M33 - The Triangulum Galaxy

[badgers]

I've always wanted to try and image M33 as it's a spectacular galaxy. It seems like a difficult target, or at least from a light polluted location it's not easy getting the noise levels down.

I find galaxies tough to process, any feedback much appreciated, getting the colour balance right seems hard for this, I really should look into G2V calibration.

I definitely need more Luminance to drop noise levels at the edges, but do I need to get more colour data too ?

Anyway, here's where I'm at so far with almost 4 hours luminance and 3x90minutes for the RGB, all at 1x1.

First process, the more 'natural' one, I just did a simple colour calibration in pixinsight and didn't try to bring out the dark structures.

Second process is a bit more funky, I went a bit mad in photoshop:

High Pass filters, blended in to bring out 12pix and 70pix structures and blues and reds brought out.

I'm happy so far, especially given that I snuck these out over two nights between clouds in pretty woeful conditions.

Oh... did I mention... I love refractors

Thanks for looking

A

[Martin-Devon]

Anton - you've got to be really pleased with this image, it's a cracker. Of the 2 versions, I edge towards the first one - looks more subtle & natural to my taste, but then others may have a different preference. You've certainly got that refractor & Atik460 singing & dancing though, great work...

[badgers]

Thanks Martin, I prefer the first one too, but looking at it again, it's probably stretched a little hard.....

I might tone it down a notch and see how that looks.

[stevetynant]

Awesome Anton - I'd be proud of both

[Gina]

Beautiful

[badgers]

I've had another play with the colour balance and I think that's about as good as it'll get with the current data.

I think I might try a night of binned 2x2 RGB on this and really try and strengthen up the colour data.

[VigdisVZ]

Beautiful. It's both radiant and sublte. Love it.

[badgers]

Hmm, Flickr is acting up.

Last process was this:

Happy with this one for now, thanks for the comments!

[Gina]

Beautiful

[harry page]

Hi

Looks like you have some nice Data , take a bit more care with Pixinsight Colour calibration and use the galaxy method

Harry

[badgers]

Holy cow Harry, thanks for that, makes a big difference.

I was selecting a few background previews of empty space (aggregated) and dropping a preview over the galaxy centre for the calibration.

Is the 'galaxy method' you mention covered in the Calibration video on your website, or in one of the Galaxy examples ?

I really want to make sure I can get this right.

Did you work any other magic ?

Thanks,

Anton

[harry page]

Hi

Normal galaxy method . but you do need to make sure you have most of the galaxy inc ( out put map to check )

and then a small sat boost , thats all I did

harry

[badgers]

Brilliant Harry, Thanks.

I think I went through calibration about 5-10 times today and didn't have a single satisfactory result.

I guess I wasn't selecting the whole galaxy, just the core.

I think an hour or so of PI tutorials from your website are in my future,

I also notice a nasty gradient that I didn't see on my other computer so I'll have another processing round tomorrow.

Thanks again

Anton

[James]

That's a good effort Badgers - on my M33 I've struggled to get any real colour at all...

Your 'last process' posted at 3.02 this afternoon is my favourite...

James

[badgers]

Thanks James,

I'm going to combine what I did in that image with Harrys tips for better calibration.

I'm going stir crazy from processing..... It's mentally draining! When I close my eyes I see M33, that's how much I've stared at this image today.

It's clear I need more practice on Galaxies, so all this help and feedback much appreciated.

Anton

[sologuitarist61]

Excellent

[James]

I really need the practice/tips too... I guess I've had it too easy processing nebulae

I find it dead easy to sit out in freezing temperatures collecting data but really struggle to concentrate on the processing...

James

[kirkster501]

They're wonderful. Personally I like your very first one at the top on your first post. One of the best M33 I have ever seen to my eyes. Well done.

[StuartJPP]

I like this a lot. Well done.

[allcart]

Nice one Anton. I favour the first pic also.

[carastro]

That's a seriously nice M33, I especially like the 2nd process of the first two.

Carole