early CCD imaging try-out - 19 Feb 2011

[shahgazer]

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera.

Omega Centauri, the giant globular cluster (or maybe ex-galaxy?) taken from SGO early this morning.

accumulative of 6 x 20 sec exposure with QHY9-mono. Luminance only.  Bin 2x2

The time was 6.45 am, rushing between Subuh, twilight and sending kids to Saturday school.

Agak teruja melihat kemampuan CCD , walaupun di bawah keadaan langit semakin cerah.

Did some twilight flats, tried to apply in Maxim DL, tapi the software keeps refusing to subtract from the uncalibrated image set. ada ter-miss setting somewhere.

Post processing solely done on Maxim DL.

BTW, Full moon was shining on the east, while twilight fast filling up the sky in the east.

Will try again under 'darker' sky tomorrow (before Subuh).

[universe24]

Percubaan bagus...keep up.

Ada beli Sky n Telescope March issue? Ada cerita tentang flat field.

[shahgazer]

Percubaan bagus...keep up.

Ada beli Sky n Telescope March issue? Ada cerita tentang flat field.

Thanks William,

Apparently getting a good consistent flat field is trickier than I expected. Will try todo the lightbox and see how. Sky flats got too much gradient!

[shahgazer]

One more photo - M36

Please note, I did not subtract flats to the images, due to lack of skill getting good flats..   

Will try improvising as time goes on..

[shahgazer]

M53 - sebuah Globular Cluster di dalam buruj Coma Berenices.

Nota: Imej ini diambil dalam keadaan langit terang dengan cahaya bulan hampir purnama. Maka ia kurang contrast dan saya terpaksa banyak lakukan PP untuk 'menimbulkan' susuk tubuh cluster ini!

[shahgazer]

This one tried early last night, before clouds rumbled in

M1 - Supernova remnants in Taurus

[universe24]

Bila nak cuba expose lama sikit & guna 1x1 bin?
Interested to see the raw image.

[shahgazer]

Bila nak cuba expose lama sikit & guna 1x1 bin?
Interested to see the raw image.

Heard rambling about why i don't take 1x1!  

It was technical reason. I messed up with some settings in Maxim that whenever i exposed unbinned, there will be a big 'black hole' in the middle of the stars. Dunno why until tips from qhyccd says that i need to readjust the gain and offset value.

2 nights ago, tested and everything is fine..

Only weather pulak not fine! Pushed up to 300sec without no noticable sky glow! And all this without the LPS filter. Interesting.

About to push 600sec, and halfway through, when clouds rumbled in..  

Will bring along the raw files at Seremban activity, you coming as well?

[universe24]

Yes, tonight will be there also...see ya.

[shahgazer]

Finally managed to get the filter wheel working, Binning 1x1 working, and some Digital Development tricks and tips from sifu William.

M42 taken last night. Sky is really hazy towards Orion, but elsewhere cloudy. So not willing to waste opportunity, ambil jugak M42 under not perfect sky.

My first LRGB CCD attempt. Be kind sifus!! 

[Kayzack]

Well done! welcome to Astronomical CCD Imaging World.... more fun to discover.

[shahgazer]

Well done! welcome to Astronomical CCD Imaging World.... more fun to discover.

Terima kasih KZ. 

Indeed I can see numerous projects todo with CCD.   

Among other things, looking forward to start tracking dan recording the evolution of comets within range of magnitude 10-14. Dah lama teringin nak buat tu.. 

[shahgazer]

Old data revisited...

tukar teknik post-processing sikit.. 

kena tunggu M42 muncul balik belah pagi... 

[redzuan]

Much much better. Improvement mmg instantly visible. Kne ajar lepas ni.