I had posted this with a new image I’d uploaded as a change from the “typical” review of my processing steps/acquisition. A friend/commentor suggested I post in a forum, so this is the result.
This is VERY subjective and based entirely on my experiences, so I’ve made some effort to avoid getting too specific. I tried to keep this to things that someone new to this hobby needs to consider in the beginning and things that they don’t know that they don’t know.
Experienced astro imagers can ignore this next bit, but for those just starting out or about to start out, this may be helpful. I thought it might useful to cover something for those considering the hobby but not yet heavily invested or not invested yet.
I haven't described my rig, at least not recently (but you can see an image of as my profile avatar in AB). My OTA is a SkyWatcher Esprit 100 ED. This is an excellent refractor with the speed and optical quality that makes getting good images easy, at least where the OTA impacts the process. The FoV is good for the majority of backyard targets without resorting to mosaics. With a high-resolution/small pixel camera, it can also manage good images of many galactic targets during galaxy season with suitable cropping. The SB Gen5 MyT mount (with Gen6 electronics upgrade) performs very well. My software imaging suite has proved very reliable despite all the 'moving parts' that must integrate together. The SkyX acts as the mount driver in the SB environment and provides the pointing model and utilities like maintaining the PEC for the MyT mount. In turn it integrates with native drivers and the Ascom SB "X" interface with the ZWO cameras, ZWO filter wheel, Moonlite Nightcrawler focuser/rotator, PHD2 guiding management software, and the final 'integrator', N.I.N.A. image sequencing manager. Power and data comms are provided/managed through a Pegasus Astro UPBv3. All of this is operated and managed through an Intel NUC Gen10 mini-PC which is in a weatherproof enclosure at the base of the pier and linked by Wi-Fi back to my desktop a hundred feet or so distant in my home. Post processing is performed in PixInsight several add-ons, including the near irreplaceable BlurXterminator, NoiseXterminator, and StarXterminator addons. This is an evolved rig and other than the OTA bears little resemblance to my initial setup around five years ago.
Over the last couple of years, my workflow has become pretty standardized, thanks in large part to the capability of PixInsight and its 3rd party add-ons like Russ Croman's Xterminator series. You can read the steps in detail in my previously posted images.
While I still covet a Stellarvue OTA (SVX 140 triplet is on my bucket list), the fact is my fast, moderate length Esprit 100 is far more flexible and provides wider utility than any longer focal length OTA would. That I decided to stay close to the 'higher price end" of the mass produced OTA's was a decision that has reaped benefits. I can't even say that was my 'plan' when I started, but more lucky chance in my selection/budget process when I started out. As hard as it may be to comprehend when starting out, your primary stellar target 'obsession' dictates what you really need in a mount and OTA - primarily the OTA. The 'best' OTA for planetary and lunar imaging is NOT the best for Deep Space Objects (Nebula), and the 'best' OTA for deep (small) galaxy objects is going to be different than for DSO nebula. Get an OTA that focuses on the objects you want to see image and then consider what might need to be different for those of lesser interest and see if a reasonable compromise on OTA specs can overlap both. That is all very subjective and most people won't know how to answer those questions until they get some experience. I will say that a good refractor makes a better First OTA than any of the reflectors regardless of design, primarily due to ease of use, relative robustness, and lower Maintenace necessary to maintain quality observing/imaging. IMO - YMMV.
You will hear the rule of thumb " spend double the cost of your OTA on the mount". It is not a lie or an exaggeration but the multiplier may or may not be accurate depending on the OTA you're considering. A good/great performing mount can get you great images from a moderate quality OTA. A poor mount will give you poor images from the best OTA on the planet. I went through three mounts within the first year. The first two were well known mass produced mounts that were considered "good" for the market segment they targeted. Both suffered 'fatal' mechanical failures within the first two months of ownership - that is when the issues with manufacturer support become apparent - when the tech support office is in China. After my experience with those two mounts, I sucked it up and managed the price of the Software Bisque MyT mount which is one of builders of 'premium' mounts although not the most expensive of that elite group, nor the best of the best - it is still very good considering that the differences in performance among this subset are typically minute. It is better than the mass produced China made mounts by orders of magnitude - IMO.
Post Processing is a discussion all its own, freeware image stackers and Adobe Photoshop are how many start. Ps has (or had) 3rd party tool suites available for the astro imaging crowd - that is what I started with. I eventually migrated to PixInsight as my experience grew/broadened. PixInsight has a relatively steep learning curve but there are lots of good YouTube videos that provide everything from simple step by step tutorials to deep in the weeds processes and process discussions. The one thing that people new to the hobby often don't realize is that DSOs/most Astro imaging targets, if you go by what your human eye can see, would look mostly red/red orange with some that are occasionally bluish (reflection nebula like Pleiades). The colors seen in posted images almost entirely the artistic (more than science) product of the person performing the post processing. There are numerous established palettes (SHO, HOO, HOS) as well as more 'normal' (for values of normal) RGB/OSC coloration. How bright/dark/vibrant/etc is all up to the person processing the data. That is why you see images of the same target with different colors, some almost neon in their saturation, others more subtle and muted. When I was imaging with an OSC, my 'target' was to produce an image close to what I imagined a person would see from a space craft at the apparent distance from the target. When I shifted to NarrowBand imaging, I wanted 'pretty pictures' but tried to avoid being garish/over the top in coloration, with limited success in either artistic direction. The final result is what is pleasing to you.
I hope someone finds this helpful! It's been a fun ride and it is ALL trial and error. 😊
This is VERY subjective and based entirely on my experiences, so I’ve made some effort to avoid getting too specific. I tried to keep this to things that someone new to this hobby needs to consider in the beginning and things that they don’t know that they don’t know.
Experienced astro imagers can ignore this next bit, but for those just starting out or about to start out, this may be helpful. I thought it might useful to cover something for those considering the hobby but not yet heavily invested or not invested yet.
I haven't described my rig, at least not recently (but you can see an image of as my profile avatar in AB). My OTA is a SkyWatcher Esprit 100 ED. This is an excellent refractor with the speed and optical quality that makes getting good images easy, at least where the OTA impacts the process. The FoV is good for the majority of backyard targets without resorting to mosaics. With a high-resolution/small pixel camera, it can also manage good images of many galactic targets during galaxy season with suitable cropping. The SB Gen5 MyT mount (with Gen6 electronics upgrade) performs very well. My software imaging suite has proved very reliable despite all the 'moving parts' that must integrate together. The SkyX acts as the mount driver in the SB environment and provides the pointing model and utilities like maintaining the PEC for the MyT mount. In turn it integrates with native drivers and the Ascom SB "X" interface with the ZWO cameras, ZWO filter wheel, Moonlite Nightcrawler focuser/rotator, PHD2 guiding management software, and the final 'integrator', N.I.N.A. image sequencing manager. Power and data comms are provided/managed through a Pegasus Astro UPBv3. All of this is operated and managed through an Intel NUC Gen10 mini-PC which is in a weatherproof enclosure at the base of the pier and linked by Wi-Fi back to my desktop a hundred feet or so distant in my home. Post processing is performed in PixInsight several add-ons, including the near irreplaceable BlurXterminator, NoiseXterminator, and StarXterminator addons. This is an evolved rig and other than the OTA bears little resemblance to my initial setup around five years ago.
Over the last couple of years, my workflow has become pretty standardized, thanks in large part to the capability of PixInsight and its 3rd party add-ons like Russ Croman's Xterminator series. You can read the steps in detail in my previously posted images.
While I still covet a Stellarvue OTA (SVX 140 triplet is on my bucket list), the fact is my fast, moderate length Esprit 100 is far more flexible and provides wider utility than any longer focal length OTA would. That I decided to stay close to the 'higher price end" of the mass produced OTA's was a decision that has reaped benefits. I can't even say that was my 'plan' when I started, but more lucky chance in my selection/budget process when I started out. As hard as it may be to comprehend when starting out, your primary stellar target 'obsession' dictates what you really need in a mount and OTA - primarily the OTA. The 'best' OTA for planetary and lunar imaging is NOT the best for Deep Space Objects (Nebula), and the 'best' OTA for deep (small) galaxy objects is going to be different than for DSO nebula. Get an OTA that focuses on the objects you want to see image and then consider what might need to be different for those of lesser interest and see if a reasonable compromise on OTA specs can overlap both. That is all very subjective and most people won't know how to answer those questions until they get some experience. I will say that a good refractor makes a better First OTA than any of the reflectors regardless of design, primarily due to ease of use, relative robustness, and lower Maintenace necessary to maintain quality observing/imaging. IMO - YMMV.
You will hear the rule of thumb " spend double the cost of your OTA on the mount". It is not a lie or an exaggeration but the multiplier may or may not be accurate depending on the OTA you're considering. A good/great performing mount can get you great images from a moderate quality OTA. A poor mount will give you poor images from the best OTA on the planet. I went through three mounts within the first year. The first two were well known mass produced mounts that were considered "good" for the market segment they targeted. Both suffered 'fatal' mechanical failures within the first two months of ownership - that is when the issues with manufacturer support become apparent - when the tech support office is in China. After my experience with those two mounts, I sucked it up and managed the price of the Software Bisque MyT mount which is one of builders of 'premium' mounts although not the most expensive of that elite group, nor the best of the best - it is still very good considering that the differences in performance among this subset are typically minute. It is better than the mass produced China made mounts by orders of magnitude - IMO.
Post Processing is a discussion all its own, freeware image stackers and Adobe Photoshop are how many start. Ps has (or had) 3rd party tool suites available for the astro imaging crowd - that is what I started with. I eventually migrated to PixInsight as my experience grew/broadened. PixInsight has a relatively steep learning curve but there are lots of good YouTube videos that provide everything from simple step by step tutorials to deep in the weeds processes and process discussions. The one thing that people new to the hobby often don't realize is that DSOs/most Astro imaging targets, if you go by what your human eye can see, would look mostly red/red orange with some that are occasionally bluish (reflection nebula like Pleiades). The colors seen in posted images almost entirely the artistic (more than science) product of the person performing the post processing. There are numerous established palettes (SHO, HOO, HOS) as well as more 'normal' (for values of normal) RGB/OSC coloration. How bright/dark/vibrant/etc is all up to the person processing the data. That is why you see images of the same target with different colors, some almost neon in their saturation, others more subtle and muted. When I was imaging with an OSC, my 'target' was to produce an image close to what I imagined a person would see from a space craft at the apparent distance from the target. When I shifted to NarrowBand imaging, I wanted 'pretty pictures' but tried to avoid being garish/over the top in coloration, with limited success in either artistic direction. The final result is what is pleasing to you.
I hope someone finds this helpful! It's been a fun ride and it is ALL trial and error. 😊
