M51 17 hours complete rework

[Avdhoeven]

This image of M51 was taken over a period of about 4 years. My first image ever taken was of this galaxy and recently I decided to shoot it again. All data from the last 4 years, taken with a C11, Skywatcher ED80, Robtics ED110 and TEC140 were combined to get this result.

Further more rgb-data from  Michael van Doorn (dutchastrocolors.com) with his Hyperstar C11,  was integrated to get a nice color view.

Total exposure time was 17 hours, consisting of 110 images of 300 and 600s taken during the past 4 years.

[Sandancer10]

Well it seems like a long time in the making, but you have captured it beautifully. I love all the detail in the spiral arms, well done.

[HumptyMoo]

I know in astronomical terms 4 years is 4 microseconds, out of interest, do you see any slight feature differences between old and new caps? Lovely pic, time well spent.

[Rudeviewer]

This is just awesome!

[Kropster]

That is absolutely fantastic....... well worth waiting four years for!

[red dwalf]

truly an amazing image

[robbie c]

That is a outstanding image you have there well done 

[BaNosser]

You also captured a Quasar 11 billion LY away..

http://www.astro-photo.nl/wp_astro/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/m51_march_2014_lum-inverted-quasar.jpg

[sulaco]

Brilliant image, I would love to spend that long with one image, it really pays off ....obviously processing skill too.

[ChrisLX200]

What a lovely M51! Perfectly balanced and detailed image.

ChrisH

[Avdhoeven]

Thank you all very much for the very nice replies. I have updated the image a bit, because I thought the background was a bit 'flocky'. I hope this can have your approval

[oldpink]

how do you store all that data over the years
I had to do a major clearout of a load of captures as I was rapidly filling a 1TB hard disk
and thats just 3 months worth of Data

Lovely picture though well worth the wait

[Avdhoeven]

I have all my data on an external disk of 3 Tb, but alltogether it's maybe 1 Tb. I like to keep them because you never know when you can use it again...

[FunkyKoval35]

Just stunning image!!!

[PNJ]

top draw, what more can you say, brill

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Absolutely superb!

[sologuitarist61]

Beautiful detail and lovely colour!