StarAlignment issues

[bhwolf]

Hi all,

I recently started to learn PixInsight and have worked with some samples pretty well, and now I'm on to my own images.  I've taken many exposures of M51 at F/10.  In retrospect I need much longer subs, but, for now I'm just trying to calibrate and integrate what I have.

When I try to register/star align my 90s subs, PI can't ever seem to find matching stars.  I've tinkered with virtually all of the settings in the Star Alignment tool for awhile, but no luck.  The images are dim, but DSS can handle it. 

I've looked over the images manually and they should be matchable.  There is a bit of shifting in some subs as I wasn't guiding properly, though stars look pretty good.  Anyway, was hoping someone had tips so I could go on to the next step and try to integrate the images.  If there is any additional info I should post, please let me know!

Thanks much!

[Geoff]

The best way to see what the problem is will be for you to provide some images, otherwise it's hard to make sensible comments about possible problems.  See http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=3941.0 on how to upload images.
Geoff

[bhwolf]

Thank you Geoff!

I uploaded some files to my SkyDrive account (looks like the PixInsight file service is no longer active) -- I didn't include all subs to make download manageable, and the files are my RAW CR2 files, uncalibrated.  There are both 90s subs and a few 90s darks, as well as 120s subs and 120s darks, each in a ZIP file (no bias/flats).  As I mentioned above, in hindsight I realize that at my scopes focal length (f/10) and given I used a CLS filter, I'll have to boost exposure time and improve my guiding to produce better images.  But, taking just the 90's through DSS, I ended up with the attached -- hardly great, but usable.

Files are here:  http://sdrv.ms/11Cil5Q

Thanks much,
Brian

[Geoff]

Hi Brian
Sorry, I can't be of much help here--no experience of DSLR raw files in PI.  Maybe someone else will chime in.  You could try a post in Image Processing Challenges.
Geoff