Crescent Nebula

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Baskevo
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Crescent Nebula

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Post by Baskevo »


Hello, Friends!

I am going back through old data and using my new processing techniques. This is my image of NGC 6888 that I shot a year ago, but never finished processing because I couldn't make a nice image. This one was extremely difficult because of the heavy light pollution, but I am actually really happy with the results! Although, I can't really say for sure... You ever stare at a picture for so long that you can't tell what other people will see? So ANY advice you all have or any insights on what this looks like, I am all ears! I am sharing my process below :)

This is my version of NGC 6888, the Crescent Nebula, shot from a Bottle 8 with Ha and Oiii data, 7 hours and 30 minutes total. I used my EQ6-R Pro and ZWO ASI1600MM Pro, processed with PixInsight. BTW, the image is clickable if you want to see a larger image.

ImageCrescent Nebula by James wainwright, on Flickr

Ha: 300sec x 47 lights (after excluding bad frames)
Oiii: 300sec x 43 lights (after excluding bad frames)

Here is my pre-processing:
(1) WBPP to calibrate (only, at first) with flats, dark flats, and darks (I did each night and filter separately).
(2) CosmeticCorrection process separately.
(3) Blink and SubframeSelector processes to exclude bad lights.
(4) WBPP to register (only) calibrated and cosmetically corrected light frames, using weights and making sure 'Generate Drizzle Data' was selected.
(5) Created a Reference Image by stacking the best 10% of lights (as determined by SubframeSelector)
(6) LocalNormalization Process, with Reference Image selected
(7) WBPP to integrate all lights frames.
(8) Drizzle to Master Lights (using LocalNormalization files)

Here is post-processing:
(1) Register master Ha and Oiii
on each master (Ha and Oiii):
(2) Dynamic Crop
(3) ABE Process(too much nebula for DBE)
(4) Applied RGBWorkingSpace
(5) For each master: Rendered PSF image using PSFImage Script, created star mask to cover big stars, created a ranged mask with EZ Processing Suite's EZ Decon script, and then ran Deconvolution process with mask apples, and PSF image and Star Mask selected.
(6) MLT noise reduction
(7) Delinearized with Histogram Transformation, then used range mask on Oiii to brighten and bring out the nebula
(8) combined Ha and Oiii using PixelMath:
R = Ha;
G = (Oiii * 0.9) + (Ha * 0.1);
B = Oiii.

(usually at this point, with Sii data, I would create a synthetic luminance, which I spent a whole day doing but ended up not using because it didn't work that well this time, maybe because I didn't use my Sii data).

After combining master Ha and Oiii:
(9) Used StarNet process to create a starless image and isolate stars.
(10) CurvesTransformation on Starless image.
(11) CloneStamp to improve a dust mote (you can still kind of see it, middle of upper-left quadrant in the red nebula)
(12) Reduced red color in isolated stars, creating better colors for the stars.
(13) combined Starless and stars.
(14) Created a star mask to capture the halo's around stars to reduce red channel
(15) LocalHistogramEqualization with a ranged mask applied.
(16) CurvesTransformation with ranged mask applied.
(17) EZ Processing Suite's Noise Reduction script (this was AMAZING)
(18) EZ Processing Suite's EZ Star Reduction script (also AMAZING)
(19) added border, annotation, changed color profile for publishing.

I used to combine my master lights before doing any processing, but I find that processing the master lights separately and delinearizing them first gives me more control.

If you all have ANYTHING to suggest to improve my images, I would love to hear. Please note if this looks too noisy or if the colors don't look right. Thanks for looking, y'all, and for any advice or insight you can provide!
Last edited by Baskevo on Sun Oct 10, 2021 3:37 am, edited 2 times in total.
-James W.

Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope

Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
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Re: Crescent Nebula

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Post by messier 111 »


very nice capture . thx .
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Re: Crescent Nebula

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Post by John Donne »


Thank you for sharing your work and your process.
This is a wonderful image. 👍👍👍
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Re: Crescent Nebula

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Post by Ken_nneth »


Great image. Thanks for sharing your workflow, always nice to get input on how different people process images.
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Re: Crescent Nebula

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Post by MariusD69 »


Wonderful image! Great work, James! Thanks for sharing your workflow.
Marius
Mount: iOpton Cem60, HEQ5-for spare
Scopes: newt SW 150/750PDS, dobson SW 150/1200; SW 114/500; TS Photoline 80mm f/6 Triplet APO; SW ST80
Cameras: ASI294MC Pro; ASI1600MM Pro; Atik 314L+mono; Canon 1100D; QHY5III-178m; QHY5L-II-m ; ASI224; Altair GPCAM 290M, GPCAM290C
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Re: Crescent Nebula

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Post by Baskevo »


Thank you, everyone! I appreciate all of the kind words so far, and I'm glad you all appreciate that I shared my workflow. If anyone has any suggestions for what I can improve/add to my workflow, I would be happy to hear!

Thank you again for all of the kind words. I think I may print this one :)
-James W.

Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope

Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
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Re: Crescent Nebula

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Post by Juno16 »


That is a beautiful Crescent Nebula image James!

The workflow is much appreciated. I’m currently taking Adam Block’s Fundamentals ((Pixinsight) and really enjoying it!
Jim

Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
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Re: Crescent Nebula

#8

Post by Baskevo »


Juno16 wrote: Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:49 am That is a beautiful Crescent Nebula image James!

The workflow is much appreciated. I’m currently taking Adam Block’s Fundamentals ((Pixinsight) and really enjoying it!
Thank you, Juno! I've heard a lot about Adam Block's Fundamentals... I've seen your pictures too, so if I can get something like yours, I think I may take a look at it! Thanks for sharing, Juno :)
-James W.

Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope

Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
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Re: Crescent Nebula

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Post by KathyNS »


A nice, detailed image.
Image
DSO AP: Orion 200mm f/4 Newtonian Astrograph; ATIK 383L+; EFW2 filter wheel; Astrodon Ha,Oiii,LRGB filters; KWIQ/QHY5 guide scope; Planetary AP: Celestron C-11; ZWO ASI120MC; Portable: Celestron C-8 on HEQ5 pro; C-90 on wedge; 20x80 binos; Etc: Canon 350D; Various EPs, etc. Obs: 8' Exploradome; iOptron CEM60 (pier); Helena Observatory (H2O) Astrobin
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Re: Crescent Nebula

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Post by Gmetric »


Beautiful image and thanks for sharing your workflow. :)
Arry (Bortle 7 area)

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Cameras: Nikon D5300 modded, Canon Kiss X8i modded, Cooled Canon kiss X4 modded, Atik 16IC and 383 colour, ASI120MC, QHY5LII
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Re: Crescent Nebula

#11

Post by jthommes »


Image looks great. Well done.
Jim Thommes
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ST8300M Camera, Atik 383L, Canon 350D (IR cut modified), ASI1600M, ASI294M, ASI260M
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