Working with Hydrogen-alpha data, part 1

July 2011: Great results come to imagers who take the narrow path.

Contributed by Tony Hallas

Published: May 23, 2011

Combining a luminance image with one you took through a Hydrogen-alpha filter delivers impressive results, as in this example of NGC 2237-9 and NGC 2244.

Photo by Tony Hallas

It doesn’t take long before an astroimager hears about a seemingly exotic technique called narrowband imaging.

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JERRY KLINGAMAN from FLORIDA said:

Regarding my question above on "Working With H-Alpha Data, Part 1," where do I look for Mr. Hallas's answer--here under his Imaging the Cosmos" section or in a separate E-Mail? I've not used this Q&A forum before.
Respectfully,
Jerry Klingaman
Freeflight1@cox.net

JERRY KLINGAMAN from FLORIDA said:

Tony,
I love your instructional material "Imaging The Cosmnos. I have read, and now use all your processing tips, but I ran into a problem Working With H-Alpha Data, Part 1.
I register the Ha and Lum data and then open Lum in photo Shop. The image opens on the monitor and I get the "background" icon in the "Layers" palette. Good so far.
Now I open the Ha data; the Ha image comes up on the monitor, but there is no icon in the "Layers" palette. You say "drag the icon of the Ha data on top of the Lum image," but there is no Ha icon; i.e., nothin to drag on top of the Lum.
I'm sure there is something very basic in Photo Shop I'm missing here, but I would be very grateful if you would expand this a bit and get me on track. I will need this capability to folow your subsequent articles.
Most Sincerely,
Jerry Klingaman
freeflight1cox.net

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