M81 and M82 Group

[TakMan]

M81 (Bode's Galaxy), M82 (Cigar Galaxy), and NGC3077

(with just the faintest hint of Holmberg IX... )

Details:

RGB One Shot Colour

Just under 8 hours worth of data: 47x 600sec light exposures - Taken over five nights(!!!) way back in April....

Flats(+Bias), Darks processed

Tak FSQ106-ED @ native - 530mm/f.5

SBIG 4000XCM - OSC self guiding @ -20c

IDAS-V2 filter

Tak EM400 mount

Control via 17" G4 Apple Powerbook running MicroProjects Equinox 6 (mount control) and Image (camera control/image acquisition).

Pre-processed, aligned and stacked in Nebulosity2.

Post Processing in PhotoShop CS3 + Noel's Actions

This is a 'v2' version as the first go went a little astray shall we say.... still not completely happy (perhaps another session next year and 10+ more hours would help.... we'll see...)

Thanks for looking....

Damian

[bigal1]

Excellent image Damian the colors are great .

[Telrad]

Super images Damian! You've taken an excellent image of M81 & M82 with great detail and colour contrast. Well done! Thanks for posting

[TakMan]

Re-done....

for a third time! Think this is better overall....?!

[JohnnyD333]

Very impressive, 10 min subs takes some serious skill, good job:)

[minte222]

great image. i think im going to have to learn how to do this, any good books or sites for beginners.

[RobH]

Nice work Damian, I especially like the latest version, and the fact that you've caught the 3rd galaxy.

minte222......'Making every photon count' by Steve Richards (Steppenwolf) is a great book to get.

Rob

[TakMan]

Thanks folks very much for the thumbs up!

I'm slowly catching up with processing my data - only M101 to sort now....

I've not been outside recently (or particularly active on here - sorry), due to the fact both parents have been ill....

Unfortunately (having taken mum for the first time in nearly three weeks to see him), dad won't be leaving hospital. If he does it may only be for a few weeks in a nursing home.... only time now will tell.

I suppose it comes to us all eventually.....

So, my best wishes - and clear (if not really dark) skies to you all.... roll on autumn!

Damian

[inkpen]

Those are fabulous and the kind of images which give me a kick up the backside to start reading up now.

[dc509]

Beautiful image. Amazing colour and detail. Setting the bar high!

d

[Coco]

Wonderful image, much better with the red gradient in the lower 1/4 of the first image..

[minte222]

Nice work Damian, I especially like the latest version, and the fact that you've caught the 3rd galaxy.

minte222......'Making every photon count' by Steve Richards (Steppenwolf) is a great book to get.

Rob

thanks RobH

[Spr]

Looking good Damian, latest version has very nice colours.

Maybe lift the background a bit, might push the galaxy arms out a bit.

Darren

[RobH]

Thanks folks very much for the thumbs up!

I'm slowly catching up with processing my data - only M101 to sort now....

I've not been outside recently (or particularly active on here - sorry), due to the fact both parents have been ill....

Unfortunately (having taken mum for the first time in nearly three weeks to see him), dad won't be leaving hospital. If he does it may only be for a few weeks in a nursing home.... only time now will tell.

I suppose it comes to us all eventually.....

So, my best wishes - and clear (if not really dark) skies to you all.... roll on autumn!

Damian

Sorry to hear about your parents Damian....unfortunately, it's an inevitable part of aging.....all the best to you in a difficult time.

Rob