31 hour M81-82 in the Yvesmobile.

[ollypenrice]

This would be so easy without the Integrated Flux Nebula but it is now obligatory on images of this region!

Here we have a semi-mosaic (two staggered images) of M81/82/Holmberg IX, and the Flux be with you... Lum 30x15 and 20x15 mins, RGB 2 Hrs per channel per image, Ha 24x30 mins.

Yves' 14 inch ODK and Mesu 2 friction drive plus SX H36. The Mesu calmly knocked out 24 consecutive 30 minute Ha subs without losses. If that ain't good enough for you, what is? Fantastic mount and let's hear it for Lucas Mesu.

Processing a reflector image is new to me and I've a lot to learn on star processing but here we go for now. A first draft...

Bigger; http://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Other/Galaxies/i-LF6KCNh/0/X3/M81-82-HALRGB-WEB-X3.jpg

[swag72]

That is absolutely fantastic Olly - I am hugely jealous of your processing skills!! When I asked about how much data is enough, I wasn't planning on 31 hours!!!!

[ollypenrice]

That is absolutely fantastic Olly - I am hugely jealous of your processing skills!! When I asked about how much data is enough, I wasn't planning on 31 hours!!!!

We were thnking aboout shooting a lot more L data, actually...

You have to be crazy in this game.

Olly

[RikM]

Stunning image Olly. I don't think I shot 31 hours in total during the whole of last year.

[harry page]

Hi

Some great DATA you have there does seem a little short on the blue to me and some inverted star cores as well

But not bad for a first go

Harry

[ollypenrice]

Cheers, Harry. I'll have a look.

Olly

[Steve 1962]

THIRTY ONE HOURS!!??? I don't think we've had that much cloudless sky in the last year!

Great image Olly!

Love the IFN

[Crunchard]

Ruddy hell, that is some amazing work there Olly ... hats off to you!

As I couldn't see anything wrong with it - can someone explain what an inverted star core is?

That way when I win the pools, retire somewhere really dark, and spend hours doing something I enjoy - I will know what to look for

[Stargazer Jack]

Amazing image with so much detail. Love the galaxy on the right however the left is also outstanding

[Double Kick Drum]

Best shot of that pair that I can remember.

Never even heard of Holmberg IX before.

[Aris Panagiotopoulos]

Cmon now....That's an absolute stunner!!

Nice...nice,nice Job!

[SkyJamie]

Wow! This is brilliant, i couldn't tell there was anything wrong with any stars, the amount of detail and colour in the galaxy's sucks you right in, awesome image Olly

Jamie

[ianaiken]

Absolutely amazing. The 12 hours of Ha was added to bring out the core of the galaxies, at least the red star stuff on M82?

Hope it's OK but I've set this as my desktop background!

[Quatermass]

Stunning!

[FranckiM06]

Wow, it is really great shot and fantastic image. Congratulation for this splendid image. I would like to get time later to meet you because we are not so far away.

Franck

[Tom OD]

Smashing Olly.

Now for pulling off something like this, you get the difficult questions.

Did I count 12.5hrs Lum and only 6RGB? Can I presume the RGB was binned, while the Lum wasn't. You have super colour, which isn't washed out. M82 Ha jets look very cool, as does the detail to the core of M81. Well done. I only see 3 stars that look like they had some blurring, or inverting as mentioned.

Never heard of Holmberg IX either. (Or Holmberg I-VIII)

Tom

[tollytastic1]

Lost for words (for me rare indeed) Just FANTASTIC !!

Paul

[ollypenrice]

Smashing Olly.

Now for pulling off something like this, you get the difficult questions.

Did I count 12.5hrs Lum and only 6RGB? Can I presume the RGB was binned, while the Lum wasn't. You have super colour, which isn't washed out. M82 Ha jets look very cool, as does the detail to the core of M81. Well done. I only see 3 stars that look like they had some blurring, or inverting as mentioned.

Never heard of Holmberg IX either. (Or Holmberg I-VIII)

Tom

No bininning with the H36. It produces nasty black shadows* beside the stars. Pity, since at this focal length it would be ideal.

One side got 20x15 minutes L and the other 30x15. (The short side didn't have much in it since they overlap massively.) The colour was six hours per side all in. In order to get the saturation up I added the L a little at a time, increased saturation and noise reduced the result, then added more L etc.

The Ha was interesting. The 11 hours made it possible to tease out the red M82 jets you see in this picture but when initially applied over the red in Blend Mode Lighten the ha layer was totally invisible. It needed a really mighty stretch to register over the red. I then had to remove it from all the background regions to avoid generating noise. It had me worried for a moment! The red jets appear only the Ha layer.

Olly

* Apologies to any Vincent owners out there...

[Sam]

Stunning result Olly. There a heck of a lot of work that's gone into the production of that image. Awesome!

[barkis]

Simply outstanding.

Ron.

[MikeD]

First class imaging as always Olly, just gose to show you can't beat time at the scope for a great image.

Mike.

[symesie04]

Now thats what im talking about! awesome sir. One day ill get there

[Shibby]

Ah, been expecting this one Olly and you certainly haven't disappointed

[MartinB]

Fantastic Olly. 14" scope, clear black skies and a big chip

Lovely work on the processing as far as I can tell on my dodgy work monitor.

[Zul]

Oh my god this so stunning!