A very generous person spent some time with me so I could learn how to process this image in a more professional manner. Included here is the version I showed him when asking for help. *It is the SAME data* just different approaches to processing.

I had the fortune of good advice to add something called Dithering into my new process. It's where the tracking mount randomly moves the telescope by X number of pixels every few frames. This helps reduce noise even further when stacking long duration exposures -each frame is 180 seconds in this pic

One of the first images I ever took with my dedicated astro setup. At Timber Cove, California and required only about 20 minutes of exposure time to get this. I lost the original files so this is an attempt to reprocess a PNG similar to my other reprocessing projects. Including the "original" too

Continuing to revamp images acquired in 2024. This is 8 hours worth of exposure time from Alameda. M51 Galaxy and its galactic soup getting slurped up on top

Revamping old data (from late last year). See the before and after in the side by side pic. Exact same shots but very different outcomes!

Trying a few new processes: Light pollution filter, wider FOV telescope, more precise image editing, but still sticking to majority open source software (including abandoning Photoshop for Gimp for the post processing!)

When your butt is cold but your head is too warm (and you’re spoiled with toys)

I mean still though even with the moon and a dust spot this is freaking crazy!

I love my city and gladly took an oath to keep our government transparent and honest. Won’t be a hard job here, though 😁

🧹😰

Sold some gear to buy room this smaller and wider scope. I’m super excited, but you can see from the screenshot that it’s space dust vs earth dust 💀 @mntyfrsh.bsky.social Any advice for cleaning lenses?

Photo is of the Flaming Star Nebula if you’re curious! You can see a little nebulosity there…

Either the sombrero or needle galaxy.

Taken in Jenner
ZWO 533MC Astro camera
6” Newtonian scope
~20 minutes of exposure

I wonder if they’re taking pictures of us right now

The Rosette Nebula in Petaluma, CA

6” Newtonian telescope
DSLR Canon 5D mk II

My astrophotography setup as of 2024 built over 3 years one piece at a time.

6” reflector telescope, astronomy camera (basically a filterless sensor with active cooling), star tracker to combat the rotation of the earth, and a raspberry pi astronomy controller

M42 Orion Nebula from Aptos, California

A few hours of exposure with a Canon 5D MK II and 200mm camera lens

NGC 2403

A few hours of exposure with a ZWO 533MC and 6” Newtonian Reflector

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_240...

California Nebula as seen from Alameda, CA

2.5 hours of exposure with a ZWO 533MC and 6” Newtonian Reflector