One more M81 for the collection.....

[Clarkey]

I took this a few months ago, but I have processed it multiple times and really struggled to get a good result. Eventually I have something that feels 'acceptable' - but I'm still not really pleased with the overall outcome. For some reason I have found getting the colour balance right very tricky. Also, retaining enough detail without have too much noise has been difficult. Why I find this particular galaxy so hard I am not sure.

Anyway, here is the final image (for now).

Approximately 2 hours of RGB and slightly more Lum. Taken with a ASI1600mm and a StellaLyra RC8 and binned in processing. Processed with APP, Startools and Affinity.

All comments - good and bad - welcome as always.

 

[scotty38]

Looks pretty good to me and I wouldn't know where to begin to see any faults in it. it'd be on my wall if it was mine 🙂

[Paul M]

I barely recognised it, which galaxy is this? I thought. I had to check the title again!

So much detail in the spiral arms.

[Clarkey]

3 hours ago, scotty38 said:

Looks pretty good to me and I wouldn't know where to begin to see any faults in it. it'd be on my wall if it was mine

 

2 hours ago, Paul M said:

I barely recognised it, which galaxy is this? I thought. I had to check the title again!

So much detail in the spiral arms

Thanks for the comments - much appreciated.

This one has turned out a lot better than the previous dozen that I produced. As I said, I have no idea why I found this one so difficult.

[AstroAndy]

Awesome pic of one of my favorite galaxies (and go to object when troubleshooting equipment). Details is amazing, background sky is good, and the roundest stars you ever did see. Maybe the core is a bit overblown , and on my screen it has a pinkish cast.

Awesome result for about 4hrs of integration time. 🙂

[Clarkey]

20 hours ago, AstroAndy said:

Awesome pic of one of my favorite galaxies (and go to object when troubleshooting equipment). Details is amazing, background sky is good, and the roundest stars you ever did see. Maybe the core is a bit overblown , and on my screen it has a pinkish cast.

Thanks Andy.

Thanks for the feedback - always appreciated. Yes it is a little pink - but as I said I really struggled to get any decent colour and I think I just accepted it as it was better than all the other iterations! The core is slightly overblown - when I get a chance I might try to do some thing about it. To be honest this one was giving me such a task to get anything decent I just 'cut and run' at this point🤣

[AstroAndy]

I feel you, lol, sometimes one is just full-up with processing an img., especially after hemming and hawing trying to get the best process out of it.