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Captured by
Lawrence Parchman

Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

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Posts Made By: dan kowall

January 26, 2006 03:15 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M42 with New Eyes

Posted By dan kowall
Thanks for the feedback, guys.
I don't have a Spyder-type monitor checker, but I have gone to some test image sites where I can see all 255 grey shades and get very lifelike colors, so I think the new monitor is pretty close to being adjusted correctly.
My final processing is done on a Mac, so there's always the question of where to set the gamma on the finished image. I should probably apply a lesson I learned as a carpenter: When faced with the choice of two different measurements-"Just split the difference!". That would, I think, leave images slightly bright for Mac users and slightly dark for the PC people.

dan

January 30, 2006 01:55 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Using a Celestron Neximage webcam with a Mac

Posted By dan kowall
I can't help you with any direct experience, Michael, but you might be able to find your answer here:
http://www.davidillig.com/astromac.shtml
I hope this helps,

dan kowall

January 30, 2006 10:24 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Yet another Rosette

Posted By dan kowall
That's amazingly smooth and detailed for 60 second subs, Larry.
Your guided images should be even better (and much easier to process).
Well done.

dan kowall

January 31, 2006 04:32 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M64

Posted By dan kowall
Not many people get the outer part of M 64, nor with such smoothness.
As you know, a good mount and dark skies count for a lot in this endeavor.
Your Cone and Christmas Tree is top notch, too.
My regards,

dan kowall
photonhunter.com

February 1, 2006 09:49 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Highlands Astroshack website completed.

Posted By dan kowall
Those space station videos are amazing, Tom. They're some of the best that I've seen.
One of my childhood friends has the most space walking time of any American astronaut and, if I remember correctly, some of his work was on the ISS.
The moon phase image on your site is a nice touch.
It's a good feeling to get a website up and working, isn't it?

dan kowall
photonhunter.com

February 4, 2006 05:54 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

One final image from last week

Posted By dan kowall
This might help with the star bloat, Vincent:
http://pk.darkhorizons.org/PSStarBloat.htm
http://www.starrywonders.com/
Both of these are for Photoshop, but the principles apply to other processing programs, too.
Richard Bennion has a presentation on the CCDWare site that analyzes numerically how critical it is to get your focus exact. It turns out that being off just a hair makes a bigger difference than one would expect.
Myself, I get lazy about refocusing after temperature changes.
Your image looks pretty good, as is, though.

dan kowall
photonhunter.com

February 6, 2006 04:07 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

ST10XME or STL4020 for 12.5" RCOS?

Posted By dan kowall
There appears to be three significant differences between the two cameras:
---ABG vs. NABG
---Full well capacity
---QE
The chip width is virtually the same between the two cameras, so the FOV will only be slightly larger with the STL.
Since your main imaging aim is nebulae, I would give the edge to the ST10 with its bigger well and better QE.
You haven't said what your mount is, but you may want to use an AO-7 with this setup, and the new AO-7 for the STL's still hasn't hit the streets.
The intergrated filter wheel for the STL is nice, but only has 5 postions at the present time. An extra wheel outfitted with narrowband filters would have to be exchanged for the LRGBHa wheel when you wanted to do narrowband. Conversely, a 10 position wheel is currently available for the ST10.
The difference in price between 1.25" filters for the ST10 and the 48-50mm filters for the STL is not inconsiderable.
I don't think there's a wrong decision here. I think you'll be happy with either camera, Jess.
For the record, I'm using an ST10XME on an RCOS 12.5" and an STL on a widefield refractor. That seems to work the best for me, as most of the nebulae I go after are large and the ABG is appreciated with the long exposures there.

dan kowall
photonhunter.com

February 7, 2006 04:48 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

And yet another M42...

Posted By dan kowall
Jim Thommes said:

I am always challenged by this object.


You've proven yourself up to the challenge with this image, Jim.
Very nice.

dan kowall

February 8, 2006 07:31 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Mars 2005 Winjupos animatie

Posted By dan kowall
That's the best animation that I've seen.
The moon looks real to me, not an artifact.

dan kowall

February 12, 2006 04:03 PM Forum: Home Observatories

plans for personnal observatories

Posted By dan kowall
Having an observatory makes everything so much easier, Dominique.
Here is the most extensive list of amateur observatories that I know of:
http://obs.nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html
We welcome any further questions that your may have.

dan kowall
photonhunter.com

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