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INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Leo Triplet and Markair's Chain in one night

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While looking for an astrophotography all in one solution that worked on a Mac I found INDI/Kstars/Ekos/Stellarmate. Great community BTW. For around six months now I've been reading and learning what the software can and cannot do. To my surprise I've found that the software, if used properly, will do exactly what it is designed to do. Almost all the errors I've frustrated over have been due to unrealistic expectations on my part and user error. Go figure. Anyway, I thought I'd share a couple pictures I got last weekend with a new scope. My processing skills with Pixinsight are very weak still but that's a whole different project.

Each are 100 60sec subs using a one shot color camera (ASI183mc-pro) attached to the front of a 8" RASA astrograph, autoguided on an Orion Atlas eq6 using a Stellarmate for everything (autofocus, platesolving, guiding, capture, dither...) from inside my house. The moon was very strong (80-90% full). Pretty cool.

telescopius.com/pictures/view/40203/deep...galaxy/by-casey_finn[/img]

telescopius.com/pictures/view/40204/deep...galaxy/by-casey_finn
Takahashi Fc100 & 8" RASA
MyT
Asi294MC & Asi183MC
Borg 50mm + Asi224
Pegasus FocusCube & Celestron Focuser
Stellarmate
Kstars, Ekos, TSX & Pixinsight
One VERY patient wife of 20 years now!
The following user(s) said Thank You: Jasem Mutlaq, giorgio, Eric
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by Casey Finn. Reason: Found out how to add previews
4 years 10 months ago #38335
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That's what I was planning to do tonight... One of them.
Thanks for sharing!
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
4 years 10 months ago #38340

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CONGRATS both very nice. I tweaked them a bit for ya. Super nice DETAIL in them!



AP Mach1 / CP4 APCC & PEMpro.
EXP SCI - ED152cf APO - Celestron 11" RASA - Stellarvue 80mm
Baader F2 HS NB filters, Lodestar X2 guide camera / OAG - ZWO 290mm mini
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro / ASI174M (solar) / ASI094MC
NEXDome, CLoudwatcher, AVX mount/ASIair and Stellarmate

The following user(s) said Thank You: Jasem Mutlaq, Eric
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by Ron Kramer.
4 years 10 months ago #38376
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Yes, thanks for sharing, very nice images!
4 years 10 months ago #38378

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Ron Kramer :

Thanks for that edit. They looks soooo much better. Any chance you could list the edits you made? Also, that was linear data so I'm guessing that doing some of that in the pre-stretched state would really be an improvement?
Takahashi Fc100 & 8" RASA
MyT
Asi294MC & Asi183MC
Borg 50mm + Asi224
Pegasus FocusCube & Celestron Focuser
Stellarmate
Kstars, Ekos, TSX & Pixinsight
One VERY patient wife of 20 years now!
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by Casey Finn. Reason: Response needed to be addressed to correct person.
4 years 10 months ago #38380

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Yes - and PRE .JPG state would be a HUGE improvement. There is no list of steps - as it's different for each image. But for pixinsight google video lesson on Dynamic background extraction and multiscale linear transform tools.

I see walking noise trails. Are you dithering during image acquisition? Did you apply flats? I ask because it appears bad flats were used. (I rarely use them) and only use if needed.

I have a 11" RASA here that I've yet to really put into use other than some initial tests.
AP Mach1 / CP4 APCC & PEMpro.
EXP SCI - ED152cf APO - Celestron 11" RASA - Stellarvue 80mm
Baader F2 HS NB filters, Lodestar X2 guide camera / OAG - ZWO 290mm mini
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro / ASI174M (solar) / ASI094MC
NEXDome, CLoudwatcher, AVX mount/ASIair and Stellarmate

Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by Ron Kramer.
4 years 10 months ago #38400

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The first thing I did when I started with PixInsight was to go to these tutorials:

www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tutorials.html

They explain a LOT about image processing and also about the shooting process. You’ll need bias, dark and flat frames and especially the Pre-Processing tutorial very well explains how to process all the images and come to a good looking result.


HTH, Wouter
4 years 10 months ago #38403

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You could have a contest: how many galaxies? GREAT shots!!!
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by Tom Bardenwerper.
4 years 10 months ago #38421

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So.. this was my plan to image same objects this week. I did.
Very light polluted area.
My scope is a modest AT72EDII F6. Nothing close to RASA F2.
The Leo Triplet came out not too bad.
But the Markarian's chain... at 120 sec x 60 it was nothing to look at.
Tonight I retried at 240 sec x 40. Better but not much.
Next week I'll drive 8 hours away from home to a dark place and see what difference would that make (hopefully everything will cooperate).
: /
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by maxthebuilder.
4 years 10 months ago #38436

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Max - post your version - I bet we can help? my color camera is VERY susecptable to light polution. If the moon's out - forget it.
So I shoot mono mostly for my bortle 6 skies at home. (in my dome).
I just moved the color camera to a portable setup that I put together. A 80mm APO with .8 reducer, ASIair, OAG and cheap avx mount.
ITS GREAT FUN testing it in the driveway as I get it configured. My plan is to bring it to my daughters which has Bortle 4 (I can see the milkyway there)
NEVER at my place. I had thought about selling the camera, but figured I'd try this first. The simplicity of the setup makes it fun again.

Early stages - in the photo. I wanted to pull that beast of a guide scope and put a OAG on it.
I'm now testing spacing/focus point for guide camera as it has to match the primary.

<strong>SIMPLICITY IS BLISS![b/]



NOW...

AP Mach1 / CP4 APCC & PEMpro.
EXP SCI - ED152cf APO - Celestron 11" RASA - Stellarvue 80mm
Baader F2 HS NB filters, Lodestar X2 guide camera / OAG - ZWO 290mm mini
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro / ASI174M (solar) / ASI094MC
NEXDome, CLoudwatcher, AVX mount/ASIair and Stellarmate

Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by Ron Kramer.
4 years 10 months ago #38448
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Hi Ron/All,
Here's my Markarian's. I actually expected a better result. The sky was without clouds but hazy - maybe that's why.
AT72EDII, ASI294MC @ gain 200. 240 sec x 40. Optolong L-Pro filter.
Stacked in DSS. Minimal processing: RGB aligned in Photoshop and saved as jpg.
Can you turn this into something interesting? I am getting too much noise after contrast stretching (using photoshop). Thanks!

-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Ron Kramer
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by maxthebuilder.
4 years 10 months ago #38461
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Here's my final result. Photoshop contrast stretching + Noiseware noise reduction.
(my images look quite a bit darker when posted on the internet - something is not right with my photoshop color profile or something).

-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
Last edit: 4 years 10 months ago by maxthebuilder.
4 years 10 months ago #38462
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