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AP Processing Challenge No 12 - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:40 am
by Graeme1858
Welcome to
AP Processing Challenge No. 12
JockinIreland, David has submitted his capture of M31 the Andromeda Galaxy
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as
Messier 31, M31, or
NGC 224 and originally the Andromeda Nebula, is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth and the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. - Wikipedia
Just click the link below to download and process David's image using your preferred software and methods.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
Data was captured at 2 different exposures to try to get core and outer details so about 3 hours each of 120s and 240s both at ISO800. Capture details, Skywatcher Evostar 80ED with 0,85 reducer (FL 510mm) EOS700D (pixel size 4.2 µm), dithered every frame 10 pixels max. Stacked in APP with full set of calibration frames. Available as 32bit Fits and 16bit tiff. The 2 stacks have not been registered to each other and since they were done largely either side of the meridian flip I think you’ll need to do that.
Known issues with the data; Large dark dust mote in bottom right landed between lights and flats!!
Stars in the very corners are very slightly elliptical – I had placed a 1mm spacer to increase the back focus spacing and it was just too much (Sorry – but its not that bad and can be cropped without much loss I think.
The
AP Processing Challenge was originally David's idea so thanks for your idea David and thanks for your data for this challenge.
This is David's original posting:
viewtopic.php?f=66&t=14122
Please keep the submissions coming in for future challenges. Just send a PM to a Mod or an email to:
tssapchallenge@theskysearchers.com
Have fun!
Regards
Graeme
Re: Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 11:27 am
by Jockinireland
Hi folks,
I'm really looking forward to see what can be done with this data.
As mentioned above there are two files -one with the 120s data and the other with the 240s data and I've provided both in FITS and TIFF format as I've seen some issues with people opening FITs in earlier challenges.
I processed mine in PixInsight with a pretty standard workflow but using HDRComposition to combine the linear data and the HDRMultiscaleTransform on the non-linear.
All the best,
David
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:32 pm
by Graeme1858
Here's a go at the 240 second version. I did first try to stack the 240 and the 120 but
DSS didn't want to register them. I'll try the Tiffs later.
In
Gimp:
Curves and Levels
Saturation
Colour Balance
Unsharp Mask
Crop
M110 looks a bit over sharpened when you zoom in but otherwise I'm quite pleased with it although the colours are not as bright as David's version. Thanks again for the data David.
Regards
Graeme
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:39 pm
by jerrysykes
Here is my attempt with the 240 sec version.
I use
Startools 1.6 for most of the processing but I switched to
Startools 1.5 for the color.
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 12:04 am
by Graeme1858
jerrysykes wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:39 pm
I use Startools 1.6 for most of the processing but I switched to Startools 1.5 for the color.
You have brought the colours out well Jerry.
Think I'm going to have another go! I'm sure
Gimp can do better!
Regards
Graeme
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 2:38 pm
by Micke187
Here is my quick process in
PI on the 240sec version . Made one mistake and used ABE when it wasnt needed.
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 3:58 pm
by Graeme1858
Looks good to me Micke. Again, good colour.
What's ABE?
Regards
Graeme
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 4:44 pm
by Micke187
Thanks! ABE stands for automatic background extractor tool in PI. Use it for even out the background so it gets more uniform. Usually if you have lightpollution the center gets more brighter then the corners and sides.
But on this data it wasnt really necessary to use that tool here.
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:49 pm
by Micke187
and here is the 120 sec version
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 10:36 pm
by Jockinireland
Micke187 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:49 pm
and here is the 120 sec version
looking goode Micke. Are you going to combine them? I think the colour of the 240 one is really good and there is a bit more into the core of the 120.
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 10:50 pm
by Jockinireland
Graeme1858 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:32 pm
Here's a go at the 240 second version. I did first try to stack the 240 and the 120 but DSS didn't want to register them. I'll try the Tiffs later.
In Gimp:
Curves and Levels
Saturation
Colour Balance
Unsharp Mask
Crop
M110 looks a bit over sharpened when you zoom in but otherwise I'm quite pleased with it although the colours are not as bright as David's version. Thanks again for the data David.
Regards
Graeme
Hi Graeme, thats quite a nice process I think. But omn my screen it has a bit of a green cast. I ran your jpg through HLVG in photoshop then did a quick sat boost to get this.
I'm not sure how you's do that in
GIMP but I guess just adjusting the green channel a bit in levels could do it.
Its great to see what others can do with the data.
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 3:30 am
by bobharmony
I took a quick run through the 240 second subs and got a nice result. It is good data to work with. I haven't tried the 120 subs yet, but I think I am going to try something a little different and see if it works. Stay tuned for a few days.
Bob
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 9:22 am
by Graeme1858
Micke187 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:49 pm
and here is the 120 sec version
That's good too Micke. The dust lanes are slightly more prominent. Did you use the TIF file or the FIT?
Jockinireland wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 10:50 pm
Hi Graeme, thats quite a nice process I think. But omn my screen it has a bit of a green cast. I ran your jpg through HLVG in photoshop then did a quick sat boost to get this.
Cheers David. That's certainly an improvement! I'm processing on my laptop and the screen changes a lot depending on the angle it's at. I should get into the habit of viewing at all angles!
bobharmony wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 3:30 am
I took a quick run through the 240 second subs and got a nice result. It is good data to work with. I haven't tried the 120 subs yet, but I think I am going to try something a little different and see if it works. Stay tuned for a few days.
Anticipation is mounting!
Regards
Graeme
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 1:20 pm
by Micke187
Jockinireland wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 10:36 pm
Micke187 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:49 pm
and here is the 120 sec version
looking goode Micke. Are you going to combine them? I think the colour of the 240 one is really good and there is a bit more into the core of the 120.
I will if i knew how to combine them in
PI. Have to read a little bit more. Havent stacked only 2 frames before and the stack program dont allow it..
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 2:50 pm
by Jockinireland
Micke187 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 1:20 pm
Jockinireland wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 10:36 pm
Micke187 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:49 pm
and here is the 120 sec version
looking goode Micke. Are you going to combine them? I think the colour of the 240 one is really good and there is a bit more into the core of the 120.
I will if i knew how to combine them in
PI. Have to read a little bit more. Havent stacked only 2 frames before and the stack program dont allow it..
So in
PI, once you have done ABE or DBE, align the 2 masters in StarAlignment and then combine the two using HDRComposition. Then, on your single combined image, continue with your normal linear processing (noise reduction etc) and stretch to non linear. Then at some point run HDRMultiscaleTransform and that should produce some level of HDR image.
HTH
David.
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 4:21 am
by bobharmony
I took my thought process and worked through it using
StarTools 1.6. First I processed the 120 second sub stack selecting an ROI that concentrated on the core of M31:
Then I loaded up the 240 second subs and selected an ROI out on the periphery and processed it:
Finally I loaded both of these into the
StarTools Layer module and tried to mash them together to keep the best of both areas. I am no expert with Layers, but got something close to what I was looking for:
There is some weirdness in the lower right where I tried using "Heal" to even out the issues from a dust mote in that neighborhood that David talked about. In an inage with a smalle r target I would have just cropped it out, but that would have removed too much galaxy in this case.
I may hack at it some more, we shall see.
Bob
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:21 am
by Graeme1858
Nice one Bob. The HDR version definitely shows the best detail.
Does Startools let you clone out the dust moat?
Regards
Graeme
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:09 am
by bobharmony
Graeme1858 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:21 am
Does Startools let you clone out the dust moat?
Regards
Graeme
The Heal module is similar to the Clone tool, more like a "smart" version of the tool. Mask the offending area and it builds a replacement based on surrounding pixels. My application was rather crude, as it isn't something I use on a regular basis.
Bob
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:34 pm
by Micke187
Have got some time to make a combined hdr version on the 120 and 240 sec and this what i came up with.
And thanks for the tip with the combination Davd worked perfectly!
Re: AP Processing Challenge No 12 - JockinIreland - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:15 pm
by Jockinireland
Micke187 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:34 pm
Have got some time to make a combined hdr version on the 120 and 240 sec and this what i came up with.
And thanks for the tip with the combination Davd worked perfectly!
Thats looking really good now. That dust mote is standing out like a sore thumb now though! Sorry 'bout that!
Get the clone stamp to it. No one will know.
