Complete LRGB Tutorial of NGC292, The Small Magellanic Cloud by Christian Sasse, iTelescope.net – OLD VERSION (APP 1.075)

Complete LRGB Tutorial of NGC292, The Small Magellanic Cloud

by Christian Sasse, Astronomer in Charge of iTelescope.net

This is an old version using APP 1.075, the new and updated version created with APP 1.081 can be found here

This tutorial consists of 9 parts and is a complete tutorial from loading the raw filter data to a final LRGB color image ready for publication.

The data used in the tutorial is completely available for download, so you can follow all steps and learn what is happening with the data at each processing step.

All light frames and calibration frames can be downloaded by clicking here. (2,5 GB)

Work Directory contents as created in the tutorial can be downloaded here. (1.0 GB) This includes the Master frames and post-processing steps, like the Star Color Calibration linear raw data.

Optionally, you can also download the pre-calibrated data and their JPG previews as provided by iTelescope.net (3,7 GB). You don’t need this data to follow the tutorial though.

The data was acquired, in august 2019, with iTelescope T08:
https://www.itelescope.net/t08

“T8 is a 106mm Takahashi FSQ telescope based at SSO in Australia. It has a selection of RGB and Narrowband imaging filters. Its teamed with a sensitive FLI Microline CCD and a full house filter wheel.

T8 is a prime imaging platform in the southern hemisphere with exceptional optics and will be able to gather data of APOD winning quality.”

The tutorial was created by Christian Sasse, Astronomer in Charge of iTelescope.net , using Astro Pixel Processor 1.075, with an advisory role for Mabula Haverkamp, the main developer of Astro Pixel Processor.

LRGB Tutorial of NGC292

1 Loading your data into APP

2 General Calibration

3 Calibration with Cosmetic Correction for hot pixels and bad columns

4 Process up until integrations/stacks with frame quality assessment and possible frame rejection

5 Compose Color Image

6 Light Pollution correction

7 Star Color Calibration

8 Cropping your image

9 Applying final stretching and saving for publication

The Tutorial uses L,R,G,B light frames, captured on the 24th of August, 2019. The below image however, shows the Small Magellanic Cloud using data of that night and additionally, the 25th & 26th of August, 2019. It was processed completely in Astro Pixel Processor 1.075 by Mabula Haverkamp.

Small Magellanic Cloud, NGC292, LRGB composite shot with iTelescope T08. Total exposure time is 13,25 hours. data was completed processed with Astro Pixel Processor from calibration of the raw exposures to the final stretched star color calibrated image.
Small Magellanic Cloud, NGC292, LRGB composite shot with iTelescope T08. Total exposure time is 13,25 hours. data was completed processed with Astro Pixel Processor from calibration of the raw exposures to the final stretched star color calibrated image.