Andy correctly pointed out it was too red. When I processed it I was struck by how red it was but nothing I could do would make it bluer without ruining everything. So I gave up and figured it was right. Andy's comment got me to go back and look at my key logger. I'm still learning photoshop and sometimes I do something great but don't know how I did it. So I put in a keystroke logger and avoid using the mouse when possible so I can better track what I did.

I found that after I had loaded in the color frames there was a gap of time with no keystrokes then some very odd ones. Most did nothing in Photoshop but two turned the green and blue layers to transparent! That left only the red layer. I then composited it which caused the red layer to duplicate to the green and blue layers so all were exactly the same. No wonder it was red and nothing would fix it.

But why those odd key strokes. Then it hit me. I'd left and gone to the bathroom. One of our cats sleeps behind my computer (see shot attached for his bed though he wasn't in it when I took the shot months ago). He, for reasons we've never figured out, follows anyone into the john. Rather than jump all the way to the floor he jumps to my chair, to do this he walks across the computer keys if I leave the computer open. Usually this is obvious when I return. It wasn't this time. Anyway here it is with the right color balance!

Rick

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Very nice indeed, i like that blue halo on the left corner is it from a star?. But anyway both shots looks good each has a unique look. Clear Skies

Yep, there's a very blue star over there, 57 Cygni, spectral type B5V. I expected that ring to be blue and when it wasn't it puzzled me. Now I know why it was so red.

That's what I get for processing at 3 a.m. with a cat for a helper.

Rick

Very nice image Rick. So you have an aspiring feline astrophotographer!

By the way, I responded to your email about the FSQ. Sorry it took awhile but I didn't notice the private message. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Kent

Rick,

Thanks for the credit for asking the question. My keyboard sits on a keyboard tray that slides under my desk, so I have avoided such feline entanglements so far.

Your second shot makes me homesick for my parent's place. They live on Conway Lake in the UP (northern Michigan near Big Bay -- zip 49808 for those who might look for it). I wish I had such a view from my window as you have from yours. I think you said that most of the time you stay inside while the observatory works, that would explain how you could work during mosquito and fly season.

Great image, you are doing excellent work. Please keep sharing, it is an inspiration to us all (well, to me anyway )

--Andy

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Observatorio de la Ballona

Very nice image Rick. I also like the view of the lake.

Great detective story about the cat!

Even more stunning and yes I too have a feline friend who frequently corrects my work.

Kind regards
Matt

You forgot the midge flies in spring and -30 and colder come winter. When I first set up the observatory using a ST-7 and 6" f/4 in April of 2006 it was midge season. After only an hour so many had flown into the screen then fallen into the keboard soon the computer keys failed. A lot of vacuuming later the keys worked again. I quickly finished the ethernet link to the house before using it with the computer again.

The scope is 16 feet above ground level. I've attached a shot of the observatory from the ground and a shot from the deck leading to it -- of the lake that is. Note there's no one out there and not just where the camera's looking. There are only 18 full time residents of my 36 square mile township. I have very dark skies! The scope's pier is 20' tall, 6 of which is below ground and part of a 10'x8' pad of concrete 6" thick 6' under the observatory. It's topped by a 2 foot steel pier and then the Paramount. It doesn't touch the building at any point to isolate it from any motion. I've attached a shot of the scope. Note it is nearly as high as the roof of a 2 story house. I'll let you ponder why there's a small piece of second surface mirror attached to the back of the telescope.

Rick

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Stuff that dreams are made of!! Wow!!!

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If at first you fail, you're running average

Love the 'red' ... have it as my desktop pic, thank you, it's beautiful.