Processing Comet and Stars using APP Starnet++ and photoshop

This blogpost is about how to get both the comet as the background stars processed sharp.

A video I used is the one from LuckyBudd : see this link 

What's needed, or at least, what I used :

    - AstroPixelProcessor (APP)

    - Starnet ++

    - Photoshop

1) APP

    a) Stack images of the comet using registration mode "Comet/one star" (Picture 1)

    b) Redo integration with "MAD" setting (Picture 2)

    c) Redo stacking using registration mode "normal" and restart integration (Picture 3)

2) Starnet++

    a) Remove stars using Starnet++ of Picture 3 (Picture 4)

3) Photoshop

    a) Load Picture 3 and Picture 4 and "layer" them together

    b) Use "Image", "Use Image" and substracted (Picture 5)

    c) Load Picture 2 and layer Picture 5

    d) Use "Layer", "Layer Style" and linear blending (Picture 6)

Edit Picture 6 as a end result.

Two Comets: C/2022 E3(ZTF) & C/2022 U2(Atlas)

 

Last monday, February 6, 2023, two comets were visible within less then 1°: the green comet C/2022E3(ZTF) and C/2022 U2(Atlas). Comet C/2022 U2(Atlas) is very faint but visible. The difference in "speed" across the background stars is good visible: C/2022 E3(ZTF) is moving "faster" then C/2022 U2(Atlas).

Setting: TLAPO 80/480 f/6 with ASI2600MC
Lights: 22x60s, darks, bias, flats and darkflats

Software: SharpCap4, N.I.N.A. Stellarium (v0.22), APP and CS4.

Constellation Orion

 

My objective was to capture "Barnards Loop" around constellation Orion. The moon was low above the horizon and city lights were on. Exposure time was 1,5h and no filter was used. After stacking with APP and editing using CS4, Barnards loop is not visible. However the flame nebula is seen near the belt of Orion.

Setting : Nikon D7500, 18mm, ISO100
Lights : 100x60s; Darks and Bias, no flats
Software : N.I.N.A., Stellarium, APP, CS4

After using Light Pollution reducer tool in APP:

Groups Picture Astrophotography Workshop

Group picture of VVS Astrophotography Day on January 31, 2023 at Urania Hove (Antwerp). Helios was represented by 3 members: Walter, Leo and myself :)

Update Stellarium 1.2

 

Version 1.2 of planetarium software Stellarium is available. Update done and all settings taken over and working fine.

XBOX Game bar: Recording your Screen Winkey+ALT+R

An easy way to record your own screen or record a workproces on your screen is the windows app "XBOX Game Bar".

The XBOX Game Bar is a standard package in Windows (10) and you can open the app using Winkey+G.

To start recording press Winkey+ALT+R. Recording format is MP4 and  the video is uploaded in the standard video map. Have fun!

NINA memory issus

Since january 21st I'm struggling with errors from N.I.N.A. Most of them are related to memory errors. At first I made some changes of the windows settings on memory usage. Next I changed back to NINA 32 bit version. When imaging with my ASI2600MC I kept having the same errors. As a next step I updated following drivers and software:

        - ZWO ASI Native drivers

        - ZWO ASCOM drivers

        - ASCOM Platform

The updates made no difference and I still got errors. I read that the 32bit version of NINA maximizes the RAM memory to 2Gb. So, I went back to NINA64 bit and installed the latest beta version of NINA (64 bit 2.1 HF1 RC005). Executing a dry run went succesfull, even after framing and imaging.   So, so far so good.