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I added 2 hours of H-alpha to the 3 hours of RGB data tonight. The contrast around the leaping frog in particular is excellent. I'm very pleased with this result.

RGB Only version here:
http://astrogab.ning.com/photo/leaping-frog-dark-nebula-and

Scope: Vixen ED103S with WO Flat 4 0.8x FR/FF
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G with GoTo
Guiding: Meade DSI Pro and PHD Guiding
Guide Scope: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD
Camera: Canon EOS 1000D (Modified)
Special Settings: None
ISO: 800
Exposure: 3 hours RGB (36 x 300s) and 2 hours Ha (6 x 1200)
Processing Software: Acquired in Nebulosity, Calibration and Stacking in Images Plus, Levels/Curves/Enhancements in Photoshop
Support Files: 40 flats, 40 bias, 60 darks

Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 stars.

Views: 101

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Comment by spike77 on June 26, 2011 at 2:30am
wow neil the ha really brought it out awesoime man all ur work is grade A man we could all take a page out of ur book and some of ur kindness glad to have u aboard my freind
Comment by Neil Heacock on June 25, 2011 at 9:38pm
Thanks guys.

I considered reprocessing from scratch, but I'm too lazy. I used Deep Sky Stacker to get the alignment information between the two images (x=-58.7px, y=-43.5px, rotation .85%) and then I applied the offset and rotation in Photoshop to align the new Ha with the already processed RGB. Then I copied the red channel from the Ha image and blended it to each channel of the RGB image at 80%, 20% and 20% respectively. The idea of putting 20% in the green and blue created a simulated H-beta teal and it also preserves the star color better then just putting the Ha data in either the red channel only or using it as a luminance layer. I also did some post blend star repair to clen up some halos although there are still some start that aren't very natural looking.

-Neil
Comment by Marc Basti on June 25, 2011 at 4:46pm
Looked back at the original, like night and day-sweet work. When you added this new Ha data did you add it as a layer (I know the red chan./Ha substitution process) to your existing completed pic or did you have to go farther back in your processing to make it blend properly? Marc PS sorry for always picking your brain for processing tips.
Comment by Trevor Woodrow on June 25, 2011 at 9:39am
And you should be pleased, well done. Love the enormous fov and the crazy number of stars...anyone feel like quoting Carl Sagan here?

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