Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: Carole on Apr 21, 2018, 10:32:54

Title: M81/M82
Post by: Carole on Apr 21, 2018, 10:32:54
This has been a bit of a pig to process.  I lost half my data because of a ?? meridian flip while I was away from the mount.  The trouble was I found every time I went to check on how things were going the vibration on the ground (I presume) I got a guiding jump and so it wasted a sub, so was trying to stay away as much as possible.

Have I got any IFN here, or is it just bad gradients and wishful thinking?

I did a mixture of luminance in order to try to get the IFN and also to try to stop the galaxy core burning out.

Luminance:
900 x 4
600 x 6
300 x 3

RGB 3 x 150 secs binned (each)
Ha 3 x 900secs

Skywatcher 130PDS & Atik460EX, HEQ5

(https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/7Ca1d7HnnUe-_1824x0_2wOq5-6h.jpg)
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: Mac on Apr 21, 2018, 14:09:22
Nice image,

makes me want to strip everything down and get it all up and working again.
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: Carole on Apr 21, 2018, 14:52:03
You should Mac, shame to have all that kit and not use it.  You should come to another DSC as well.

Carole
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: Mac on Apr 22, 2018, 06:13:55
plans are afoot for another DSC with James.

Its just getting one that doesn't clash.
:D
Mac
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: Carole on Apr 22, 2018, 08:31:39
Have you got all the dates for this year, I think they are on another thread but it may be behind the scenes.

Carole
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: MarkS on Apr 22, 2018, 21:54:07
That's a great image Carole!

Yes, you definitely have some IFN there - it's faint but definitely there. 

You were lucky with the sky quality that night - it's normally very difficult to get IFN on an average night, even with a fast scope like my Tak Epsilon.

Mark
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: MarkS on Apr 22, 2018, 21:55:10
Quote from: Mac
Nice image,

makes me want to strip everything down and get it all up and working again.

Do it! You know you want to!

Mark
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: Carole on Apr 22, 2018, 22:32:37
Well I have reliably been informed that this is indeed IFN I am seeing, and so following a bit of a tutorial on how to stretch this further, I am posting a further version of the image:

It's probably a bit noisy now and needs further data, but was pleased to get it.

(https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/shP_SaLBeJ8D_1824x0_2wOq5-6h.jpg)


Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: Carole on Apr 22, 2018, 22:33:44
Thanks Mark, I posted my revision before I saw your reply.

Carole
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: JohnP on Apr 23, 2018, 12:17:50
Very good & certainly has that milky IFN feel to it - well done - John
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: Carole on Apr 23, 2018, 12:42:32
Thanks John.

Carole
Title: Re: M81/M82 (improved M82/Ha and hopefully stars)
Post by: Carole on Apr 26, 2018, 20:08:33
Processed M82 separately and integrated into image hopefully the stars look better if not too coloured, will get some more data of RGB next time hopefully.

Ha areas in M81 increased.

(https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/5TTPCh7SFbJS_1824x0_2wOq5-6h.jpg)
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: MarkS on Apr 26, 2018, 21:29:59
Quote from: Carole
Processed M82 separately and integrated into image hopefully the stars look better if not too coloured, will get some more data of RGB next time hopefully.


That's lovely processing of M82 Carole.  The H-alpha filaments look just right!

It's very difficult indeed to make a combined image of M81 and M82 look good if the same processing is applied to both.  Inevitably it is necessary to perform extra enhancement on M82.  But very few people actually admit to doing so  ;)

Mark
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: Carole on Apr 26, 2018, 21:52:43
Thanks Mark.   I had to go back to the original stacked linear data to do M82.   No way of fiddling with the existing M81/ M82 process as M82 was already burnt out.

  Carole
Title: Re: M81/M82
Post by: Carole on May 17, 2018, 20:55:38
Just realised, I commented earlier that I need more data, well since I am using a Newtonian and setting up from scratch next time it can't be done as I won't be able to line up the spikes!!!!  Lol,

So only way i can add more data is by using a refractor.  I have done that before and mixed it with a Newtonian and it worked OK.

Duh!!