This image is the sum of 2031 30 secs unguided subs taken during the nights of 9th and 10th of march 2022 from my bortle 8 sky terrace. Imaging train was Ioptron CEM 60 EC mount, orion USA 250 F.39 newton, sharpstar 1x coma corrector, primalucelab UHC filter and a QHY238M camera. 8 flats and no darks were used. Aquisition totally with Astroart, using my script. Processing mostly in Astroart (stacking, gradient correction, deconvultion) but something with PS (curves and stars reduction).
This time for both nights I forgot to use the autofocus routine, so I found out images slightely out of focus. i have tried to correct using deconvultion in Astroart. Moreover image looks a little bit noisy. This is second image taken with this train. Previous was:
https://astrob.in/yh01f6/C/with more gradient problems but in my opinon more pleasent. Maybe moonlight that was increasing didn't help. I have to learn how to use that fantastic QHY268M
For people who want to process image I have linked original FITS file.
The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51a, M51a, and NGC 5194, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus. It lies in the constellation Canes Venatici, and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. Its distance is 31 million light-years away from Earth.
The galaxy and its companion, NGC 5195, are easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies may be seen with binoculars. The Whirlpool Galaxy has been extensively observed by professional astronomers, who study it to understand galaxy structure (particularly structure associated with the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions. (Wikipedia)
Comments