A couple from this week (M51, M3) 130pds

[Uranium235]

I took this data on Monday and Tuesday while it was clear, but it wasnt a great sky... apart from Wednesday, when I opted have a rest instead....doh! (was a perfect sky) So Ive pushed it as far as I can before too much noise creeps in. Ive also included an M3, which I used to test whether my spacing is correct (switched back to MPCC).

Personally, I cant wait for the NB stuff to return! My back yard really isnt the best place for LRGB (unless pointing straight up).

M51

16x750 (L)

M3

10x300 (L)

130pds, Atik 383L+, NEQ6

Thanks for looking!

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Superb!

[Chris]

These are sooo nice! Very sharp and detailed as usual

[Uranium235]

Thanks Chris! Its just a shame I had to trash so many subs for the M51, but still ended up with a gradient in one corner - so what I did was to copy that corner into a new image, eliminate the gradient, then paste it back in as a new layer with a mask so I can "paint" in a better background level... works quite well

[Twisted Lip]

They look cracking Rob, how bad is the light pollution near you? I remember you saying at SGLX it was pretty bad but you wouldn't know from those images, they're very tight and detailed!

Cheers

Will

[sologuitarist61]

Lovely images.

[Martin-Devon]

Two lovely images. I especially like the M3 cluster. Like you Rob, I'm hanging in there for the narrowband targets to come back, Cygnus is just peeping up now.

Martin

[Chris]

Thanks Chris! Its just a shame I had to trash so many subs for the M51, but still ended up with a gradient in one corner - so what I did was to copy that corner into a new image, eliminate the gradient, then paste it back in as a new layer with a mask so I can "paint" in a better background level... works quite well

Sounds like a good trick Rob, I know some people use that gradient exterminator thingy also which I'm sure you know all about. 

Don't worry, you'll be doing narrow band gradient free imaging again before you know it  

[Uranium235]

They look cracking Rob, how bad is the light pollution near you? I remember you saying at SGLX it was pretty bad but you wouldn't know from those images, they're very tight and detailed!

Cheers

Will

Thanks Will   Well, the LP used to be a less than what im getting now. A few months ago a neighbour removed a couple of tall trees from his garden.... great I thought, it opened up about 40% more sky. But, it turned out to be a double edged sword in that I dont get the cover I used to - so there is a lot more ambient light hanging about to cause a gradient. This only affects LRGB though, in a month or so I will be able to resume normal service in narrowband.

Sounds like a good trick Rob, I know some people use that gradient exterminator thingy also which I'm sure you know all about. 

Don't worry, you'll be doing narrow band gradient free imaging again before you know it

Gradient exterminator is pretty good, but it can also have the same effect of unbalancing the background by fixing the affected corner, but then darkening the middle of the field. So I needed something a little more subtle. Ive already taken the 130 apart and recollimated (was bored last night!) ready for some NB... not much to choose from ATM, the first NB thing I get here is the Ring... but thats a bit on the small side

[swag72]

These look very good Rob. Like you....... can't wait for the NB stuff to reappear!!! This LRGB lark is no fun at all

[Chris]

Gradient exterminator is pretty good, but it also can have the same effect of unbalancing the background by fixing the affected corner, but then darkening the middle of the field. So I needed something a little more subtle. Ive already taken the 130 apart and recollimated (was bored last night!) ready for some NB... not much to choose from ATM, the first NB thing I get here is the Ring... but thats a bit on the small side

Ever thought about a long FL scope for the small stuff Rob?

[Uranium235]

Ever thought about a long FL scope for the small stuff Rob?

Lol... cant afford that mate! Well, I suppose one day I might try to snag a used 200pds as the focuser mod for the 130 would transfer directly to the 8"  

[Epicycle]

Nice images Rob! Hopefully there will be some opportunity for RGB before astro darkness vanishes,

E.

[Sarah and Colins Astro]

Brilliant images, thanks for sharing :-)