Since I began learning how to do astrophotography post-processing over the past year or so, there as been a definite change for the better in the end results. I have put a few examples below. The differences are mainly down to taking an increased number of exposures per image and improvements in processing skills and software. Here are a few examples.
The Monkey Head Nebula . I had considered this one of my fairly good images.Monkey Head redux, this time in Hubble Palette using Veralux Alchemy script in Siril.The Rosette Nebula in RGB.The Rosette, also strangely in RGB. More processing time and better software to bring out more blue.The adorable Cocoon Nebula in RGB. I was probably was too light on the star stretching here.The Cocoon Nebula in Hubble Palette using the Veralux Alchemy script in Siril.
To see some truly awful astrophotography, you can go back to some of my early Hubble Challenge posts. You can find these posts by clicking on Hubble Challenge category link at the top of the page.
Here are some new astrophotography images taken with the Seestar S30 Pro. These images were processed with only the in-app software. These photos show the wide field capability of the scope. Mosaic mode was not used, and all were cropped to some extent.
IC 434, the Horsehead NebulaM 42. the Orion Nebula, with NGC 1981, the Coal Car Cluster.M 31, the Andromeda Galaxy with a short integration time.
The Hubble 35th Anniversary Challenge has been completed. You can read more about the challenge here on the Night Sky page. Although I did set out to complete the gold level, I managed to earn the Gold Certificate and pin. The pin was a bonus, as I didn’t realize there was one for this program.
The Schuylkill River once had a navigation along its length. A few structures associated with this waterway remain – including Lock 60 at Mont Clare, Montgomery County. I visited on Valentine’s Day as part of a trip along the River to look for waterfowl. A few areas of the River that were free of ice had groups of ducks, including Hooded and Common Mergansers, Goldeneye, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Ring-necked, Bufflehead and a rarity – the Tufted Duck.
Lock 60 is a fully restored, working lock on the Schuylkill Canal, originally built as part of the Schuylkill Navigation system. The lock is demonstrated for groups and during special events by the Schuylkill Canal Association. This lock, one of 71 originally built on the canal, was constructed in the 1820s and was originally part of the Oakes Reach. The site includes the original Locktender’s house as well as canal information and interpretation. The house is open by appointment and during special events.
The lock gates
Some views of the lockkeeper’s house.
The Locktender’s House
Some looks along the Canal and the River – sadly no ducks were present here, as both areas were covered in ice.
As the weather continues to keep me indoors, I thought I’d post a few astrophotos taken with the Dwarf Mini smart telescope. Temps are on the rise, so I hope to get out this weekend to do some bird watching.
The Rosette Nebula in Monoceros. This is an RGB photo,The nearly full moon.
This winter has been particularly harsh, with prolonged periods of below average temperatures that have kept me trapped at home when the snow fails to melt around my car. I did, however, manage to travel to a farming area in northwestern Chester County to do some birding on New Year’s weekend.
This area is known for attracting winter migrant species that prefer open habitats, such as horned larks, Lapland longspurs, and snow buntings. I have had lucky seeing the horned larks before. This time, I saw the flocks of birds but had difficulty making out individuals with my binoculars or camera. However, a popular bird sound id app did pick up all of the species above, including the snow bunting and longspur. To access this site, one has to try to pull off by the side of the road and sit an wait. There was one other car during the time I was there. The locals must think we are crazy.
In terms of pictures, I had to content myself with scenes of the local area.
Gee, this farm looks familiar.Cows sheltering in the woods.
I made my way home via Marsh Creek State Park. Alas, the gull photos I took there were too distant and blurry.
A belated Christmas gift brought the redundantly named Dwarf Mini smart telescope my way. You can see more information about this scope here. I was interested in this telescope due to its extreme portability and the ability to get a wider field of view compared to my Seestar S50.
Weather here this Winter has been below average in temperature and overcast. When it does clear, it has been very cold and windy. Here are some sample photos I managed to get processed with only the Stellar Studio software in the Dwarflabs app. Most of these stellar objects here have been featured in this blog before. Total integration time for most targets was about 1-2 hours.
M31, the Andromeda GalaxyM45, the PleiadesM33, the Triangulum GalaxyC19, the Cocoon NebulaM44, the Beehive ClusterM35, the Shoe Buckle Cluster with NGC 2158 in the lower rightThe Eastern Veil Nebula in Cygnus
The scenic vista on McCalls Dam Road in Clinton County provided a good overview of the area’s fall foliage. I felt this year’s foliage was not spectacular, but still nice, perhaps due to warm and dry conditions in the preceding weeks. This vista sits above Raymond B. Winter State Park, and the road is paved from that park to this location. It is also south of McCalls Dam State Park on the same road. Confusingly, there is no longer a dam at McCalls Dam. The small park is adjacent to White Deer Creek, and the surrounding forest contains pines, hemlocks, maples, and oaks. There is a small picnic area with picnic tables and and a bench next to the creek. The park also provides access to hunting, fishing and hiking.
Here is an actual dam at Raymond B. Winter State Park.
I made a quick stop at Ravensburg State Park on my way home from the Pine Creek area because I realized I had missed most of its features on my first trip. Ravensburg is small wooded park with picnicking, hiking, hunting and fishing, and a rustic campground. The campground was already closed for the season in mid-October.
The park lies in a cozy, steep-walled gorge carved by Rauchtown Run through the side of Nippenose Mountain. A northern hardwood forest blankets the bottomland along this spring-fed stream.
Talus (rock) covered slopes and interesting rock formations are interspersed among a stunted oak forest growing on the steep mountainsides and ridges. This pretty valley is especially beautiful when the mountain laurel blooms during late June and during the fall foliage of October.
I was surprised to find a small cemetery next to my yurt at the Little Pine State Park campground.
It seems this cemetery was part of the town of English Mills. As is sadly the case with many large reservoirs and lakes in the state, communities are flooded to make way for them.
During 1782, the first American settlers in the Little Pine Valley were brothers John and James English. These brothers built two sawmills along Little Pine Creek in 1809, one of which was at the southern end of the present park boundary. The village of English Mills was established in 1816 and housed the families of the loggers, occupying what is now the park campground. The cemetery of English Mills is on a small knoll in the middle of the campground.
Another prominent name in local history is Robert Carson. He was the first of his line to settle in the Little Pine Valley, and his descendants, who made homes near his homestead, gave rise to the village of Carsontown. Robert Carson was one of the first farmers in the area, and also operated a sawmill. The Carsontown cemetery can be found at the northern end of the park.
Some other views around the campground.These trees seem much taller than when I first visited the area and largely obscure the view of the dam from the campground.Views of the yurt and the interior (below).The neighbors.
