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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
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.
For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
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!
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), ZWO OAG, 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, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Gmetric wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 5:00 am
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
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.
For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
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.
bobharmony wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:00 pm
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
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.
For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
carastro wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:21 pm
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
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.
For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
JayTee wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 4:26 am
Those artifacts are mesmerizing, I really like them!
Nicely done,
Agree. I like the look of the pseudospikes - rather artistic IMO.
============================================================================= I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do. =============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
Beautiful image! And a very interesting (and successful) experiment - I am intrigued.
Jim Thommes Jim's Astrophotography
David Levy Maksutov Newtonian, Celestron Edge 9.25, FSQ-106N Refractor (on loan), WO ZenithStar 66 APO Refractor, WO Megrez II APO, Sigma 150 mm EOS Lens
Losmandy G11/Gemini, iOptron GEM45, Celestron Advanced VX, iOptron CEM70
ST8300M Camera, Atik 383L, Canon 350D (IR cut modified), ASI1600M, ASI294M, ASI260M
Observatory - Desert Astronomy Association (Shelter Valley, CA)
STEVE333 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 8:02 pm
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
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.
For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
STEVE333 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 8:02 pm
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
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
Software: PHD2; APT; PixInsight ***** My AP website: www.steveking.pictures