M81 - Bodes Galaxy

[JimFox]

I think this is my most detailed capture of Bodes and Cigar Galaxies. I am sure it's not perfect, but it's a good step up in quality I think.

It's from 2 different imaging sessions.

1st was from 2023/04/06 from my daughters deck in Greeley Colorado in Bortle 5/6 skies with the L-Pro light pollution filter.

2nd was from 2023/04/15 from the Dallas Divide in SW Colorado which is Bortle 1 skies and using the L-Enhance filter to capture more of the Ha (red) signal.

There are a few methods of combining the the different data in Pixinsight. I went old school to try something different, and combined them in Photoshop.

120 - Lights at 120 secs with the Optolong L-Pro Filter
30 - Flats
30 - Dark/Flats
10 - Darks

144 - Lights at 180 secs with the Optolong L-Enhance Filter
30 - Flats
30 - Dark/Flats
10 - Darks

iOptron Gem28
ZWO ASI2600mc Pro
ZWO 120mm Mini - Guide Camera
Askar Fra500
Stacked in Pixinsight
BlurXterminator
NoiseXterminator
StarXterminator
Processed in Pixinsight and Photoshop

All comments are welcome,

Jim

 

[Dan Moorehead]

Stunning

 

[Alisa]

This is so cool Jim!

 

[Ben Egbert]

I really like the clear spyrle

 

[Mike Lewis]

Nice job on this famous combo target. Looks like the Ha came through well on M81 in particular. I have not seen these as blue as they're are rendered here before, an interesting version. Looks like you pulled Holmberg IX out too, very nice.

 

[JimFox]

Stunning

Thanks so much!

 

[JimFox]

This is so cool Jim!

I appreciate that Alisa!

 

[JimFox]

I really like the clear spyrle

Thank you Ben.

 

[JimFox]

Nice job on this famous combo target. Looks like the Ha came through well on M81 in particular. I have not seen these as blue as they're are rendered here before, an interesting version. Looks like you pulled Holmberg IX out too, very nice.

Thanks Mike. I was really happy with the amount of detail I was able to capture.

M81 seemed a bit too warm as I was processing, so I did cool down the WB just a hair. I have seen M81 range in color from warm to cool, I tried to just nudge it to the cool side. Maybe I went too far, but if I recall it was just a very slight adjustment.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Thank you Ben.

now teach me to spell spyral

 

[JimFox]

now teach me to spell spyral

Ha ha.... spiral

You had the right idea Ben.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Thanks Mike. I was really happy with the amount of detail I was able to capture.

M81 seemed a bit too warm as I was processing, so I did cool down the WB just a hair. I have seen M81 range in color from warm to cool, I tried to just nudge it to the cool side. Maybe I went too far, but if I recall it was just a very slight adjustment.

Actually Jim, it is M82 where I noticed the cooler tone more. I guess I will see what I get out of my data for that galaxy, it should be the next thing I process.

ML

 

[JimFox]

Actually Jim, it is M82 where I noticed the cooler tone more. I guess I will see what I get out of my data for that galaxy, it should be the next thing I process.

ML

Thanks Mike. I think M82 looks pretty accurate in terms of color. Well, as far as accurate goes...