M82 One year on

[davedownsouth]

Don't often post photos, but it is one year since I took my first image of a DSO, and so last week I decided to have another go at it.  The advantage of a bigger sensor / smaller scope is this time round, I managed to get M81 in on it as well .

One year ago; iNova PLB-Mx CCD camera, no filters, Celestron NexStar 8SE mount.  20 x 15 seconds shots aligned in DSS and processed with photoshop:-

Last week.  Equipment in signature. 

Image 1.  25 x 2 minutes Luminance plus 12 x 2 minutes RGB. 

Image 2.  12x 10 minutes Ha plus 12 x 2 minutes RGB

Both processed with PixInsight

Not sure which of the two I prefer, but I just hope we get some more decent weather soon so I can have a go at the Leo Triplets .  All comments welcomed . 

1.

2.

[bluedandelion]

Nice progress. Number has better details near the core of M81. Why not add the Ha into the red channel of 1 for the best of both worlds?

Ajay

[Mav359]

Nice shots, number 1 for me

It maybe the best thing i feel to be able to see your progress, looking back at how far you have come, keeps me moving forward.

Great work

[davedownsouth]

Nice progress. Number has better details near the core of M81. Why not add the Ha into the red channel of 1 for the best of both worlds?

Ajay

I have seen others doing this, and this was originally what I was going to do, then I realised that I did not actually have a clue how to do it .  I will have a play about with PixInsight soon and see if I can work out how to do this

[bogdog]

what a difference a year makes eh?

great shots,although i would still be pleased of the first one

[bluedandelion]

There is a handy narrowband combination tool available in PI. Very easy to use and preeview results. Search the PI forums with "narrowband combination script." Here's one link I found quickly with a google search, Shows he basic idea:http://astrodoc.ca/combining-colour-narrowband-images/

There might even be a tutorial at Harry's astroshed. All the best.

Ajay

[Scott]

Which one is from last year  . 

Forgive my somewhat bent sence of humour please. Amazing progress for 12 short months concidering that probably only equates to a dozen imaging sessions at best. Number one for me too.

Thanks for sharing these images

[Cozzy]

Nice progress. Number has better details near the core of M81. Why not add the Ha into the red channel of 1 for the best of both worlds?

Ajay

I agree with Ajay. but do prefer the star shape and size in image 2, much less star bloat.

Tim

[davedownsouth]

Okay, I tried replacing the Red with the Ha and although I quite like the look of the new picture, the stars in the spirals of M81 look far too Red .  Beginning to find my way round PixInsight, but still a hell of a lot to learn .

[bluedandelion]

You are crossing a threshold. my friend. This is looking excellent! 

By the way, those are not individual stars, but large clouds of gas that are detectable because of their hydrogen alpha emission. This is precisely why you want to add H-alpha into the mix of wavelengths used to build an image.

Ajay