First attempt at M31

[vds]

Hello all

The last couple of glorious nights have let me try M31. This was almost 2 hours of 2 minute subs unguided, with some darks and flats. Not sure about whether I am processing adequately, and I think I need to switch to RAW as the jpg format seems to leave me with some artefacts in DSS.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any comments on how to improve it. I intend to try and gather some more data over the next couple of nights.

vds

[Bizibilder]

I think you are processing just about adequately!! Exellent image. Certainly use RAW if you can - I always set the camera to RAW+JPEG so I can have a quick look at the subs as they come in - useful if there are any problems!

[Catanonia]

Golden rule - always use raw as jpg compresses and you loose all your hard photon gathering time and there is no way to undo the compression.

[Guest]

I think this is a great effort - well done. I like how vibrant and sharp it seems on first viewing, catch's the eye :-)

David

[asteria]

Great image - good contrast with dark sky and bright galaxy/stars. Well done.

[Stargazer51N]

That's really nice. Which scope were you using?

[Quatermass]

Brilliant really nice image well done I am going to have to try harder on this one.. no chance tonight though thick fog has moved in. Oh well cant complain we have had a good run of clear nights.

[vds]

Thanks for the comments guys. 2 minute subs are pushing it a bit on my mount and tripod but I managed to get another hour of them last night and will try for some more tonight if the clouds stay away.

The scope is my SW ED80 with a SW 0.85 reducer. The reducer is essential really, otherwise M31 refuses to fit on the sensor of my canon.

vds

[x6gas]

Nice image. Definitely worth shooting in RAW though... and on cooler nights in the winter you'll get a much better signal to noise ratio as well.

Good work.

[Quatermass]

What were the camera settings by the way iso speed aperture. I took 95shots at an iso of 800 and 40 seconds and still not getting the outer lanes coming through :-(

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