AstroAF

Hey Everyone! Here's my final image from my latest video..
Decomposing Medusa Nebula | Looking Deeper At Your Astrophotography Data
https://youtu.be/HFEuOQSLgQg

The Medusa Nebula (Abell 21 / Sharpless 2-274) is an ancient planetary nebula located roughly 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Gemini. Formed from the outer layers of a dying star ~10,000 years ago, its tangled filaments and shell-like structure create one of the most fascinating narrowband targets in the night sky.

Image Details:
Object: Medusa Nebula (Abell 21 / Sharpless 2-274)
Constellation: Gemini
Acquisition: SHO Narrowband
Camera: Player One Artemis-M Pro
Telescope: Celestron EdgeHD 8 with Reducer
Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro
Processing: PixInsight & Photoshop

Integration 22h 30m:
Ha: 27 × 900s = 6h 45m
OIII: 27 × 900s = 6h 45m
SII: 36 × 900s = 9h 0m

‪@playeroneastronomy2772‬ Artemis-M Pro | Xena 585M
‪@astroasis2020‬ Oasis Filter Wheel and Focuser
‪@CelestronDotCom‬ EdgeHD 8 (.7x 1440mm) | OAG
‪@SkyWatcherUSA‬ HEQ5 Pro
‪@svbonyoptics‬ SV227 SHO 5nm Filters

Captured in NINA
Processed in Pixinsight

Cheers!
Doug

#astrophotography, #medusanebula, #abell21, #sh2-274, #planetarynebula, #sho, #narrowband, #narrowbandastrophotography, #pixinsight, #deepskyastrophotography, #astronomy, #spacephotography, #astroimaging, #imageprocessing, #hydrogenalpha, #oiii, #sii, #gemini, #astroaf, #diffractionspikes, #playeronecamera, #edgehd8, #deepskyobject, #amateurastronomy, #astrophotographyprocessing

4 hours ago (edited) | [YT] | 6

AstroAF

Hey Friends! New video published.
Astrophotography is often taught as a sequence of image processing steps:
Do this. Click that. Apply this process.
But real image processing rarely works that way.

Every image presents different challenges, different opportunities, and different decisions. The most valuable part of the process isn’t memorizing a workflow. It’s learning how to interpret the data and make informed choices.

Rather than building an image of the Medusa Nebula from scratch, we’re going to work backwards through the finished result and decompose it into the individual components that shaped the final image.

We’ll examine:
• The contributions of Sulfur, Hydrogen, and Oxygen data
• Why some structures became focal points during processing
• How individual channels reveal different physical features of the nebula
• The importance of testing assumptions rather than forcing a result
• How data-driven decisions influence the final image

Cheers!
Doug

#astrophotography, #medusanebula, #abell21, #sh2-274, #planetarynebula, #sho, #narrowband, #narrowbandastrophotography, #pixinsight, #deepskyastrophotography, #astronomy, #spacephotography, #astroimaging, #imageprocessing, #hydrogenalpha, #oiii, #sii, #gemini, #astroaf, #diffractionspikes, #playeronecamera, #edgehd8, #deepskyobject, #amateurastronomy, #astrophotographyprocessing

17 hours ago | [YT] | 0

AstroAF

New mounting ring kit in-progress, fabricating out of Polycarbonate.. More to come :-)
Cheers!
Doug

#Astrophotography #AstrophotographyGear #3DPrinting #AmateurAstronomy #DeepSkyImaging #HomeObservatory #AstroInfrastructure

1 day ago (edited) | [YT] | 5

AstroAF

Hey Friends! New video published: Harmonic Drive Mount | From Idea to DIY Manufacturing.

Since the original HarmonicAF V1 prototype videos, this project slowly evolved into something much larger than I originally expected.

What started as a concept for a harmonic drive astrophotography mount gradually turned into a deep dive into design iteration, PA6-CF manufacturing, process control, CNC refinement, material science, and hybrid fabrication workflows. This project also evolved as a result of listening to your feedback and suggestions in comments and Discord and for that I thank you!

This video documents the engineering journey behind HarmonicAF V2 and the manufacturing systems that gradually evolved around the project along the way.

What you build transforms you.

https://youtu.be/8GJvFHFsJAA

Cheers!
Doug

#Astrophotography #HarmonicDrive #TelescopeMount #DIYEngineering #3DPrinting #PA6CF #Fusion360 #CNC #Manufacturing #Astronomy

2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 2

AstroAF

New Video Published!
In Part 3 of my astrophotography pier build, we bring everything together — mechanical assembly, leveling, power, Ethernet, mount setup, rough alignment, and first light preparation.

If you haven’t seen the earlier stages of the build:

Building My Dream Astrophotography Pier – Part 1
https://youtu.be/ZZBbORby3Vg

Building My Backyard Astrophotography Pier! – Part 2
https://youtu.be/XbPxWeFsOEk

This project has been about more than just pouring concrete. It’s about building a permanent imaging platform that supports long-term stability, repeatable polar alignment, clean cable routing, and reliable power and networking for remote and unattended astrophotography.

A huge thank you to my friend Jay for helping bring this pier to life. Jay is an incredibly talented machine and body shop specialist who restores classic cars for a private collector. He handled all of the welding and finish work on this pier, applying the same level of craftsmanship and finishing techniques he uses in high-end automotive restoration. The result is something that looks intentional, durable, and professionally built.

You can check out Jay’s channel here:
‪@oceanside2152‬
youtube.com/@oceanside2152

Cheers!
Doug

#Astrophotography #BackyardObservatory #TelescopePier #HEQ5 #CelestronEdgeHD #PolarAlignment #AmateurAstronomy #DeepSkyImaging #NINA #HomeObservatory #AstroInfrastructure

3 months ago | [YT] | 4

AstroAF

Here's my image from the last video on the Player One Xena 585M.
https://youtu.be/2lI7b9DMGok

IC 410 – The Tadpole Nebula

Located in the constellation Auriga, IC 410 lies approximately 12,000 light-years from Earth. This emission nebula surrounds the open star cluster NGC 1893, whose hot, young stars energize the surrounding hydrogen gas.

The famous “tadpoles” are dense globules of gas and dust being sculpted by intense stellar radiation — each one stretching roughly 10 light-years long.

Discovered in 1892 by Max Wolf, IC 410 continues to be a stunning example of star formation in action.

Integration 26h 35m:
Ha: 33 × 900s = 8h 15m
OIII: 24 × 900s = 6h 00m
SII: 38 × 900s = 9h 30m
Total Narrowband: 23h 45m

L: 8 × 300s = 40m
R: 10 × 300s = 50m
G: 8 × 300s = 40m
B: 8 × 300s = 40m
Total LRGB: 2h 50m

Captured in NINA
Processed in Pixinsight

Gear:
​‪@playeroneastronomy2772‬ Artemis-M Pro | Xena 585M
​‪@astroasis2020‬ Oasis Filter Wheel and Focuser
​‪@CelestronDotCom‬EdgeHD 8 (.7x 1440mm) | OAG
​‪@SkyWatcherUSA‬ HEQ5 Pro
‪@svbonyoptics‬ SV227 SHO 5nm Filters
​‪@optolongastronomyfilter1999‬ LRGB Filters

#Astrophotography #IC410 #TadpoleNebula #DeepSky #Auriga #NarrowbandImaging #LongExposure #SpacePhotography #AmateurAstronomy #NightSky

3 months ago | [YT] | 37

AstroAF

Doing some testing of the ‪@playeroneastronomy2772‬ Xena 585M tonight and switched over to 16-bit, using the ASCOM driver so i could get control of the settings for HDR, Gain ended up about 250 with Offset of 12. Running 1sec exposures. Solid SNR 18-20, good star HFR at 1440mm. Hanging out in the low .50s. Seeing is slightly soft tonight. Overall, really happy with these results. I still haven't done a guiding assistant yet!
Cheers!
Doug

#playerone #xena585m #guiding #phd2 #astrophotography

3 months ago | [YT] | 17

AstroAF

New Video Published!
Player One Xena 585M - My First Light Experience!

Astrophotography guiding changed for me the night I replaced my long-time guide camera with the Player One Xena 585M. Same mount. Same telescope. Same focal length. Same sky. The only variable that changed was the guide camera — and the results completely reset my expectations.

In this video I share my real-world first guiding session using the ‪@playeroneastronomy2772‬ Xena 585M on an HEQ5 Pro with an EdgeHD 8 at 1440mm focal length. This is practical astrophotography — not lab testing, not synthetic comparisons — just actual imaging conditions, PHD2 calibration, live guiding graphs, and star performance.

Cheers!
Doug

Player One Xena 585M product page:
player-one-astronomy.com/product/xena-585m-usb3-0-…

Player One Astronomy Dwarf Planet guiding camera lineup:
player-one-astronomy.com/guiding-camera/

1.25 Inch Parfocal Rings Set of Three:
amzn.to/3ZHoMt5

#Astrophotography #Guiding #PHD2Guiding #HEQ5Pro #EdgeHD8 #Xena585M #PlayerOneAstronomy #DeepSkyAstrophotography #LongFocalLength #SubArcsecond m#IC410 #TadpoleNebula

3 months ago | [YT] | 2