Pinwheel, M101. First light!

[Firas]

This is first light with the wonderful TS-8 ONTC. 

Majestic M101 taken from the Hollandhill Observatory @wimvb where the telescope lives. 

I collected 8 hours of Luminance and three hours RGB. The material came out really smooth so I didn't want to process quickly rather carefully. 

So, I spent two weeks processing this, making small adjustment every evening until I got to the point I wanted. I cropped the image as you surely noticed, and I didn't see any reason why not to do it. Pixinsight deconvolution gave sharp results that when I cropped considerably much, I didn't loose much detail. I also have to mention that guiding was nice through out the acquisition of the Luminance, around 0.6 in average.        

The observatory move was the best thing to happen to my astrophotography and I can't thank Wim enough for letting me share the observatory.

This was't possible without his generosity of expertise and support. 

More details here; 

https://www.astrobin.com/fcqzl2/?nc=user

Hope you like it! 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2020 by Firas

[carastro]

That's really nice.  

Carole 

[Firas]

Thank you Carole! 

[Firas]

You do also notice that the image is inverted. It really made the whole composition more dramatic. 

[smr]

Nice image indeed. Apologies for sounding thick but how does using a remote obs work? Do you just slew to the target remotely and set off an imaging run or is there more to it ? Just asking out of curiosity.

I wonder what Bortle scale this is shot from? 

[Firas]

Just now, smr said:

Nice image indeed. Apologies for sounding thick but how does using a remote obs work? Do you just slew to the target remotely and set off an imaging run or is there more to it ? Just asking out of curiosity.

I wonder what Bortle scale this is shot from? 

Thank you! 

Well, apart from building the observatory it self, there is plenty to consider. I would never be able to do it if Wim didn't live there. Camera rotation, cable snags, connection errors, etc. But yes, if everything is dancing together I set off a sequence and monitor the process. 

It's Bortle 4 which is really really great!   

[SkyJamie]

Awesome image Firas!

Bright and punchy, fantastic!

[alacant]

Tremendous image. I needed sunglasses!

[Pankaj]

Goodness! Looks like taken by Hubble. Great shot !!

[Firas]

Thanks guys!