NGC 281 - Pacman nebula

[Guest VikN46]

Hi All,

I have spent every opportunity this week imaging the said object, despite the lovely moon spoiling things a little.

I really gave it my best with my limited set up and processing knowledge.

Taken using my usual stuff:

SW 150 PDS, EQ5 Pro Synscan GOTO.

Guiding: SW ST80 and QHY5.

Modded Canon 600D and coma corrector with CLS clip filter.

Using: BYEOS, PHD, DSS, Photoshop CC.

A total of 6 hours Light frames,

60 Flats

115 Bias

18 Darks

ISO 200 due to the moon.

Any comments, or advice and criticism appreciated.

NGC 281 - PACMAN NEBULA by VikN46, on Flickr

Edited September 13, 2014 by VikN46

[stash]

[red dwalf]

well done Vicky on the capture.

if your taking dark frames then i wouldn`t bother adding the bias frames, i`ve read that if you take noise away twice i.e. once in the dark frame and to some extent some in the bias frame then you end up adding it if that makes sense.

also no need to take so many flats and bias, 20 ish should be enough especially with flats as you just want a average, stack as median in dss and same with darks, and i like kappa sigma clipping for the lights as it removes some of the artefacts. 

[Guest VikN46]

Thanks Rob, I will give it a try tomorrow and see how it goes.  

[+RonC]

Fully agree with Rob's comments, perhaps also a bit more red in the curves? Good image never the less Vicky, well done 

[Guest VikN46]

I have been playing with this image and re stacked using the above advice.

A total of 6 hours Light frames,

20 Flats

18 Darks

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice

I may of over done it on the red now but anyway here it is and as I am quite partial to a monochrome a black and white version.

NGC 281 - Pacman Nebula - REPROCESSED by VikN46, on Flickr

NGC 281 - Pacman Nebula and a Black and White version by VikN46, on Flickr

and one less cropped

Pacman Nebula NGC 281 - Uncropped final by VikN46, on Flickr

Edited September 14, 2014 by VikN46

[red dwalf]

the reprocessed looks a lot better Vicky, star colour looks better and red more vibrant.

[andyboy1970]

Cracking image Vicky.

As said above, it has been said that darks contain bias already.

Also some mathematician somewhere worked out that odd numbers of darks in the 19 to 21 region is the optimal amount.

[Guest Tweedledum]

WOW