M81 and IFN

[RickS (Rick)]

A fairly deep M81 processed to show the IFN. Even with lots of data it's a bit of a mess and I'm sure I should be able to do better, but that's a project for another day

The bulk of the data was captured with a TEC 160FL at Deep Sky West belonging to Jim and Linda Powell. I did blend a smidge of data from the RCOS 14.5 there just to add a little detail. That's why there are diffraction spikes.

Scope: TEC 160FL FL=1152.68mm
Mount: Paramount ME
Camera: SBIG STF-8300M
Filters: Astrodon
Image scale: 0.966 arcsec/pixel (Drizzled up)
Exposures: 23x900s R, 21x900 G, 25x900s B, 118x600s + 8x900s L, 10x1800 H (~44 hours)
Processing: PixInsight 1.8

There's a high res version on Astrobin: http://www.astrobin.com/292719/0/

Thanks for looking.

Cheers,
Rick.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Oooohh that's deep. Wonderful shot. What's that little blue patch to the left? Still part of M81 or something in our galaxy?

[el_draco (Rom)]

Absolutely gob smacking. Detail is superb

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

Oooohh that's deep. Wonderful shot. What's that little blue patch to the left? Still part of M81 or something in our galaxy?

Thanks, Kevin. The little blue patch is Holmberg IX aka PGC 28757. It's a dwarf irregular galaxy that's a satellite of M81.

Originally Posted by el_draco

Absolutely gob smacking. Detail is superb

Thanks, Rom.

[topheart]

Hi Rick,
Congratulations.....that is absolutely stunning!!

What a great job you have done with the deep capture and processing to show the IFN.

Awesome!
Cheers,
Tim

[DJScotty (Scott)]

That's a great image Rick.
You should be very happy with it.
Scott

[beren]

wow, spectacular Rick congratulations

[astroron (Ron)]

Cracker of an Image Rick
Just for clarity what does IFN stand for
I have always known the fuzzy stuff as Galactic Cirrus.
Cheers

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Sob ! Oh, I wish we could see that from here.

Truly excellent processing.

Mike

[alpal]

Hi Rick,
that's super deep - what a great image.
It shows the worth of a remote observatory -
especially in New Mexico at 7400 feet in Altitude.
It's sure a lot better than trying to image from cloudy Melbourne.

cheers
Allan

[Paul Haese]

Nice Rick, Great field of view, surround cirrus and drama of the scene. Really like this.

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Fantastic, deep image and such a picturesque galaxy. Pity we can't see it from our latitudes.

[Stevec35 (Steve)]

Great work on this one Rick! One of the best shots of M81 that I've seen.

Cheers

Steve

[atalas]

Awesome Rick!

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Originally Posted by astroron

...
Just for clarity what does IFN stand for
I have always known the fuzzy stuff as Galactic Cirrus.
Cheers

Integrated Flux Nebula, Ron. https://www.spacetelescope.org/proje...rnal_andreo_1/

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by topheart

Hi Rick,
Congratulations.....that is absolutely stunning!!

What a great job you have done with the deep capture and processing to show the IFN.

Awesome!

Thanks, Tim!

Originally Posted by DJScotty

That's a great image Rick.
You should be very happy with it.

Thanks, Scott. I'm never entirely happy with my images

Originally Posted by beren

wow, spectacular Rick congratulations

Thanks, Stuart!

Originally Posted by astroron

Cracker of an Image Rick
Just for clarity what does IFN stand for
I have always known the fuzzy stuff as Galactic Cirrus.
Cheers

Thanks, Ron. The link Kevin shared explains the origin of the IFN term. Here's another link with some more info and a fantastic wide view of the Polar Spur: http://www.galaxyimages.com/UNP_IFNebula.html

Originally Posted by Placidus

Sob ! Oh, I wish we could see that from here.

Truly excellent processing.

Thanks, Mike. It is huge shame. We need to set up an astronomer exchange program

Originally Posted by alpal

Hi Rick,
that's super deep - what a great image.
It shows the worth of a remote observatory -
especially in New Mexico at 7400 feet in Altitude.
It's sure a lot better than trying to image from cloudy Melbourne.

Thanks, Allan. Brisbane hasn't been much better so I really value the remote data!

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Nice Rick, Great field of view, surround cirrus and drama of the scene. Really like this.

Thanks very much, Paul.

Originally Posted by Retrograde

Fantastic, deep image and such a picturesque galaxy. Pity we can't see it from our latitudes.

Ta, Pete.

Originally Posted by Stevec35

Great work on this one Rick! One of the best shots of M81 that I've seen.

Thanks, Steve.

Originally Posted by atalas

Awesome Rick!

..and thanks, Louie. We've missed you!

[niharika]

Oh God....n how did you make it look soo pretty!!! Beautiful image Rick. Very well done.

[gregbradley]

Good one Rick. Nice and Deep and really well processed.

Greg.

[astroron (Ron)]

Thanks Kevin and Rick for the links and information
I am sure there are quite a few people viewing this image
Appreciated it.
Definitelya splendid image for sure.
Cheers

[Spookyer (Brett)]

Really jumps out of the background that one!

Brett