M81/M101 now I've got guiding working again.

[RobertM]

I think these are the first anyone has posted since Johns handful on the 9th March.  Need a few more clearish evenings to finish M101 off though.

I had planned to capture about 10 subs of M101 but there was a sharp metalic noise outside and the next frame had star trails so was useless (not quite sure what did happen) then the clouds rolled in....

http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10031/Messier81-0XXlum300.jpg

http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10031/Messier101-0XXlumXX0_reduced.jpg

[Mike]

Very nice images Robert. Stars are nice and sharp.

[MarkS]

They're looking good - the guiding is certainly performing well.  I agree M101 needs more data.

What camera are you using?  And any light pollution filter?

[JohnP]

Both very nice Robert - especially like the m81 - m101 is a very tough object - really low surface brightness..

Like Mike said it would be great if you could give a quick summary of scope/ camera & number/ length of subs when posting an image - So many people post now & setups etc. are always changing its hard to keep track of who images with what...

Great images though - John

[RobertM]

Thanks Guys, I was a bit desperate to get something going after all the bad weather, wind and cloud.  There was a fair amount of high cloud so it wasn't particularly clear but enough to get something that turned out ok.  Background noise was a problem in both images, I really need a dark site !

Equipment in both cases was Celestron C9.25@F6.3, Starlight-Xpress SXV-H9 unbinned with Baader Neodymium filter for LP.

M81 - 18 x 300s - as far as I could go without saturating the galaxy core
M101 - 2 x 900s - wanted to push the boat out a little as I know it can be a tricky object.

Funny but since I changed my dew shield to a kendrick I've not had to use the dew heater once.

John, I'd had a crack at M81 before but it was dissapointing and wanted to do it again.  Then your image came along and set the benchmark so I had to try to make it half decent.  I'm pleased with the final result but I've still got a long way to go, especially in post processing.

Robert

[Rick]

They look good. Please consider moving them to the main gallery.

[Tony G]

Robert,

Two great images, especially M81,.......................... I need to get a CAMERA........................ .

Tony G

[RobertM]

Thanks Tony, it certainly helps having a camera.  If you're after one then it might be worthwhile looking at one of the two new Atik cameras, 1/2" format but the same res as mine.

Rick,  I'll put the full res M81 in the main gallery tonight, M101 is still work in progress but I'll post when ready.

[Rick]

Thanks.

[Fay]

Robert, nice to see that rare occurance, new images! Can't believe you found a clear bit of sky!

They are very nice, both of which I need to do soon. My M81 was not very good & I have never done M101.
Waiting for a good sky!

I too think that John's M81 is the benchmark!

[JohnP]

Robert - i'm sure if you are getting images that good from light polluted skies you'll get suberb images from a dark sky site.. I was fortunate that I took my m81 from my mother's house which is probably mag 6 or better - it still wasn't ideal though - kinda misty....

Cheers.  John

[RobertM]

Full res image posted in the gallery http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10031/Messier81-0XXlum300-2_copy.jpg

John, Yes the light polluted skies were a real problem, the background ADU was about 4500 in the calibrated M81 image.  Looking at your image you definitely win on the fainter outer edges and I think I would expect that given the better skies.  Wow mag 6 or better, now if only we could get another blackout

[Fay]

Robert, really really nice, you did well there.

[RobertM]

Thanks Fay, I just now need to get the processing sorted ! Here's my first crude try using MaximDL DDP processing.

http://gallery.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/albums/userpics/10031/Messier81-0XXlum300_p2.jpg

[Fay]

Robert you are certainly a force to be reckoned with!!  Fantastic image!!!!!!!!