ic 342 - approximately 40 hours of unguided exposures under city sky (Stefano Ciapetti)

ic 342 - approximately 40 hours of unguided exposures under city sky

Link to TIFF/FITS: http://ciapettiagency.info/ic342_1420x60_6000x10somma.zip

This image is the sum of approximately 6000 (six thousand) 10 secs subs and 1420 60 secs frames imaged during the nights of 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st of March (10 secs subs) and 1st, 2nd, 4th and 7th of April (60 secs subs).

10 secs subs were taken because under full moon Astroart could not plate solve for 60 secs subs. Therefore for above days I had to shift to 10 secs subs.

Imaging train was:

ORION USA 250 F 3.9 Newton

QHY183M cooled

Ioptron CEM60 EC

IDAS LPS2 filter

Aquisition and part of the processing has been done with Astrort. Remining process with PS. All images are covered with gradient. Especially the ones taken during full moon. Moreover the object is very weak. Imaging it from my bortle 8 sky (maybe bortle 9 during full moon) has been a challange. I am not very happy with result.

I should take more images using an HA filter or a more strict light pollution suppression filter.

If some of you would like to fight with heavy gradient, can process the image. You can download the final sum file from Astrobin link.

B

Description: Checked with a different pc. Added unsharp mask on full image and lowered curves with Gimp. I think that this image can be improved with more processing.

Uploaded: ...

C

Description: PS - gradient reduction with Gradient Xterminator plugin, stars reduction with minimum filter, levels and curves

Uploaded: ...

D

Description: PS - more gradient Xterminator plugin - mask for the galaxy area and several curves / levels passes - unsharp mask on galaxy - gaussian blur filter on remaining part of the image - some galaxy structures are finally coming out

Uploaded: ...

E

Description: Started with version D psd file and passed to Gimp - unsharp mask on full image and noise reduction (gaussian selective blur) on dark areas in order to reduce noise. In my opinon galaxy looks a little bit more noisy but more detailed

Uploaded: ...

F

Description: Gimp - selective noise reduction with selective gaussian blur on the galaxy

Uploaded: ...

G

Description: contrast adjustment using curves

Uploaded: ...

Imagers of Italy

	Distinct awarded users	Total awarded images
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	Image of the day	Top pick	Top pick nominations	Total submitted
Deep sky
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Extremely wide field
Star trails
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	Image of the day	Top pick	Top pick nominations	Total submitted
Backyard
Traveller
Own remote observatory
Amateur hosting facility
Public amaeteur data
Professional, scientific grade data
Mix of multiple sources
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Unknown

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Status	Advanced success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	4683151
PixInsight job	43Q5DXDWACZHYQ7RMUFEGE5WNVTI6HAJ
PixInsight queue size	n/a
PixInsight stage	n/a

RA (center)	03h46m40s.411
RA (top/left)	03h48m49s.918
RA (top/right)	03h42m27s.263
RA (bottom/right)	03h44m34s.636
RA (bottom/left)	03h50m53s.574

Dec (center)	+68°05′28″.16
Dec (top/left)	+68°26′02″.35
Dec (top/right)	+68°07′37″.77
Dec (bottom/right)	+67°44′48″.44
Dec (bottom/left)	+68°02′51″.61

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