M81/Bode's nebula

[rodrigol]

M81/Bode's nebula. C11 Edge HD + 0.7FR + ASI294MC Pro 30x60s lights and calibration frames from my library. Dithering is a game changer and my focuser work in automated mode for the first time. I took this using NINA (no relation - it works!) and processed with PI (working on the background but it taking time. I need some advise) Done the usual background removal and color calibration steps but getting rid of the gradients is a challenge. Note these are heavily accentuated in the jpeg below.

 

 

[x6gas]

Nice result for just 30 minutes total integration time.  Obviously this target has a lot more to give with more data.  It's interesting to see the chromatic aberration you are getting around the brighter stars.  I get this too using a mono CCD on my Edge 11 but can tame it a bit by aligning the frames using RegiStar...

 

[MarkAR]

Very good for a fairly short total exposure time, more data will definitely be a benefit.

[rodrigol]

Thanks for watching and for the advise! Yes, I need to be brave and get longer exposures and let the dithering do it's job. Still learning but I know the galaxy arms stretch beyond the mag 10+ double HIP 48635 stars.  I also have the issue with the CA on the east side of the pier, which I'm afraid may be due to mirror flop? I do focus often to get things tight but I'm beginning to see this more often when I image on the east side of the mount...

[x6gas]

39 minutes ago, rodrigol said:

Thanks for watching and for the advise! Yes, I need to be brave and get longer exposures and let the dithering do it's job. Still learning but I know the galaxy arms stretch beyond the mag 10+ double HIP 48635 stars.  I also have the issue with the CA on the east side of the pier, which I'm afraid may be due to mirror flop? I do focus often to get things tight but I'm beginning to see this more often when I image on the east side of the mount...

Hmmm.  I hadn't really thought of this before but I guess the collimation could be changing either side of the pier...

[rodrigol]

x6gas: Yes, I would expect this to affect the collimation as well...Only route away from this issue would be to go for an  RC or a Crayford and lock the mirror.

[ultranova]

Very nice effort indeed,

surprised you only went for 30 minutes worth of data as what you have is good,

as X6gas  said, it has a lot more to give, but I sure would be happy with that.

Well done 

Paul

Edited August 8, 2020 by ultranova
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