M81-M82 Widefield

[Mike Lewis]

My remote imaging does not allow me to swap out my refractor for a higher magnification scope, but sometimes that allows for 'putting targets in context', as with this famous galaxy pairing. In truth, these are probably shot quite frequently as a pair like this, and I believe they have been impressively displayed here already by Andrew and I think maybe Jim as well. Another fun capture that approached the 9 hours of integration mark.

This effort was spread over about 3 sessions or so, shot through LRGB filters, with a couple of hours of Ha added to accentuate the star forming regions in M81 and the starburst emanating from M82.

Comments welcome as always.

Equipment:
ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -20C and
Gain:139 Offset:21
Software Bisque MyT Mount
Stellarvue SVQ100 Astrograph Refractor, 580mm @ f/5.8

Software:
Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8
Lightroom CC
Photoshop CC

Light Frames:
Luminance: 100 x 90 secs (2 hrs 30 mins)
Red: 40 x 120 secs (1 hr 20 mins)
Green: 41 x 120 secs (1 Hr 22 mins)
Blue: 46 x 120 secs (1 Hr 32 mins)
Ha: 24 x 300 secs (2 Hrs)

8 hrs 42 mins total

Dark Frames:
20 x 60 secs (20 mins)

Bias Frames
60

Flat Frames
20 each filter


ML

 

[Mike Lewis]

Noticing bad red cast in upper left - did not see that on my monitor while editing/posting. I will have to post an updated version soon...

ML

 

[Ben Egbert]

Did not notice this until mentioned, now I see it. Still a magnificent image. The detail in the central galaxy is amazing.

 

[Colorado CJ]

Great image! Nice editing as well.

 

[JimFox]

Super cool Mike! I sure like the coloring and detail you got in this.

The majority of astrophotographers seem to shoot these together as a pair from what I have seen so far.know I like them as a pair.

 

[Mike Lewis]

So hard to believe at 10+ hours of editing I missed that red gradient. Not sure when it crept in. Here is another version, with it hopefully reduced to a much less objectionable level.

View attachment LRCC_sRGB_M81_M82_HaLRGB_BN_CC1_SCNR_MT_ABE.jpg


EDIT: - and now I cannot figure how to embed this new version from my gallery...sigh.

If I can figure out how to swap this version with the one in the general Astrophotography Gallery, I will. Jim, is that possible?

ML

 

[AlanLichty]

So hard to believe at 10+ hours of editing I missed that red gradient. Not sure when it crept in. Here is another version, with it hopefully reduced to a much less objectionable level.

View attachment 28554


EDIT: - and now I cannot figure how to embed this new version from my gallery...sigh.

If I can figure out how to swap this version with the one in the general Astrophotography Gallery, I will. Jim, is that possible?

ML

It looks like I can swap the gallery image being displayed but it shows up as an attachment that isn't being directly displayed. There is something funky about how our gallery images are embedded after the software upgrade and the subsequent enhancements.

Paging @JimFox to the white courtesy phone......

 

[JimFox]

Delete this one in the post, and then embed a new gallery image? Otherwise I have a sunset close to happening with elephant seals in the foreground, and well I am a little occupied at the moment...

 

[Mike Lewis]

OK, problem above due to loading the full size image. Impressive it took it. I should have realized immediately it was the wrong one. Not my day today apparently

Let's try this version to at least see if it works as expected...

ML

 

[AlanLichty]

This version plays much nicer - and it is a neat looking scene.

 

[JimFox]

Mike? You can edit your initial post and embed the new photo. Or could you not Gallery Embed the update?

 

[Mike Lewis]

keeping both versions here, to show a typical post processing issue that can crop up.

ML