Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: Carole on Feb 01, 2011, 15:47:01

Title: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Carole on Feb 01, 2011, 15:47:01
My first attempt at these galaxies.  Glad to have got them but I can see I need to do a lot more subs from a dark site.  

24 x 6mins (my longest subs to date), + darks, flats and Bias
Modified Canon EOS 450D with CLS clip filter
WO Megrez 72 APO, guided with ST 80, QHY5 and PHD
Stacked in DSS and processed in PS CS3

Usual guiding problems these were the best of the bunch. 

(http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10047/normal_M81%2CM82___another_fuzzy_31_1_11_24_x_6mins.jpg)
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Fay on Feb 01, 2011, 16:30:03
Nice to see Ursa Major again, nice image Carole
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Mac on Feb 01, 2011, 16:45:53
Nice capture,

Looks like you getting the hand of it now.
Mac.
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Fay on Feb 01, 2011, 16:47:32
How is your progress with the obsy Mac?
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: mickw on Feb 01, 2011, 16:52:43
Fuzzy is NGC 3077

Very nice

Same as my image from October DSC - but better - cow  :P
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Mike on Feb 01, 2011, 17:11:19
Quote from: Fay on Feb 01, 2011, 16:47:32
How is your progress with the obsy Mac?

:boom: :boom: :boom: THREAD HIJACK ALERT  :boom: :boom: :boom:
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Mac on Feb 01, 2011, 17:35:57
 :cheesy:
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Carole on Feb 01, 2011, 17:38:36
Thanks Fay and Mac.

QuoteFuzzy is NGC 3077
Also thanks for this Mick, tried to look it up on Starry Night and Stellarium, but was not even shown let alone labelled.

Carole
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: PhilB on Feb 01, 2011, 18:01:49
Nice image, Carole. Good to see that you didn't fall victim to the mist that collected here.
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Carole on Feb 01, 2011, 18:38:30
Quotethe mist that collected here.
that's a bummer Phil, no, it was clear up to about midnight (ish).

Carole
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: RobertM on Feb 01, 2011, 20:43:47
That's a really good start Carole, you will find the faint stuff is really hard work.  I think you'll need 4x the subs to get something noise free.

Robert

Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Carole on Feb 01, 2011, 22:58:39
QuoteI think you'll need 4x the subs to get something noise free.

So I am realising Robert.  I'm treating my "first try images of each object" as a practice go to suss out what's required.

I think a dark site will help too.

Carole
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: MarkS on Feb 02, 2011, 06:15:06

A great result there Carole for a light polluted site! 
M81 and M82 is always a good combination - is it that time of year already?

My only slight criticism is that the core of M82 looks burnt out - no colour coming through.  Check the subs to see if they are burnt out, also.  Otherwise it's a processing problem.

Mark

Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Carole on Feb 02, 2011, 08:08:35
QuoteMy only slight criticism is that the core of M82 looks burnt out - no colour coming through.  Check the subs to see if they are burnt out, also.

Will do.  Some of the feedback I have been getting suggests it's difficult to process these two galaxies together as the degree of brightness is different, so now I know that I might try a re-process.
I must say examining the single raw files I was hoping for better detail from M82.

Carole
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Carole on Feb 07, 2011, 16:09:29
Been fiddling around with this for days.  Quite difficult to progress M82 separately. 
But this is my best effort:

(http://www.caroleastronomy.webspace.virginmedia.com/_wp_generated/wp25217908_0f.jpg)

Think I might have managed to get the sky slightly darker too.

Carole
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Mac on Feb 07, 2011, 17:12:12
looking good.
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Carole on Feb 07, 2011, 18:11:55
Thanks Mac
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: PhilB on Feb 07, 2011, 18:31:28
You've got more detail in M82 and M81 also looks improved to me. I'm going to have to say very nice this time.
Title: Re: M81, M82 and another fuzzy 31.1.2011
Post by: Carole on Feb 07, 2011, 20:02:32
Thanks Phil.

Carole