Comet Academy

All of the content is found by scrolling down this page.


 

 

PLAN AHEAD    BE READY    LEARN and Access NOW

Horizons subscribers can access the videos below. New customers can purchase the standalone Comet Academy for $75 - (<- follow link)

If you like Comet Academy and are considering a Horizons subscription, you can apply the full $75 to unlock all videos in Horizons. Please one credit towards Horizons only. 

HERE IS THE CODE (available after purchase).  

 

Reminder: It is recommended to watch the Fundamentals videos for a complete understanding of all image processing in Horizons.

 

 

WATCH THIS SHORT SUMMARY VIDEO FIRST TO SEE HOW TO USE COMET ACADEMY

Concepts and Planning Instructional Videos

(The JPL Horizons section  explains how to use the JPL Horizons site/resources for planning your imagery of solar system targets.)

 

Important information about PSF Fits

 

Explanation of Comet Subtraction Alignments

 

 

If you want to take your planning and observations to the next level, consider joining the: 

Comet Observations Database Website (COBS)

 

DSLR Comet Example (C/2023 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Guide and Processing Demonstration)

CFA/OSC   (This astrophotograph became a NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day!)  

  1. Acquisition Demonstration
  2. Part 1: From Calibration Through Normalization
  3. Part 2: Stacked Star Aligned Masterlight through CometAlignment
  4. Part 3: Creating the Comet Aligned Starless Stacked Master
  5. Part 4: Putting it All Together

 PDF GUIDE!

 

 

The Use of Russ Croman XT software is a central part of the processing workflow. 

Buy the software from the links below. (SXT is minimum requirement.)


Found below are demonstrations  and complete PDF guides with data to follow along. Currently there are 5 examples below and two additional at the bottom of the page-- more to be added. Please watch BOTH CometAlignment explanations above before proceeding.

 

Standard Comet

StarTracked, Mono, RGB, Background Nebula/Galaxy, Comet Subtraction

Workflow Guide       DATA DOWNLOAD
1.  Comet PreProcessing (WBPP)
2.  Comet Aligned Images
3.  Batch StarXTerminator
4.  Local Normalization
5.  Stacking Starless Comet Images
6.  Comet Subtraction from StarField Images
7.  Stacking Comet-Subtracted Starfields
8.  Color Calibration (Starfield) and Cleanup
9.  Comet RGB and Blending Preparation
10.  Blending and Final WrapUp

 

Flexible Design

Comet Tracked Star Streaked 

Mono, RGB, No Background Nebula/Galaxy overlapping comet, Short timeframe

 

Workflow Guide 
1.  Introduction and WBPP
2.  WBPP Results and SXT
2.5 Quicker Comet Alignment (new!)
3.  CometAlignment, LN and ImageIntegration
4.  Structure Removal and NXT
5.  SPCC and Final Blend

 

Standard OSC Comet

StarTracked, CFA/OSC, Background Nebula/Galaxy, Comet Subtraction

Workflow Guide       DATA DOWNLOAD
1.  Intro and Debayer Test
2.  WBPP
3.  CometAlignment
4.  Batch StarXTerminator
5.  LN and Stacking (Comet)
6.  DBE and Cleanup
7.  Comet Subtraction from StarField Images
8.  Stacking of Starfield Images with Cleaning
9.  Color Calibration with SPCC
10.  Stretching Masters and HDRMT
11.  ImageBlend Script and Final Adjustments

 

Flexible Design

Traditional Comet (No SXT) 

Mono, RGB, CometAlignment, Background Nebula/Galaxy, Comet Subtraction

 

Workflow Guide  coming soon
1.  Initial Calibration with WBPP
2.  Comet Alignment
3.  Comet Subtraction from Star Fields
4.  Comet Subtraction Cleanup
5.  Comet Starless Cleanup
6.  Comet Color Correction
7.  Blending Stars and Comet with Wrap Up

DSLR with Landscape (Overview)

StarTracked, CFA/OSC, Background Nebula/Galaxy

 Patreon accessible.

1. Introduction
2. WBPP and Registration
3. Post Processing Walk Through
4. Final Processing (Photoshop)

 

Flexible Design

C/2021 S3 (PanStarrs)

 

 This comet is particularly challenging because it is moving against a background of nebulae that will not cleanly reject during the creation of a comet-only image. Special considerations demonstrated and section 4 below regarding Structure Removal are key. Data available below.

Workflow Guide      DATA DOWNLOAD
1. Examine, WBPP, and Comet Alignment
2. Batch SXT with a Mask and Results
3. Local Normalization (using ImageContainer) and ImageIntegration
4. Gradient Correction and Structure Removal
5. Comet Subtraction
6. Stacking Comet Subtracted Images and Results
7. DBE of Starfield and Star Shrink
8. Enhance Nebula
9. Final Blend and Result

Additional Information!

 

 

Comet At Standstill (standard comet)

Non-Perfect example, many problem solving issues.

Workflow Guide       DATA DOWNLOAD
1.  WBPP
2.  Comet Alignment
3.  SXT, LN, ImageIntegration (Stacking)
4.  Comet Cleanup and Comet Subtraction
5.  Starfield LN, Stacking and Cleaning
6.  Color Correction (SPCC) and Stretching
7.  Final Adjustments (ImageBlend and more)

 

Flexible Design

12P/ Pons-Brooks 2024-03-02

Challenging Data!! (wind-blurred)

Star-Tracked, No Background Shortcut

 

1. Introduction
2.  WBPP
3. Batch BXT, WBPP, CometAlignment, Batch SXT
4.  LN, DBE, Gradient Correction and Cleaning
5.  Star Field Generation and Comet Correction
6.  Final Adjustments and Blending

 

DSLR Comet A3 Tips and Techniques (Overview for 2024-10-12)

CFA/OSC

1. Tips and Techniques

 

Flexible Design

Comet Tracked Star Streaked 

Mono, RGB, No Background Nebula/Galaxy overlapping comet, Short timeframe

 This is a second example- the primary example is above with Comet A3.

Workflow Guide 
1.  PreProcessing with WBPP
2.  CometAlignment, Batch SXT, ImageIntegration
3.  Create Starfield, DBE, SPCC, NXT
4.  Screen, Comet Masking, Blend, WrapUp