Posts Made By: Larry Citro

Hi all,

Jim Misti an imager who has an observatory in New Mexico has graciously let memberes of the SBIG Yahoo group use some of his data files and process them

The following image was acquired by Jim using a 32" RC scope and a SBIG ST11000m camera. 60 minutes of Lum and 15 of rgb using 5 min subs.

I processed the data in Maximdl vr 4 and PainshopPro vr 7


clear skies,

Larry Citro

Hi all,


In April of 2002 I obtained some data of m82 with a ST8-E and a Mewlon 250. The total exposures were 25 minutes for the Lum and 10 mins each for the RGB using 5 min subs. Very little data as you can see ( I guess I didn't know any better then ).

It's been very poor weather for imaging here in PA, so I decieded to reprocess it with present way of soing things.

Here's an example of the original processing: LRGB combine in MaximDL, Log stretch, color balancing and some sharpining.

http://starryforge.com/2005/m82Old.jpg

Here's the one I did yeaterday. RGB combine in MaximDL, LRGB combine in PainshopPro, multiple layers with curves, unsharpmasking, color balancing, dodging and burning. Returned to MaximDl v4 forHigh/Low bandpass filtering of the jpeg. There are a few articacts as I pushed the data a far as I could just to see what I could get.


http://starryforge.com/2005/m82_25_fullRGBppHL2aFinal.jpg

I'll guess I'll go back if a chance occurs and get some real data of m82

clear skies,

Larry Citro

hi,

Here's a LRGB of m13. Data obtained by Jim Misti with his 32" RC scope in Arizona. Processed by me using MaximDL vr 4 and PaintshopPro vr 7


clear skies,

Larry Citro

hi,

I used a LX 200 8" scope for a couple of years and then switched to a GEM mount for imaging. At present I have a Losmandy GM 8 and a Mountain Instruments MI 250.

The LX 200 mount has it problems when it comes to ccd imaging because of the periodic error and some backlash problems. This can be overcome with the SBIG AO7 adapative optics device. The goto of the mount is as good as it gets and will put the object on the ccd chip most of the time. It will always be in a low power eyepiece.

The GEMs are better suited to ccd imaging. The G11 has a new worm gear which has improved its periodic error. I've seen plenty of fine images taken with these mounts. The dsc with the Losmandy mount is not as accurate as the goto on the LX 200.

The gm 8 is easy to set up ( about 10 mins ),you can polar align in about 2 minutes with the polar scope. The g11 being heavier takes a little more time.

The G11 has the advantage that you can use more the one OTA with the mount. The eyepiedc position is not a problem with SCTs and refractors. A newtonian will need rotating rings.

All in all I would get the Loamandy g11.


clear skies,

Larry

hi,

here's a link to some info about this.

http://astrosun.tn.cornell.edu/courses/astro201/stromgren_sphere.htm

Here's another cocoon. Took it last week Ha:Ha:G:B 80:30:30:30 mins with Tak Mewlon 250 at f 13 St8e 2x2 bin. I think you can see some of the blue face on. I have a 6" mak-newt f 5.5, I think I'll try it with that scope for a ddeper image.

clear skies,


Larry Citro

hi,

Great Image! This is makeing me want to buy a C14. I've seen other images from C14's and IMHO its a great scope for the money ... compares well with the RC's for 1/4 the price.

Did you use the native focal ratio or a FR ? What about the mirror flop problem and the focuser, how did you work out these problems ?

clear skies,


Larry Citro

hi Ron,

Thanks for the tip. I don't have Photoshop but do have Paintshop pro which supports layers ( I just had to figure out how to use them .. the manual is cleear as mud about this ). Anyway here's a layered image the original layered with a unconvolved one.

This layering business opens up endless possibilites !!


Clear skies,


Larry Citro

Hi Ron,

That C14 of yours is a real keeper. Great Image.


Clear skies,

Larry Citrp

hi Ron,

Beautiful image Ron. At Christimas time I was reading someplace on the web that some people refer to this as the madonna holding the child when viewed in this fashion.


clear skies,

Larry Citro

hi,

I have a Televue Genesis SDF and a Celestron 8" SCT. The two compliment each other nicely.

The key to performance in the SCT is proper cool down and critical collimation ( collimating on a star at 600x ).

The 4" is great for wide feild views and quick looks and the 8" is much better on DSOs. On nights with good seeing the 8" is better on the planets and moon, the 4' is better in poor seeing.

Having said that, the SCT with the reputation for the very best optics is the Celestron 9 1/4 OTA. It is said to offer more contrast than the others.


clear skies,


Larry Citro

www.starryforge.com