IRIS IS BACK

[Mirrorgirl]

HI THERE

here's iris processed in photoshop this time using levels and noise reduction i think this is as good as it will get i just need more data....here it is comments welcome thanks

if you click on pic to enlarge it you will see more details.....thanks for looking

Rhoda

[bobharmony]

Congrats, Rhoda - you found the dust - and the core! Definitely your best version yet.

Bob

[KathyNS]

Nice! Your focus is better, and there is some nice detail in the core.

[Mirrorgirl]

Nice! Your focus is better, and there is some nice detail in the core.

Hi Kathy

is this any better?

[Mirrorgirl]

here it is again i got some of the rusty bit of the dust in this hope its ok thanks for looking and comments welcome

[KathyNS]

You are definitely pulling more data out of the dust. Way to go!

[Juno16]

Hi Rhoda,

A phenomenal improvement! Looks really good!

I hope that you don't mind me saying that your focus is off. Didn't you buy a batinov mask recently? How is it working out?

[Mirrorgirl]

Hi Rhoda,

A phenomenal improvement! Looks really good!

I hope that you don't mind me saying that your focus is off. Didn't you buy a batinov mask recently? How is it working out?

I know how to use it but the problem is i don’t no what program to do my focusing in could you help because my images would be a lot better if i could master it.

[Frankskywatcher]

I can’t give you any advise but I know what I like,it’s awesome thanks for sharing !

[Juno16]

Hi Rhoda,

A phenomenal improvement! Looks really good!

I hope that you don't mind me saying that your focus is off. Didn't you buy a batinov mask recently? How is it working out?

I know how to use it but the problem is i don’t no what program to do my focusing in could you help because my images would be a lot better if i could master it.

Hi Rhoda,

What application are you using for image capture?

[Mirrorgirl]

Hi Rhoda,

A phenomenal improvement! Looks really good!

I hope that you don't mind me saying that your focus is off. Didn't you buy a batinov mask recently? How is it working out?

I know how to use it but the problem is i don’t no what program to do my focusing in could you help because my images would be a lot better if i could master it.

Hi Rhoda,

What application are you using for image capture?

I'm not guiding yet so i'm not using anything...when i do start guiding i will be using phd2 and apt

thanks

[bobharmony]

I'm not guiding yet so i'm not using anything...when i do start guiding i will be using phd2 and apt

thanks

Rhoda - that is the combination I am using for capture and guiding. APT has a Bahtinov focusing aid that is very useful to me. In the meantime if you snap images of a bright star with the mask in place and use a high ISO you can take relatively short exposures and check out the spikes the baht mask generates and adjust focus until all three line up in the same place. Then you can swing to your target and start collecting data.

BTW all the processes you have shown here have their own special beauty, at some point it becomes an "eye of the beholder" thing. If you like it, it's right.


Bob

[Mirrorgirl]

HERE'S ANOTHER JUST WISH I WAS FOCUSED ON IT IT WOULD OF BEEN ALOT BETTER...THANKS

[starfield]

Wow. You're making great progress. When I got started I used Sharpcap for image capture, but APT should do the trick. And since it has a Bahtinov mask aid all the better.

[BABOafrica]

Your image is really good. So you have obviously learned how to do the processing and do it well.

Get your focus fixed and you will be off to the races.

You can start using APT before you worry about guiding. APT can help you with the focusing.

However, to be honest, I don't use any program at all.

STEP ONE:

Get close to good focus by getting a bright star squeezed down as small as you can. Just use an eyeball estimation of good focus: smallest disk possible.

STEP TWO

Put the B mask in place.

STEP THREE

Take a fairly long shot of the bright star. About 10-15 seconds. Examine the image.

You will see three lines more or less intersecting. Two of those lines ALWAYS form a perfect X. The third line -- the brightest one -- will be either dead center, intersecting the X perfectly at the middle of the X, or that third line will be off center.


STEP FOUR

Adjust focus until that third line intersects the X as close to the center as you can get it.


BABO

[Jockinireland]

Getting better all the time!

[Juno16]

I'm not guiding yet so i'm not using anything...when i do start guiding i will be using phd2 and apt

thanks

I imagine it it tough to use the batinov mask with just the camera articulating screen. Personally, I never tried that. I assume that you would center the bright star and zoom in to see the spikes using live view.
APT has a very nice Batinov mask focusing tool. I know that Bob @bobharmony mentioned taking short images and looping them while zooming in on the star spike to adjust. There is also a way to use the camera live view to adjust the focus with APT. Live view focusing worked well for me.
Of course, there is also the possibility (high) that the focus will change during the night with changes in temperature.
I use N.I.N.A. Now and I don’t care for their batinov focus tool as well as APT.

All that you can do is the best you can and learn as you go. Your images are looking really nice and as Bob referred to, this hobby is all about creating images that make you happy.

Back to focus just for a second. You can start using APT before you start guiding. There is tons to learn and get comfortable with.
When you get familiar with the focusing tools in APT, you will be on the way to crisper images.

You imaging is coming along very nicely!

Keep up the fine work and Good luck!