M45 with a reflector and anti-spike mask

[Larry 1969]

Hello everyone!
I spent an evening on M45 with my F4 reflector and some anti-spike masks I 3D printed just to see what it would turn out like.
I set the exposure time to 30 sec and spent the entire night on it, so I had almost 900 frames. I picked the best 720 and stacked them in APP. Then it was off to PI for stretching. It did leave some weird artifacts around the stars, but I feel they are less distracting than the GIGANTIC diffraction spikes that would be there if not for the masks.

Thanks for looking!

Larry

[Juno16]

Really nice Larry!
The stars are nice and tight and the reflection nebulosity is nicely defined.
I don’t know what the image would look like with the spikes, but I would imagine that they would be intense.
I see the artifacts that you are talking about, but I would say that your experiment paid off well!
Nicely done!

[JayTee]

Those artifacts are mesmerizing, I really like them!

Nicely done,

[Gmetric]

An excellent image with subtle details that seems similar in appearance to a JWST image he he. I think the 3D anti-spike masks are keepers.

[Larry 1969]

An excellent image with subtle details that seems similar in appearance to a JWST image he he. I think the 3D anti-spike masks are keepers.

I also thought it resembled the JWST.. Except for the resolution and processing!

Larry

[Ylem]

Very nice Larry!

[Gmetric]

Except for the resolution and processing!

Larry

A minor problem

[Unitron48]

Great image! Very nice detail!!

Dave

[Mirrorgirl]

An absolutely beautiful image very well done!!

[messier 111]

fine nebulosity , thx .

[bobharmony]

The mask definitely reduces the impact of the spikes and lets the dust become the "star" of the image. M45 is one of those targets that really benefits from spike reduction. Thanks for sharing this result.

Now on to the Horsehead and Alnitak!

Bob

[MariusD69]

Awesome! Great job, Larry!

[carastro]

Good result. I would be very interested to see a photo of your antispike mask and an explanation of how it works.

Carole

[Larry 1969]

The mask definitely reduces the impact of the spikes and lets the dust become the "star" of the image. M45 is one of those targets that really benefits from spike reduction. Thanks for sharing this result.

Now on to the Horsehead and Alnitak!

Bob

Thanks Bob! That's next on the list!

Larry

[Larry 1969]

Good result. I would be very interested to see a photo of your antispike mask and an explanation of how it works.

Carole

Thanks Carole. Here's a picture of one of them attached to a vane. They simply clip on and only increase the central obstruction by 5%. I printed the one in the picture in white for illustration purposes, but the ones I use are printed in matte black. I'm not exactly sure how they work, but I'm guessing that their shape diffuses the light along the vanes.

Larry

[pakarinen]

Those artifacts are mesmerizing, I really like them!

Nicely done,

Agree. I like the look of the pseudospikes - rather artistic IMO.

[jthommes]

Beautiful image! And a very interesting (and successful) experiment - I am intrigued.

[STEVE333]

Lovely result!! Where did you get the information to know the shape and size of the masks that you printed?

Steve

[Larry 1969]

Lovely result!! Where did you get the information to know the shape and size of the masks that you printed?

Steve

Thanks Steve!
I actually found the .stl file on Facebook. All I had to do was slice it and print it. I'd be glad to share it with anyone wanting to try it. I could even print a bunch and send them out if anyone is interested.

Larry

[STEVE333]

Lovely result!! Where did you get the information to know the shape and size of the masks that you printed?

Steve

Thanks Steve!
I actually found the .stl file on Facebook. All I had to do was slice it and print it. I'd be glad to share it with anyone wanting to try it. I could even print a bunch and send them out if anyone is interested.

Larry

That's a very generous offer Larry. I only have a refractor, so, I don't need one. I was actually interested in the "physics" of how it works. Thank you for the offer.

Steve