Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: RobertM on May 10, 2008, 11:25:33

Title: Sunflower from 2nd May...
Post by: RobertM on May 10, 2008, 11:25:33
This didn't turn out at all well compared with M51 on the same night but I thought I'd post it anyway.   Before people ask, the details are in the Gallery.

http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/displayimage-450.html (http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/displayimage-450.html)

I didn't realise what a difficult target it was till I took the first sub.
Title: Re: Sunflower from 2nd May...
Post by: Ian on May 10, 2008, 11:36:14
I'd be happy with that.

Bit of a trim and a flat frame if you've got one would help too :)
Title: Re: Sunflower from 2nd May...
Post by: JohnP on May 10, 2008, 12:01:48
Looks bloody good to me  - a great shot on a very difficult target - John
Title: Re: Sunflower from 2nd May...
Post by: MarkS on May 10, 2008, 12:20:11

Very nice Robert - what an interesting looking galaxy!
Title: Re: Sunflower from 2nd May...
Post by: RobertM on May 10, 2008, 13:36:28
JP, thanks for the comment.

Ian, it was calibrated with the average of 30 flats, I think the gradient is courtesy of the nearby Street lamps.
Title: Re: Sunflower from 2nd May...
Post by: Ian on May 10, 2008, 14:57:32
ah, the joys of suburban imaging :(

I think there's a technique regarding synthetic flats to get rid of that sort of gradient, but as John says, fantastic image :D
Title: Re: Sunflower from 2nd May...
Post by: Rocket Pooch on May 10, 2008, 18:16:28
wow thats nice!
Title: Re: Sunflower from 2nd May...
Post by: Fay on May 11, 2008, 16:49:41
Robert, what can I say, a smashing image!!!
Title: Re: Sunflower from 2nd May...
Post by: RobertM on May 12, 2008, 12:14:28
Thanks everyone, should have a few more to post soon.

Fay, I did say I though that binning wasn't necessary but I can see sense to it for capturing areas with low surface brightness and detail as 2x2 gives four times the sensitivity.  I'm trying a combination of binned 2x2 and 1x1 to see whether there's any benefit with my setup.