the right on the page)
• Max Planck Institute For Extraterrestrial Physics (homepage, Galactic Center Research)

I thought I had that beat but I think this is wrong, the sounds (songs going back in time) does not fit with the pan out, those broadcasts should many light years further out

Still, not bad for 1997

 

[davenn]

Hi and thank you,
I use just small compact camera Sony -I can make video, but I suppose you need software, to generate series of images from video record. Do you know some
good software for this?
Thank you and good luck….

That's what the Registax software does

just in case you don't have the latest version (6), here's the link to their homepage...

http://www.astronomie.be/registax/index.html

There is probably how to's on the site, plus lots of tutorial videos on youtube :)

Dave

 

[DennisN]

That's what the Registax software does

just in case you don't have the latest version (6), here's the link to their homepage...

http://www.astronomie.be/registax/index.html

Excellent, thank you @davenn! I've been thinking about looking for a software that makes images from video, so I am going to try Registax now. I've got a couple of movies I've shot of the Moon...

 

[bruha]

Hi and thank you very much for link -I will look

Yesterday I make star shots -Rigel and Sirius (with 5 mm Hyperion) .
Do you have some experience with shooting single stars?

Thanks and hve nice day

 

[Andy Resnick]

Stargazing season started last night (for me), here's the 'Leo Trio' (Leo Triplet), 1.5 hrs total acquisition time @ ISO 800. Image cropped and de-scaled (400/2.8 lens, wide-open):

Forecast tonight (3/26) is again for clear skies!

 

[bruha]

Hello,
it is beautiful picture, it is within Leo constallation? which are these galaxies and bigger round object in upper left? I made some pictures last saturday in my country cottage (Bohmerwald) - Sirius, Betelgeuse and Mars but with my small auto compact camera it is not amazing.:(( (I observed as well Orion great nebula but as I have no possibility of long (unlimited )exp. time I could not not catch it
Good Luck ...

 

[Andy Resnick]

Hello,
it is beautiful picture, it is within Leo constallation? which are these galaxies and bigger round object in upper left?

Thanks! Yes, it's a region within Leo, the two 'horizontal' galaxies are Messier 65 (top) and Messier 66; the third galaxy is NGC 3628. The 'bigger round object' is the star HD98338 (mag 7.57) - it's brighter so the post-processing results in it appearing larger.

 

[DennisN]

M87 - Infinity in your Hand - Deep Sky Videos

"The Earth goes round the Sun
The Sun goes round the Milky Way
The Milky Way goes round the center of the Local Group
And the Local Group goes round the center of the Virgo Supercluster
The center of the Virgo Supercluster is M87
Technically, the Earth is going round M87"

 

[bruha]

Thank you for information,
it is really very impressive.
I was able up to now satisfactory observe just Jupiter and Saturn … But I read that M87 should be observable as well, do you think that I could catch it ? - I have 600 x 100 mm Newton...but my home place is quite light polluted...

 

[davenn]

But I read that M87 should be observable as well, do you think that I could catch it ? - I have 600 x 100 mm Newton...but my home place is quite light polluted

may be somewhat difficult from a light polluted location overall brightness of around M8.6 but
a much fainter surface brightness of ~ M12.3

 

[Andy Resnick]

Thank you for information,
it is really very impressive.
I was able up to now satisfactory observe just Jupiter and Saturn … But I read that M87 should be observable as well, do you think that I could catch it ? - I have 600 x 100 mm Newton...but my home place is quite light polluted...

I live in a light polluted area as well. M87 is coming into view here for the next month or so, and while I can't see it by eye, even through my lens (e.g. live view), I can easily obtain an image with an 8-second exposure. Good luck!

 

[bruha]

Hello,
thank you very much for advice!. I will try catch these (M87, M12.3) next week (on eastern) on country house if will be good weather...

 

[davenn]

Hello,
thank you very much for advice!. I will try catch these (M87, M12.3) next week (on eastern) on country house if will be good weather...

M12.3 is the surface magnitude of M87 galaxy, not a different object

 

[bruha]

Hi, thank you for information (I was confused ..) Nowadays in Prague it is not possible to catch it (and extra with 3/4 moon) but I hope in particular success in countryhouse. Do you have some own images of this galaxy…: ?
Have nice days

 

[davenn]

Hi, thank you for information (I was confused ..) Nowadays in Prague it is not possible to catch it (and extra with 3/4 moon) but I hope in particular success in countryhouse. Do you have some own images of this galaxy…: ?
Have nice days

No, not of M87 ... maybe give it ago over the next month or so

I Had to check my astronomy mapping program to see if it even came above my horizon ...
It does during my autumn - winter monthsDave

 

[bruha]

Hi you tell you are from Australia are nt you?