The images I have posted on this page were all taken with the 8" LX 200, MX-5C and using the STAR 2000 auto tracking software.  The autotracking process exposes a region of the image (the upper left most corner) with a glow from the on-chip amplifiers.  Fortunately, you can remove this effect by subtracting a dark frame.  The dark frame must be taken using the same exposure time as the image.  Thus if the image is a 10 minute exposure, you need to subtract a 10 minute dark frame.  The naming convention I use for the dark frame is DRK10M (or DRB10M) for a 10 minute exposure and DRK20M for a 20 minute exposure.  You can determining the exposure time, by reading the fITS header information.

For images taken at focal rations less than f10, you should also apply a flat field.  This will correct for vignetting that occurs with the Meade f3.3 focal reducer.

The zipped files include the dark and flat field frames you will need to process the image.  The M-83 image files already have the dark frame subtracted and the flat field applied.  This will allow you to see what the images should look like after this step.  Once the dark fram and flat field are applied you can perform the color synthesis.  

If you add images together, you should perform the color synthesis before you merge/stack/add the images.  Otherwise the color information will be corrupted.  This is easiest to do in Astro Art, but can also be done with the STAR 2000 MX-5C software.  If you use Astro art, you will need to get the MX-5C color synthesis plug-in from the Astro art page.

For Astro Art check the x-offset box.  For the STAR 2000 software leave both the pixel offset and line offset box unchecked.

Also, note that since the pixels on the MX-5C camera are not square, the images appear flattened in the vertical direction.  You can correct this by resampling the images from 290 x 510 to 373 x 510.  You will need a third party software package to perform this resampling.  I normally use Adobe Photoshop.

Finally, if you use Astro art, you will note that the images are inverted.  The STAR 2000 software does not invert the images.  You can correct this by flipping the images vertically after bringing them into Astro Art.  

Image processing is a lot like cooking a fine meal.  Many people can do it, but each person has their own technique.  Use these images to expirement with various processing techniques and software.  If you are thinking about getting into Astro Imagining, they will give you a good idea of what image processing really means.  If you have questions about the images, please e-mail me and I will try to answer your questions.  I would also like to see your final results.  My best efforts are posted on my web pages.  I'm sure other people will be able to improve of these results and would very much like to hear from you and what techniques you used to process the images.

I consider them copyrighted.  You are free to uses them for your personal use, but you will need my permission to publish them or to use them in any commercial venture.

Clear skies and have fun.

Richard