Integration Time Comparison - M81 (Bradley Watson)

Celestial hemisphere: Northern · Constellation: Ursa Major (UMa) · Contains: Bode's Galaxy · Cigar Galaxy · M 81 · M 82 · NGC 3031 · NGC 3034 · NGC 3077

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Integration Time Comparison - M81

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Integration Time Comparison - M81

Here is a view and comparison of different exposure times on M81 using my new 6inch RC. These stacked images were taken over 4 nights under a bortle 7 sky with the moon nearly at 100% on the fourth night but other than that the conditions were pretty much the same, although one of the nights (2nd stacked image) the seeing was far better than the other three nights. Images were registered, cropped, and normalised. No other processing bar LP removal, stretching and slight saturation boost was done.

Equipment
TSO RC6
SW EQ6R Pro
OAG
ZWO ASI120mm guide camera
IDAS LPS D1 light pollution filter

There is a significant increase in detail from 1.5hrs intgegration time to 6hrs with more structure becoming visible in the galaxy. More faint stars are becoming visible and Holmberg IX is starting to appear. Increasing integration time to 15hrs brightens the image and gives more clarity to the star forming regions in the arms and further highlighting the dust lanes. Based on the addition of another 2 hrs there was not that much difference. I suspect, to see any real changes I will need to double integration time from 15hrs to 30hrs, which I will do. A very interesting exercise.

M81 is still a work in progress for me.

Interestingly, I think I prefer these unprocessed versions as more detail is evident.

Thanks for looking.

Light Polluted skies
Ritchey Chretien telescopes GSO Family
Broadband under Bortle 7/8/9
Imaged with N.I.N.A.
N.I.N.A. Users
"Nordish by nature"
Open Star Clusters

Comparisons/Tests
Galaxies
TS Optics RC 154/1370

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The “AstroBin Image of the Day and Top Picks”, or IOTD/TP, is a long-running system to promote beautiful, interesting, peculiar, or otherwise amazing astrophotographs, with a focus on technical excellence. Learn more.

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Status	Basic success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	5500692
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Integration Time Comparison - M81

Integration Time Comparison - M81

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Integration Time Comparison - M81

Integration Time Comparison - M81

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