Attempting To Bring Out The Ha In An OSC Image

[Juno16]

Hi Forum,

I recently did an experiment to see if I could help reveal the Ha regions of M101 better than the recent process in April.

This is not an apples to apples comparison, but hopefully the difference is apparent.

The first image is a Pixinsight process of M101 very much cropped from 7.5 hours of data obtained in April.
This image was shot with the ASI533 mc-pro (OSC) and IDAS LS D-1 filter.
No matter how hard I tried, the Ha areas would take on a yellow-orange appearance and not the pink-red coloration that I hoped for.

The second image is with the April 7.5 hours with the IDAS LPS D-1 and 4.5 additionalhours with the Optolong L-eNhance filter to increase the Ha response.

The two processes are not exactly the same but close enough to get the idea.

The combined image was processed in Pixinsight using the NBRGCombination script using the original image data and the Red channel (Ha) from the
L-eNhance data.

Comments welcome!

[STEVE333]

Good job Jim, it looks nicely enhanced with the "Ha".

Thanks for sharing.

Steve

[bobharmony]

The Ha is definitely more apparent with the new data, Jim. Nice effort to bring it out!

Bob

[MariusD69]

Awesome! Well done, Jim!

[Graeme1858]

The Optolong L-eNhance filtered data has certainly brought out the reds of the star forming regions. Good result Jim.

The overall image is a little softer, is that from the 4.5 additional hours of data too?

Regards

Graeme

[Juno16]

The Optolong L-eNhance filtered data has certainly brought out the reds of the star forming regions. Good result Jim.

The overall image is a little softer, is that from the 4.5 additional hours of data too?

Regards

Graeme

I know that it does appear a bit softer. I am sure that the softness isn't related to the extra 4.5 hours of L-eNhance data because I am only using the R channel. Just my inability to process two images the same!

I still have a huge, huge, huge amount to digest in Pixinsight, but the application is so powerful that it is definitely worth it!

Yes, I am sure that it could be processed better for certain. The only reason that I posted though was to show the profound increase in Ha signal and the later process does accomplishes that.

I wasn't sure that it would be worth spending a third night on this target and shooting with the L-eNhance, but the gain shows. For the lack of available targets in my limited sky right now, I might even collect more OSC (RGB data on this one.

Not done with this one yet. Just passing along a learning.

Thanks all for the nice comments!

Thanks Steve @STEVE333 for the help!

[Greenman]

Jim, neat experiment and results, looks to me like the softening is added noise from the 4.5 hour data. Can’t wait to see how it develops.

[Juno16]

Jim, neat experiment and results, looks to me like the softening is added noise from the 4.5 hour data. Can’t wait to see how it develops.

Could be, but I really don't know since it is just the R channel. Maybe someone more familiar with the NBRGBCombination script could answer to how the combination works.

I just felt that it was my processing or lack of ability to reproduce the same process. Pixinsight does allow the user to save a process icon for each adjustment and that process can be applied with exactly the same setting to multiple images. Beyond me at this point though! I am just plugging along and learning.

Thanks

[Juno16]

You guys might be on to something. @Graeme1858
@Greenman

Not sure yet. I need to reprocess both data sets withe same settings. Probably won’t be today though! The CO/CFO is off work

Good to look into though. I do like the enhanced Ha, but maybe no so much if it is at the expense of detail/noise.
Good learnings! I’ll post back later.

[SkyHiker]

Wow that's a nice M101 Jim. 12 hours on target really pays off. You've got the color, now sharpen it a bit more. I've seen images of M101 with so much detail that I was wondering if it was simply over processed, yours looks clean.

PI is probably the best tool but what I don't like from what I've seen is the dependence on all these scripts. I like Gimp, then again it could use some more scripts for astro specific features, lol. Some day I may have to get it too.

[Juno16]

Wow that's a nice M101 Jim. 12 hours on target really pays off. You've got the color, now sharpen it a bit more. I've seen images of M101 with so much detail that I was wondering if it was simply over processed, yours looks clean.

PI is probably the best tool but what I don't like from what I've seen is the dependence on all these scripts. I like Gimp, then again it could use some more scripts for astro specific features, lol. Some day I may have to get it too.

Thank you much Henk!

Sometimes I look at the image too much and get off track!

Yeah, I knew that PI would eventually be the way that I go and I had better start learning! I really like PS and it is easy to move around in (I would think like GIMP would be.
The PI software is mind-blowing and the scrips are very powerful.
The capability is much greater than PS for astro, its just a very steep learning curve at least for me.

[Jockinireland]

That's a really interesting comparison Jim. I'm out of astro dark now so it will be a while before I can try it out

[Gordon]

Congratulations Jim on having your image selected as todays TSS APOD!!

app.php/article/5-14-2021-tss-astrophot ... of-the-day

[Makuser]

Hi Jim. Wow, 12 hours of data. I am glad that I only do lunar and planetary imaging when I can. Superb details in your M101 (Pinwheel Galaxy) with the H alpha added channel. Lots of sparkly stars and look at the vibrant color now. Thanks for sharing this with us Jim, and congratulations on winning the TSS APOD Award today.

[Juno16]

Thanks David, Gordon, and Marshall.

This wasn’t really meant to be a deepsky photo submission, but rather an experimental attempt at getting better Ha response.

At 571mm, These are a big crops just to concentrate on the Ha areas of M101.
I’m not done with this yet. Might try for more broadband data if the skies allow, but definitely will dive back into further processing for sure.
A fun project!

Thanks all!

[helicon]

That's a lot of time on the target. Looks really good Jim! And, congrats on the APOD award for the day.

[TheButcher]

Excellent Jim and Congrats ont the APOD!

[messier 111]

amazingly done , thx .

[notFritzArgelander]

Beautiful images and a very interesting experiment! I'd be interested in seeing what happens when you normalize the processing.

[Juno16]

Thanks Michael @helicon , Messier @messier 111, Butcher @TheButcher , and nFA @notFritzArgelander

Beautiful images and a very interesting experiment! I'd be interested in seeing what happens when you normalize the processing.

YES! Perfectly put nFA!

I woke early this morning thinking of ideas. Something just isn't going right when I combine the data with the NBRGBCombination script. I will give it another whirl!