M101 and NGC5474 by DSLR

[Owmuchonomy]

This is my first attempt at this asymmetric spiral.  It is also my first attempt at stacking two separate sessions.  There are quite a few other DSOs in the frame notably NGC5474 a much smaller (but closer) spiral.  It is very small in my image but the strikingly aqua coloured NGC5471 can be discerned in the full size tiff.

I took a total of 35 x 300sec lights and the usual darks, flats and bias using my modded Canon 60D on the AA 102 EDT with planostar FF. Guiding by PHD 2 through the AA finder guider at 328 mm fl.

Stacked in DSS (see below) and processed with Photoshop.

By 'eck did I have a struggle with DSS.  I tried to stack one final image from two separate sessions in two groups but that produced a tiff which was way too noisy.  So I threw everything together in one group and stacked it and the resulting tiff was remarkably better.  Don't ask me why.

If I get chance I might try to add data to it as it is forecast to be clear here almost every night until Tuesday.

Thanks for looking and any feedback.

[ghostdance]

That's lovely! Renews my efforts to see this (no luck so far, but only two attempts on hazy nights). I know I won't see the detail in your image, but it will sure help me fill in the fuzzy smudge I'm expecting to see!

[Owmuchonomy]

How very kind. Thank you. I wish you luck. The JPEG posted is not as clear as the tiff version on my 27" Mac either.

[r3i]

Nice work Chris, lots of interesting stuff in there.

[Owmuchonomy]

Thanks Mike. The new obsy is a great success. I can spend so much more time at the scope rather than setting up.