DIY Monochrome Astrophotography: A Deep Dive into Modifying a Canon 500D for NGC 1848

Astrophotography can be an expensive hobby, but what if you could create your own monochrome camera from a humble DSLR? Today, we're diving into a fascinating project by a dedicated amateur who took a Canon 500D and transformed it into a powerful tool for capturing deep-sky wonders, specifically the beautiful nebula NGC 1848.

The Modding Process: Turning a DSLR into a Monochrome Beast

The creator of this impressive image took on the ambitious task of converting a Canon 500D into a monochrome camera. This involved a delicate and precise process:

1. Sensor Disassembly: The sensor was carefully removed from the Canon 500D.
2. Filter Removal: Both the UV and IR filters were stripped away.
3. Bayer Matrix Scraping: In a daring move, the Bayer matrix (the color filter array) was meticulously scraped off the sensor. This is the key step that enables monochrome capture, as the sensor now sees light without color separation.

Despite extreme care, some remnants of the Bayer matrix remained in the corners and edges, necessitating a significant crop of the final image. However, the result is a fully functional, zero-cost monochrome camera!

Capturing NGC 1848 in SHO

The target for this impressive setup was NGC 1848, a captivating deep-sky object. The imaging was performed using the highly effective SHO (Sulfur II, Hydrogen-alpha, Oxygen III) narrowband filters, which isolate specific emission lines from celestial objects. Here's a breakdown of the acquisition details:

• Lights: 5x5 minutes for each filter (S, H, O)
• Darks: 30
• Flats: Provided
• Biases: Provided

The Equipment Used

A robust yet accessible setup was employed for this project:

• Telescope: Skywatcher Evostar 72
• Mount: StarAdventurer GTI
• Camera Control: Asi Air Kino
• Guide Scope: Generic 120mm guidescope
• Guide Camera: Asi120 Guidecam
• Filters: Svbony filterwheel and SHO Filters
• Camera: Modified Canon 500D (all glasses removed and Bayer matrix scraped off)

Processing the Data

The acquired data underwent a meticulous processing pipeline:

• Stacking and Alignment: Siril was used for stacking and aligning the individual sub-exposures.
• Star Removal: Siril was also employed to split the image into starless versions and create star masks, allowing for detailed nebula processing.
• Stretching: The captured data was stretched using Siril to bring out the faint details.
• Background Extraction and Denoising: Graxpert was utilized for background extraction and denoising, further refining the image quality.

The Result: A Testament to Ingenuity

Despite the challenges of DIY sensor modification, the final image of NGC 1848 is a testament to the creator's ingenuity and perseverance. The colors are vibrant, and the details of the nebula are clearly visible, showcasing the power of narrowband imaging.

Seeking Advice: Sensor Cleaning Tips

The creator is seeking valuable advice from the astrophotography community regarding sensor cleaning. Specifically, they've heard that metal polish might be used to remove any remaining Bayer matrix remnants. Can anyone confirm this or offer tips for more effective sensor cleaning?

This project not only delivers a stunning image but also serves as an inspiration for fellow astrophotographers looking to explore budget-friendly yet highly effective imaging techniques. The DIY approach to creating a monochrome camera opens up a world of possibilities for capturing the cosmos.

Estimated reading time: 5 min read