M51....Again

[Sam]

Here's another go at M51. I was planning on getting an hours worth of data - except the clouds had a different idea

This is 21 X 90 second exposures unguided with a canon 400D through an 8" Newt.

(click to enlarge)

I'll have a go at reprocessing tomorrow I think - still haven't got the flats sorted.

Edit: I reworked it a bit now - darker back ground and a bit more detail in the galaxy.

cheers

Sam

[thing]

Excellent shot Sam, I'm still amazed that you do this unguided. I get the same patch of muck in the corner as you do by the way.

[jgs001]

:hello1: Nice one Sam

[Ferox]

Very nice image Sam.

[MikeD]

Looking good, lots of nice detail and a tight unguided shot.

Mike.

[steppenwolf]

Hi Sam, some good detail in there and on close inspection in PhotoShop, more to come from the image too - good luck with the flats

[Sam]

I've done some work on a cropped version to give some more detail to the galaxy:

(click to enlarge)

Sam

[Sam]

After nearly a whole day of re-processing, I think this is about as good as I can get this image:

(click to enlarge)

cheers

Sam

[centroid]

That's an 'all round' very nice result Sam, especially for 90 sec unguided subs. You obviously have the mount well aligned, and its tracking very well.

Sometimes its difficult to know when to stop 'squeezing' an image, before the law of 'diminishing returns' sets in, but then the more you 'play around' with the processing, the better 'feel' you get for what you can and can't do.

Dave

[Sam]

Dave,

Thanks for your comments - I've think I've got the alignment sorted now - it's just the darks/flats and offsets to sort out now, and the processing.

cheers

Sam