Back to M51 after too many years...

[mickw]

Nice work Paul, its like a different subject compared with 2001

[Whitters]

Now with 4 hours and 50 minutes , the last 10 min sub was unusable

[Whitters]

And now at last following several weeks of poor weather M51 with it's guest star



WO110 f6.5
MX916 Astronomik IRBlock
26th June 2011 - 3x 600 seconds, sum with levels and curves applied

[MarkS]

Nice one Paul!

Mark

[Fay]

well done Paul, that is very nice. I must try & get it with it's "guest"

Fay

[JohnP]

Paul - However, you processed the last image (with the guest star) do this to the other 4hrs of data. You have processed it a lot better without being too harsh on the blacks & whites - it looks altogether a lot more natural to me. The stretch you have applied is a lot more gentle.

Great capture & nicely processed - John

[RobertM]

Great capture Paul, there's lots of detail showing with the 5 hour exposure.  Any thoughts on adding colour ?  I agree with John about the contrast stretch, it seems to have affected the stars a little too much - it's a subtle thing though.

Robert

[Carole]

Well done Paul, it looks like the SN is expanding.
I agree about the stars in the first image, but prefer the galaxy in the first one.
A combination of the galaxy in the first and stars in the 2nd would be my preference.

carole

[Whitters]

Thanks folks, John Yes I can see the difference, I'll have another go at the five hour one. The problem I have is I process on a laptop so the screen angle is different each time so what looks ok comes out clipped. Has anyoone got any advice on how to get round this?

The image above had levels and curves applied, tyhis destroys the photomtric accuracy. So does not applying flats, I hope to get the flats at the weekend. This image has only had levels applied.

[MarkS]

BTW, this supernova is easily visible through a scope, well I certainly saw it through the C11.  A good target for a a 20" Chris! 

Mark