Two hours on M31

[Yoddha]

Sooner or later everybody tries M31... Finally decided to it is time to make a first attempt. This is the last of the images taken on our summer astro party. 1730m above sea level are very tempting to try targets with fine detail

It becomes trickier than I expected. The framing is not the best one... Still can't manage to align the stacks of 1min and 2min exposures which cased a burned core and so on. But I'm happy with it so far. Maybe one day will re-process it again

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy

Imaging: WO ZS 110 triplet + WO FRIII 0.8x, Modified 550D, EM-200, APT (Astro Photography Tool), PHD

Guiding: WO ZS 66SD, DSI 1 Pro

Subs: 14x10min = 2h 40min, ISO 1600, no calibration - only dithering

Processing: DSS, PS CS3

Location: Rozhen (1730m ASL), Bulgaria

Hope that you like it

[nightskystargazer]

Ivo,

Nice capture of M-31 .

CS,KLU,

.

Tom

[nmoushon]

The core is not burnt out at all...it looks amazing! Great detail!

[squeaky]

Very nice

[Gina]

Excellent capture and processing I've had a go at this one and it's very difficult to process.

[Andyfx]

Really nice

[Chris]

Thats amazing, really nice processing love how you've handled the dust lanes. I've captured some data for M31, just using your guide scope though:D

[ollypenrice]

Very nice indeed, Ivo. Although the very inner part of the core is over exposed you have actually traced the inner spiral arms further into the core than most people manage. Impressive! The colour and resolution are super. I think the inner core is posterized though I don't really understand how that works. I'm sure it would be a simple matter to do a much softer stretch, just looking at the inner core and getting it smooth and rather less bright than this. Then just paste it as a layer underneath and softly erase to the posterized core of the top layer with a soft erasor at low opacity. That is a standard procedure for me on galaxies.

Olly.

[RikM]

Very nice M31

The colour is great. I struggled with it last year and haven't had a chance to try this year yet.

[Yoddha]

Many thanks for your kind words!

Olly, thanks for your explanation! I'll give a try

[Gina]

Very nice indeed, Ivo. Although the very inner part of the core is over exposed you have actually traced the inner spiral arms further into the core than most people manage. Impressive! The colour and resolution are super. I think the inner core is posterized though I don't really understand how that works. I'm sure it would be a simple matter to do a much softer stretch, just looking at the inner core and getting it smooth and rather less bright than this. Then just paste it as a layer underneath and softly erase to the posterized core of the top layer with a soft erasor at low opacity. That is a standard procedure for me on galaxies.

Olly.

Thanks for the tip Olly - I'll try that

[farunj]

Wow!! That picture is amazing!!

[MickyWay]

Got to move to Rozhen !

Great image Ivo.

I like the natural look, and I like the bright core.

Over processing can ruin an image like this, and spoil the depth of the picture.

[Yoddha]

Thank you Farunj and MickyWay!

Yes, Rozhen is a very good place. It is not darker than my usual site, but altitude gives much... Also the atmosphere is great - one roll-off pavilion and 4 domes - one with 2m telescope which is still the biggest on the Balkans

[Shibby]

That's a corker Ivo, it really Is pin sharp!

[RAC]

That is very well done! Really really nice.

[Black Knight]

That's a great looking image Ivo

[tingting44]

MIND BLOWINGLY AMAZING!!!!! seriously fella, one of the best i have seen!!!! i need to get a dso imaging setup

[Yoddha]

Many thanks!

[Ganymede12]

I got my first sight of M31 through my scope last night. It's a great spectacle, even in a small scope.

That image though beats what I saw yesterday by a large margin!

[Folkert]

Smashing picture! The problem is that these kind of pictures make me spend more than I should on new equipment to go after the same....

[fatwoul]

As Olly said, the dust lane detail near the core is lovely. The colour variations in the galaxy are really nice, too. I am envious!