The Orion Nebula: Image Processing Then and Now

This video highlights image processing challenges of bright objects- with the exemplar of M42. The processing demonstration is a retrospective of what was done more than decade ago- and how that is related to the tools available today (say in PixInsight).
The full image can be seen here:
www.adamblockphotos.com/m42-c...
Of course today, PixInsight offers an array of tools that can be used to wrangle these challenges. This is the kind of thing demonstrated at AdamBlockStudios.com !
Those just starting out in PixInsight will enjoy FastTrack Training! www.adamblockstudios.com/cate... (see the video @ • Introducing FastTrack ... )
REVIEWS! www.adamblockstudios.com/cate...

[@shitijbhargava4363]

I was just going to process data for Orion nebula I took recently, so this is super good timing!!

[@darkwood777]

In the old days, I imaged on large glass plates at the telescope, then transferred to film emulsions that could be punched and registered for use with an enlarger. I then switched out the emulsions with different exposure times in order to build up a master negative. Sometimes it would take weeks of work to get a nice print, and typically a B/W print at that, although color was possible.

[@jamesjester810]

This is the first time looking at your videos after a recommendation buy Cuiv, truly enlightening. Thank you

[@johnparker9524]

Really appreciate this video and would hope that you do a video on how you would now process Orion (In Fundamentals please)

[@ScrewDriverxxx]

Fascinating how much more information there is in this image. Thanks for explaining it.

[@springy120453]

Very interesting, looking forward to a Pixi tutorial on this! Please!

[@AdamBlock]

Will try...

[@debrajorgensen2730]

Thank you so much. I am not an astronomer. Just a regular person with a fascination for our universe. I didn’t really understand a lot of what was said but truly appreciate what I did understand. I just googled true colour image of the Orion Nebula and found you here. Just listening and watching was enjoyable and especially when you zoomed into the center. It is truly unimaginable the scope of this beautiful Nebula and the family of stars within it. The size and magnificent beauty of this universe that we live in is just incomprehensible. So much so that I love at least trying to comprehend and admire as much as I can. Thank you again 🤗👏🙏

[@AdamBlock]

If you would like to pursue this more... there are two other things I have done. 1. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXyQfodmbahgeNE and also: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3qmmneposx4eKc ...I do hope you watch them.. (and let me know what you think!)

[@pcboreland1]

Great presentation!

[@AdamBlock]

Thanks!

[@teninnykanal]

Great work Adam! As always :) The core of M42 with "trapezium" is my recent goal but with lucky imaging technique.

[@paulnaquet]

Very nice and informative video Adam! It would be great to see you do the same process in Pixinsight!

[@barbaraharris6102]

Thanks for really digging into the astrophysics of the image

[@salvatoregrasso8014]

I remember admiring this image when you first released it, 13 years ago… man now I’m feeling old

[@AdamBlock]

Me too man... me too. LOL My CCD work goes back more than 15 years prior than that!

[@davecurtis8833]

Great insight Adam. Would be great to see a PI tut. Perhaps add it to your "Horizons"

[@AdamBlock]

The ideas mentioned here are interwoven in many tutorials. For example, I believe I have a tutorial on Russ Croman's HDRMT color correction. I did include this in my AIC talk (which is available).

[@davecurtis8833]

@@AdamBlock thanks Adam

[@mrrockenrock]

Yes, a great video. I have kept away from the Orion nebula because I heard it was difficult to process the wide range of brightness. And if I don't know how to do it correctly, then I need to wait. Now I have the confidence to do it; and it will be my next target. I have always liked your clear and straight forward explanations, and the practical solutions you offer in all your videos. You are generous with your free KZbin offering and accelerate the learning with the subscription videos. BTW, great subtitles. Every word correct! But then you did not say Generalized Extreme Studentized Deviate which would be the acid test. Did you have to the subtitles yourself?

[@AdamBlock]

That is interesting! No... I did not create any captions- so it is a google thing. I suspect if I did speak some astro-parlance google would fail. But it is likely this video didn't have too much of that.

[@roymedina638]

Hey Adam, great info and like another poster here, I’m planning to shoot the Orion Nebula when the clouds break so do you have a video on your site that shows this process in PI? I’d definitely pay for that one!

[@AdamBlock]

You know... I do not have a specific video on HDRComposition. It is really easy to use. I do have videos on the use of Masked Stretch and HDRMT which together are pretty darn powerful.

[@roymedina638]

@@AdamBlock awesome! I’ll check those out as well. Thanks for the reply.

[@craigskinner8489]

Hi Adam. Great video. I will be shooting the Orion Nebula in NB for the first time next month. Should I take different exposure times or is that not needed with NB?

[@AdamBlock]

I would not think with NB you will be having many issues. NB cuts down on the signal dramatically... especially with respect to the stars like the Trapezium.

[@craigskinner8489]

@@AdamBlock thank you.

[@ericsmiths]

Perfect timing Adam. I already have 5, 10 and 120 second subs and capturing more now. Do you think it needs any other sub exposure length? I am using an ASI 6200 MM Pro and WO GT 81. Pix scale is 2. Great introduction thank you.

[@AdamBlock]

Other exposure lengths probably not necessary.. M42 is so bright that short exposures are just fine. ((I consider 120 seconds to be short!).

[@ericsmiths]

@@AdamBlock Thank you! 120 seconds is normal for my RGB but I am tempted to go up to 300s to see how much is revealed now I have some HDR frames to help out.

[@AdamBlock]

@@ericsmiths I would go for it...that is the power of the short exposure stuff.. you can go long and let all heck break loose in the bright areas.

[@capturethephotons2078]

deep sky stacker keeps turning the trapezium into a blob of 3. My single exposures show 4. Any suggestions? Should i be making a leap to PLEADIES PIXINSIGHT? All advice welcomed. Clear skies

[@AdamBlock]

Well... you know what I am going to say. Yes, of course to PixInsight... in combination with my video instructions. :)

[@stephen2615]

Does Fundamentals have PixInsight M42 processes like you mentioned? I get lost sometimes navigating through the Fundamentals offering because of the design of how it is presented.

[@AdamBlock]

I don't have workflow example for M42. I would consider it a challenge... so it actually belongs in Horizons if I did do it. However, the concept behind HDR composition is easy enough. I should just make a section for this. Regarding the logic of the content layout- I am open to any suggestions!

[@stephen2615]

@@AdamBlock Can I ask what sort of subs you used to get that magnificent detail at about 15 mins? I never realised just how spectacular that area is. My images are just too bright even with short subs to get that detail for use with HDRComposition.

[@AdamBlock]

@@stephen2615 That is the thing... these are 300sec exposures with a 32-inch telescope and 30sec exposures. You are not using a telescope as large (I am guessing)... so I think you *can* do it. There is one tricky thing... many CMOS cameras are not 16-bit sensors... that does make it a challenge.

[@stephen2615]

@@AdamBlock Thanks. I do have both a16 bit OSC and a Mono camera with a Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 and a 115 mm refractor.. I have experimented with 3 min and 15 sec subs on the OSC but it never gets as clear as what you have shown.

[@grigoryvidishev1810]

Adam, I am your customer and I watched all your videos on PI. Do you have any videos on HDRMT Composition? I would suspect this where you would combine images with different exposure times. I am not familiar with this process. Just in general, is that the process that can be used for combining images with different exposures? Thank you for your videos

[@AdamBlock]

HDRComposition is not used to INTEGRATE different exposure times. You do not need a process to do this- this happens automatically with proper ImageINtegration (I explain this in many videos including NSG). HDRComposition is use to take different exposure times for which one is OVEREXPOSED and the other is not. Then the images are combined to produce a final result without saturation anywhere. I don't have a video on HDRComposition...but it is pretty simple and I didn't consider it a high priority. It is used only for a handful of objects...like the Orion Nebula.

[@grigoryvidishev1810]

@@AdamBlock thank you. I will try to do M42 with the use of this process. Yes, I understand about integration process.

[@neverfox]

I've always said the same thing: that M42 and M31 are actually some of the most difficult AP targets. I never recommend them to beginners.

[@AdamBlock]

Well... with a name that has "never" in it... you are being true to form. :)