Test shots using "Nebulosity" Software for DSLR focus
Star fields in the Summer Milkyway

 

            
 Here are
            two shots taken from the backyard observatory here in Payson
            with the 80mm f/4.8 Stellarvue/Zeiss APO. Critical focus was
            achieved using "Nebulosity", an image processing software
            by Stark Labs which also makes the auto guiding software I use
            for all imaging at the telescope. Two fields are represented
            here, the first is a 4 degree field around the star Antares with
            one of the only orange reflection nebulas in the sky covering
            most of the field. M4 is to the right.

            
The second image
            is just north up the Milky Way and includes the nebula M17 at
            the top (Swan nebula) and other obscure red nebulosites in a
            rich star field.
 

            
Orange Antares is lower left, the globular M4 to its right.
At the top is the blue nebula IC4605, and in the center of
the frame is the smaller globular NGC6144.

Select an image size for a larger view:

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Left:  Enlargement of just the area around
M4 to show the sharp focus using this new
tool.



            
M17 is the red nebula at upper left.  IC4701
is the large red nebula just to right of center,
and lower left is the open cluster M18.

Select an image size for a larger view:

1290 x 960

1600 x 1200


Lens:  Stellarvue SV80s at f/4.8
Camera: Canon XTi Hutech Modified ASA400
Mount:  Astrophysics AP1200
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing  4/10, Transparency 6/10
Outside Temperature:  55F
Processing Tools:  Photoshop CS2, Maxim DSLR, Images Plus
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