M101, CMOS LRGB and OSC Combination

[tomato]

Still no break in the clouds, and the moon is getting bigger and earlier with every night that passes, so I have had a go at blending my 'close in' ASI 178 data (captured at 0.94 arcsec/pixel) with the IMX571 OSC data @ 0.714 arcsec/pixel.  These were combined in APP, using 2nd degree LNC, 5 iterations, and MBB set at 20%. I have cropped the FOV to give the galaxy a bit more prominence,  no software binning applied. If my records are correct, the central portion of the image has around 25 hrs of integration, but the ASI 178 data didn't extend to the outer spiral arms so there is quite a bit of an imbalance between the regions, integration wise. 

 

Edited February 10, 2022 by tomato
Typo corrected

[Clarkey]

11 hours ago, tomato said:

714 arcsec/pixel

??

[tomato]

9 hours ago, Clarkey said:

??

Sorry, it’s a typo, now corrected.

[jjosefsen]

The galaxy itself is amazing, so much detail!

[tomato]

Here is a further instalment with another 8.4 hrs of integration added on the 'widefield' data. Is it any better? I'm not sure, but processing fatigue has set in so that is it for now, although I might try a 4 panel mosaic with the ASI 178 cameras, if the weather is kind over the next couple of months.

 

[SimonHutch]

That’s an awesome image!

[tomato]

And this is the last one, honest.

Somewhat underwhelmed by the addition of 8 hrs of OSC data I went back and culled the poorest 80 x 2 min subs and processed again. I think I have more detail back in the core but the Chroma level is up which has made for a more coloured background.