Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: Carole on Oct 02, 2011, 23:30:04

Title: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Carole on Oct 02, 2011, 23:30:04
Taken from Mark's on 1-10-11
31 x 5mins 800 ISO Modified Canon 450D no filters
Skywatcher ED80, guided on ST 80 with QHY5 and PHD

Processed in DSS and PS CS3
full frame:
http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10047/M31_High_Halden_1-10-11_31_x_5mins_800_ISO_ED80_OAS_size.jpg

(http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10047/normal_M31_High_Halden_1-10-11_31_x_5mins_800_ISO_ED80_OAS_size.jpg)
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Mac on Oct 03, 2011, 06:06:13
That is excellent.

Love the dust lanes.

Mac
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: PhilB on Oct 03, 2011, 06:13:19
Lovely, bags of detail
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: MarkS on Oct 03, 2011, 07:44:17
Lovely image Carole.

The colours look good and the large version has lots of detail.  As Mac says, the dark lanes have also come out very well.

You must be very pleased with that!

By the way, the large image shows that your new flatterner is doing an excellent job - there's almost no star distortion in the corners.

Mark
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Carole on Oct 03, 2011, 08:41:27
Thanks Mac, Mark and Phil.
Yes I am quite pleased with it, although I am kicking myself that there are a few blunders and it could have been even better.

1. Could not use the subs from Kelling or it would have been another 14 x 5mins on top (orientated too differently to be able to make a decent combination).
2. When I did the flats, the camera to Flattener was not quite tight and when I went to switch the camera on the camera rotated slightly, so a couple of dust bunnies resulted.
3. I was expecting to be able to use the 30 sec subs for the core that I took at Kelling, but because of the orientation I cannot seem to paste the subs from High Halden on top of the 30 sec subs done at Kelling, tried several methods but without success. So above image core is purely processed from the 5min sub.  Had I realised this would be a problem I could have done some 30 sec subs at HH.

You live and learn by your mistakes. 

Carole
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: RobertM on Oct 03, 2011, 13:10:26
That looks lovely Carole.  To be picky the core does look a bit burnt out to me but you've brought out the dust lanes very well.  I've always found it difficult processing the bright areas like galaxy cores successfully, M31 is an extreeme case though.

Robert

Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: The Thing on Oct 03, 2011, 20:58:42
I think that must be your best image yet, lovely.
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Carole on Oct 03, 2011, 22:49:12
Thanks Robert and Duncan.

Carole
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Fay on Oct 04, 2011, 10:19:21
Very nice M31 Carole, nice detail
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Carole on Oct 04, 2011, 10:23:05
Thanks Fay

Carole
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: mickw on Oct 04, 2011, 10:39:38
Another nice one Carole
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Carole on Oct 04, 2011, 12:16:39
Thanks Mick

Carole
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Tony G on Oct 04, 2011, 13:59:30
Lovely image Carole. Plenty of detail, and nice colouration.  ;)

Tony G
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Carole on Oct 04, 2011, 15:16:19
Thanks Tony.
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Kylee on Oct 04, 2011, 18:16:03
That's really beautiful...shame i couldn't make that night. Sounds like a great evening.
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Carole on Oct 04, 2011, 20:07:26
Thanks Kylee, yes it was a great evening and event.

carole
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: JohnP on Oct 06, 2011, 08:33:56
A very nice m31 Carole. Your images have improved tremendously over the last year & the quantity you are getting amazes me. Well done & keep it up. Only negatives are a few background blotches (I guess caused by flat issues) & satellite trails.

John
Title: Re: M31 Andromeda galaxy from High Halden
Post by: Carole on Oct 06, 2011, 10:15:48
QuoteA very nice m31 Carole. Your images have improved tremendously over the last year & the quantity you are getting amazes me.
Thanks John.  Well I was very lucky with Kelling.  Still another to come as well.  

QuoteOnly negatives are a few background blotches (I guess caused by flat issues) & satellite trails.
Yes, I agree with you John, unfortunately I messed up the flats (see above post) as the camera and flattener were not screwed together tightly enough and when I went to do the flats as I switched on the camera it rotated.  I tried taking flats in two positions, but missed both times  :cheesy:  Tried to process the dust bunnies out but didn't make a good job of it.  
Yes, will definitely leave out the subs with satellites next time as well, I was hoping they would process out.

Another couple of lessons learnt (duh).

Carole