Improved Version of DSS2 on WikiSky

From WikiSky

The brilliant work of mathematicians and programmers from SKY-MAP.ORG has enabled that company to achieve a breakthrough in the field of visualization of astrophysical information. The new version of DSS2 at WikiSky demonstrates both the technical and organizational capabilities of SKY-MAP.ORG. This statement becomes clear when you take into account the quality and the volume of work involved in the compilation of a new version of DSS2. Below are the snapshots of M74 galaxy, taken from WikiSky, Microsoft WorldWide Telescope and Google Sky. In all cases, the same survey - DSS2 - was used. However, it is apparent that there are significantly more details perceptible on the WikiSky image than on those of both MS WorldWide Telescope and Google Sky.

WikiSky (M74)	MS WorldWide Telescope	Google Sky

Here is another example: the images shown below demonstrate the dark nebula (LDN 648). In this case, on the MS WorldWide Telescope image this nebula is completely invisible. It is barely visible on Google Sky's, while it is clearly visible on WikiSky's.

WikiSky (LDN 648)	MS WorldWide Telescope	Google Sky

The fact that the quality of images on SKY-MAP.ORG is significantly higher than on both MS WorldWide Telescope and the Google Sky is noticeable in almost all areas of the sky. Meanwhile, all three companies use the same source for images - the most complete and detailed of all the full-sky surveys existing today in the world - DSS2. So how can such a significant difference be explained?

In its raw form, DSS2 is a set of super-high quality monochrome photos (plates), achieved by using a variety of colour filters. In this form, DSS2 is a valuable scientific resource but it does not really appeal to the general public. To make DSS2 attractive and interesting to the public, sophisticated digital processing of these photographs must be carried out. Major factors that complicate this processing include the huge amount of data involved and the diverse conditions in which the original photographs were created. As a consequence, achieving an acceptable quality requires the fine tuning of dozens of parameters and conducting thousands of experiments. SKY-MAP.ORG has developed several effective tools specifically for these purposes. These tools have enabled significant optimization of the parameters for tuning and image processing. Of course, such great results in the processing of DSS2 were only possible due to the talent of the SKY-MAP.ORG team members, who combined complicated mathematical methods with the brilliant intuition of computer-science experts.

It is important to note that, in the opinion of SKY-MAP.ORG's developers, the quality of DSS2 images obtained to date is far from perfect. SKY-MAP.ORG is currently working on the new, improved version of DSS2 that will soon be available on the website. Below are a few more examples that allow comparison of the quality of DSS2 versions at SKY-MAP.ORG, MS WorldWide Telescope and Google Sky.

Galaxy IC 342