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M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy


SyedT

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M101 has been challenging to say the least, particularly because of the high LP around here causing my luminance frames to have all sorts of funky gradients and banding and also issues with colour balance. I think I'm relatively happy with this result for now, although I'll definitely aim for more data (at least 10 hours of luminance) to get better SNR, and maybe add some Ha.

Equipment:

Altair Astro 6" F9 RC Astrograph
William Optics 0.8x FF/FR
Starlight Xpress SX USB filter wheel
Baader LRGB 36mm filters
ZWO ASI 1600MM-C
Hitec Astro Mount Hub Pro
Avalon Linear Fast Reverse
Lakeside Astro Autofocuser
PoleMaster

Software: SGPro, PHD2, PoleMaster, Stellarium

Lights - L: 169x60s, R 39x120s, G 60x60s, B 60x60s (Gain 139 Offset 21 @ -20C)
Dark, flat and bias frames applied
Bortle 5 zone

Processed in AstroPixelProcessor & Pixinsight

395341783_M101-PinwheelGalaxy.thumb.png.c8bbce7a367a3e70f0b32f9cf0bea4cd.png

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2 hours ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

Very nice result on a very low surface brightness galaxy

 

2 hours ago, Galen Gilmore said:

Very nice result. :thumbright:

 

14 minutes ago, Craney said:

Yes, great image.   As said above, this object needs a bit of dedication to raise it from the background murk.

Thank you guys, really appreciate your comments. I didn't realise that this was a difficult one to process, I honestly thought I was being thick! ? I had to work pretty hard to ensure it was separated from the background but at the same time not drop the background noise level so much that it turns into blobs (which happens all too often to me). Hopefully more data to come at some point. ?

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3 hours ago, SyedT said:

high LP around here

Hi. Not sure where you are but from here it's dangerously low ATM. Maybe wait until it's higher to take the next frames?

But hey, nice focal length; no need for an arrow showing where the galaxy is!

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1 hour ago, alacant said:

Hi. Not sure where you are but from here it's dangerously low ATM. Maybe wait until it's higher to take the next frames?

But hey, nice focal length; no need for an arrow showing where the galaxy is!

I actually imaged this in May when it was nearer the zenith during imaging time! Tells you a lot about my sky conditions. ? And yes, the focal length is exactly why I wanted an RC in addition to my refractor. Although now I've got the galaxy bug, I'm really itching to get an Edge HD 8...this isn't going to end well.

52 minutes ago, Galactic Wanderer said:

brilliant picture. Where was this taken? 

Thank you. Taken from my back garden, bortle 5 skies. ?

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1 hour ago, Craney said:

This was one of my early efforts with several ( 10 ??) 60s exposures, uncooled, unmodded 60D on the back of an 8"SCT( 0.63FR)

It just  ain't bright....   Shows how good your image is.

162002860_M101Ursamaj.thumb.JPG.c562b0c3ebdca656cad7adf476c3e586.JPG

Thank you, appreciate it!

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