Find below the illustrations of the method explained behind

 

VIEW 1

Total lunar eclipse of 15th June 2011.

Self made newton 200 mm.

Paracorr 2 corrector.

EOS 350 D 400 iso.

Fusion of 4 exposures.

Tone mapping with details enhancer.

VIEW 2

Reflexion and dark nebulae of Orion’s region. Ngc 2023, IC434, B33 (horse head).

Self made newton telescope 275 mm F/3.3.

Paracorr 2 corrector.

EOS 5DMII 1600 iso.

Tone mapping with details enhancer.

Fusion of 6 exposures.

VIEW 3

Earthshine.

Self made newton 305 mm F/3.7

Paracorr 2 corrector.

EOS 1100 D 800 iso.

Tone mapping with lighting effects medium.

Fusion of 4 exposures.

VIEW 4

First moon quart.

Schmidt Cassegrain C.14 355 mm F/11.

Lumenera camera 24×36.

Fusion of 2 images.

Tone mapping with lighting effects natural.

VIEW 5

Globular cluster of Hercules(messier 13).

Self made newton telescope 275 mm F/3.3

Paracorr 2 corrector.

EOS 5DMII 1600 iso.

Fusion of 3 exposures.

VIEW 6

Orion’s nebulae (messier 42).

Self made newton telescope 305 mm F/3.7

Paracorr 1 corrector.

EOS 350D 400 iso.

Fusion of 4 exposures.

VIEW 7

Occultation lune/pleiades 18th july 2009.

80 mm astroprofessionnal F/7  refractor.

EOS 350 D 400 iso.

Tone mapping with details enhancer.

Fusion of 4 exposures.

VIEW 8

Petavius crater

Schmidt Cassegrain C.14 355 mm F/11.

Skynyx camera  2.1M.

3 images.

Tone mapping with details enhancer.

VIEW 9

Solar prominences.

Schmidt Cassegrain C.14 de 355 mm F/11.

Reducer F/ 6.3.

Daystar solar filter 0.5 A and re off-axis baader 150mm.

Basler aca 1300 camera.

Tone mapping painterly mode .

VIEW 10

Solar sunspot and chromosphere.

Schmidt Cassegrain C.14 355 mm F/11. Reducer F/6.3.

Daystar  solar filter 0.5 A and red off-axis baader 150mm.

Basler aca 1300 camera. Tone mapping painterly mode.

VIEW 11

Aroud Tycho crater.

Schmidt Cassegrain C.14 355 mm F/11.

Barlow 1.8 x.

Skynyx 2.1 M +  IR 742 nm filter.

Fusion of 3 exposures

Tone mapping avec details enhancer.

(Double  LPOD 14th  &  15th of December  2011)

VIEW 12

Solar sunspot and chromosphere.

Schmidt Cassegrain C.14 355 mm F/11.

Reducer F/6.3. Daystar solar filter 0.5 A  red off-axis baader 150mm. Basler aca 1300 camera. Tone mapping with painterly mode

 

Since several years, astronomical instruments, sensors of cameras, digital cameras, as well as software of image processing did not stop evolving.
Having begun in imaging of the sky since i was 13 years old , i was always intrigued and fascinated by what we could exploit of an astronomical image.
At the time of the argentic, the negatives, such as Technical Pan 2415 or the reversal slides did not allow, in a single picture, to obtain details at the same time in the sub-exposed and overexposed parts. (Case of the earth-light or the eclipses).
The work in laboratory made on several negatives with various exposures was long and boring for an often disappointing result.

At present, the photo laboratory was replaced by the computer and the number of images used for certain conditions of shots increased hundredfold even 1000!
It was thus necessary to create software capable of managing a large number of images and of merging them by various methods.
Among the software allowing this kind of imaging, Photomatix developed by HDRsoft was the first one to allow the fusion of several exposures.
Two solutions offer themselves to the experimenter: the fusion of the exposures as well as the tone mapping which, with diverse degrees of intensity allows to optimize the final result.
For it upstream, the camera will have to allow to bracketer the images with different EV (exposures values).

As regards cameras, the latter have a stream of acquisition much more raised than the digital camera with sometimes more than 100 images per second.
Therefore, it will be useful to sort out the images automatically or manually to Photomatix.
We can in the choice select images reduced to JPEG or full weft ; images indicated under the naming of RAW.
I recommend using of course the latter.
The subjects for the imaging HDR do not miss:
Lunar craters, earth-light, eclipses, solar surface in Hour-alpha and certain objects of the deep sky.

Starting up of the software:


Load bracketed raw images.
Then the software proposes a first image to verify the alignment.
Then click on OK.
At the end of the processing: 2 options.
Fusion of exposures or tone mapping with numerous choices in both cases.
We can anyway act on diverse cursors such, the microphone contrasts, the high and low lights etc.

Here are some examples obtained during my diverse escapades, in the High Ariège, at Pic du Midi observatory, or since my observatory) near Nimes.