The Dark Shark

[Larry 1969]

Hello all!
Not only did I find this hard to capture, but I also found it hard to process... I ran this image 7 times and I'm still not thrilled but it will do for now.
I took this over 3 nights with varying moon phases. I found it super tough to process. The dark dust is brown and that seemed to introduce some green.
I may go back and take another crack at it, but I'm pretty happy considering my bortle 5 sky, OSC camera and no filters...

Thanks for looking!

Larry

Acquisition details:
140 x 180 sec exposures (8.4 hours) @ -5C
50 flats
50 dark flats
Telescope: 8" Orion astrograph
Mount: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
Imaging camera: Altair Astro Hypercam 26C
Filter: None
Guide camera : SBIG ST-I with lens kit
Bortle sky scale: 5
Capture software: APT (Astro Photography Tool)
Processing software: Astro Pixel Processor, StarTools, GIMP and Topaz DeNoise AI

[messier 111]

simply exquisite take , thx .

[STEVE333]

One of the nicest "Sharks" I've seen Larry because it stands out so clearly. The background seems a bit too purplish? to me, but, could just be my old eyes. Lovely data. Your time on target really paid off on this one!

Steve

[Juno16]

Absolutely does stand out very well.

Very nicely done Larry!

[Larry 1969]

One of the nicest "Sharks" I've seen Larry because it stands out so clearly. The background seems a bit too purplish? to me, but, could just be my old eyes. Lovely data. Your time on target really paid off on this one!

Steve

Thanks Steve! You're right. There is something going on in the background for sure. This is where I struggle terribly with StarTools. I've had some success running the LP removal tool in APP before importing the image into StarTools but I still have occasional grief. I'm sure I will redo this (for the 8th time)...

Larry

[MariusD69]

Looks great! Very well done, Larry!

[Makuser]

Hi Larry. Wow, what a nice Dark Shark Nebula (LDN 1235) image. Your processing resulted in a wonderful outline of the shark and lots of details. Thanks for sharing this capture with us Larry and certainly worthy of a TSS APOD Award.

[STEVE333]

One of the nicest "Sharks" I've seen Larry because it stands out so clearly. The background seems a bit too purplish? to me, but, could just be my old eyes. Lovely data. Your time on target really paid off on this one!

Steve

Thanks Steve! You're right. There is something going on in the background for sure. This is where I struggle terribly with StarTools. I've had some success running the LP removal tool in APP before importing the image into StarTools but I still have occasional grief. I'm sure I will redo this (for the 8th time)...

Larry

You're welcome Larry.

I downloaded your image into PixInsight and did the following:
1) Removed stars using StarXTerminator.
2) Used the HistogramTransformation tool to reduce the gain of the Red and Blue channels until they matched the Green. After applying that correction the background was black.
3) Then I ran SCNR which removed any green from the image.
4) Then added the stars back to the image using PixelMath.

In the final image I believe the Shark stands out even a little more. I can share the image if you want.

Good luck with your reprocess. Hopefully the 8th time is the charm!!

Steve

[Larry 1969]

You're welcome Larry.

I downloaded your image into PixInsight and did the following:
1) Removed stars using StarXTerminator.
2) Used the HistogramTransformation tool to reduce the gain of the Red and Blue channels until they matched the Green. After applying that correction the background was black.
3) Then I ran SCNR which removed any green from the image.
4) Then added the stars back to the image using PixelMath.

In the final image I believe the Shark stands out even a little more. I can share the image if you want.

Good luck with your reprocess. Hopefully the 8th time is the charm!!

Steve

I believe that's where I need to pay some more attention. The color module. I don't use PI so I don't really grasp your workflow explanation, but thanks for sharing anyway! In most of the really good images I've seen of this target, the dust is brown and I've never really processed anything like that.

Sure, post your version. I can bring it up as I'm reworking it to see if I can come close.

Thanks!

Larry

[STEVE333]

Here's what I came up with Larry.

I look forward to your version.

Steve

[Larry 1969]

Here's what I came up with Larry.


I look forward to your version.

Steve

That color balance looks much better. Thanks Steve!

Larry

[Johnny Carter]

I have not seen this one, stunning image.

[Larry 1969]

I have not seen this one, stunning image.

Thanks!
It's in the LDN catalogue. I've just started trying these difficult targets. The darker your sky, the better.

Larry

[BABOafrica]

>>I'm pretty happy considering my bortle 5 sky, OSC camera and no filters.<<

I am surprised you got anything!

BUT you did much more than just a blurred bit of dust. That is an excellent capture and the processing that Steve did makes it an excellent image.

BABO

[KathyNS]

Lovely image!

[ic_1101]

Beautiful image!

[Larry 1969]

Well, I found myself bored today and decided to take another crack at this data. I may have clipped it a little in the SuperStructure module of StarTools trying to tame the background, but I think it is better.
Still not as good as Steve's version though...

Larry

[Ylem]

That's absolutely stunning Larry!

APOD worthy!

[Thefatkitty]

Wow, that is really something; it clearly looks like a Great White! You might not be impressed with it, but I'm blown away! I've never seen that dark nebula or even heard about it before; thanks for the share!

All the best,

[CharLakeAstro]

That's an awesome image Larry.