M51 from SRO

[RickS]

I am sharing a remote scope at SRO (Sierra Remote Observatory) in California with a small group of astro imagers from the US and UK. We currently have a 10" GSO RC scope on a Paramount ME mount with a QSI 683 camera. We've had a bunch of issues with automation and the collimation of the scope but we're getting some half decent data now. Here's my first attempt at M51 in LRGB.

Edited to add tweaked version. High res here: http://www.astrobin.com/105992/B/

Cheers,
Rick.

[ozstronomer]

Lovely image Rick! Well done

Looks like the bugs are out of the gear now.

Geoff

[RickS]

Thanks, Geoff. Still some niggling issues to resolve but we'll get there eventually.

Cheers,
Rick.

[strongmanmike]

Bravo :clap: this is your first remote composition isn't it?

Got some nice extensions there

A few teething problems huh?...but I bet you never thought you'd be imaging M51 :eyepop: :lol::thumbsup:

Mike

[ReaPerMan]

Great image. If that's with problems, I can't wait to see what you can do next :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[RickS]

Thanks, Mike! Yes, this is the first one. It's pretty cool sitting at work watching the data roll in :D The only problem is that it's a long way to go fix something even for the "local" guys.



Thanks, Paul. I have high expectations with sub arcsecond seeing and we're still not even getting perfectly round stars :P

[SimmoW]

great image! What, so you sort of team up with a few folks and share the costs etc of the setup? Nice idea.

[RickS]

Thanks, Simon. Yes, we're splitting the cost of renting the pier and buying the acquisition software. A few of the guys generously donated scopes, the camera and the mount. It has been great so far. A good bunch of people with a lot of skills and knowledge. The main issues have been with integrating the gear and the software as always ;) Getting full automation going is not a trivial exercise.

Cheers,
Rick.

[SimmoW]

Nice Rick, something to aspire to one day, must be great to deal with ppl from around the world. I have a friend in very dark skies in Colorado, we might be sharing some data & processing once he's set up.

Look forward to seeing your future collabs!

[gregbradley]

Wonderful image Rick. What a great idea. All those northern objects to image with such great seeing and so many clear nights.

Greg.

[RickS]

Good luck with that, Simon. I have been to Colorado a couple of times with work and it would be a nice location for an obsy!



Thanks, Greg. If it works out I'll have more data than I have time to process :lol:

[cometcatcher]

Man that's nice.

Next step amateur size Hubble in space.

[RickS]

Thanks, Kevin. Great idea! Just don't let my wife hear it. She'll be worried about me increasing the already steep spend rate :lol:

[Octane]

omg, that is outstanding, Rick!

Very envious!

H

[LewisM]

Definitely one of the best M51's I have seen.

[RickS]

Thanks, H & Lewis. I think the processing still needs a little tweaking but the data is pretty good and it's a fantastic object. We should tow it down to the Southern hemisphere :)

[Rod771]

Oh no no no! Then they'll want something of ours :P Everything is just perfect where it is thanks (especially the Milky Way) :D

It is a pretty one though Rick, nice work :thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

Lovely Rick! What I wouldn't give for skies like that!!

Any chance of a bigger version?

[RickS]

I think you're probably right, Rod :) Thanks...



Ta, Marcus! I'll post a full res version once I finish tweaking.

[Paul Haese]

Heaps of detail Rick with lots and lots of dust showing. Bigger image would be nice. :)

[RickS]

Thanks, Paul. Full res coming after a slight repro :)

[astronobob]

Far-oout Rick, totally stunning stuff :thumbsup:

I tried getting onto it from Leyburn obs, but oooh sooo looow -

Youd have to be happy with that and from all the work getting things together - Congratts on the success so far :thumbsup:

[Bassnut]

wow that nuts. Huge detail and depth!.

[RB]

Oh wow, that is stunning Rick.

:thumbsup:

[graham.hobart]

That really is a beautiful picture of a fabulous galaxy.
Rick that is a stunner.
Makes my RC 10 ( sans focuser currently!) tremble in fear!!
Thanks for posting.
Graham

[alocky]

Perhaps until the bugs are ironed out you should post in the beginner's forum?
:rofl:
Seriously, that is up there with the best. I'm starting to think that GSO is delivering some remarkable bang for buck! Wonderful data, and processed with the finesse we've come to expect.
Cheers,
Andrew

[rogerg]

cracker of a galaxy pic :thumbsup:

[RickS]

Thanks, Bob! Hope you had a productive time up at Leyburn.



Thanks, Fred.



Thanks, Andrew.



Thanks, Graham. Our RC10 is nothing special. It's not even that well collimated. The skies help though...



Thanks, Andrew. You are too kind. I have seen some great M51s and I have a way to go...



Thanks, Roger!

[Shiraz]

well that's a cracker of an image. really looking forward to seeing it in full scale, but it looks great as is. Must be nice to get data from a site with good seeing - we need Sierra Australis, maybe a kind mining magnate can make one out of overburden. regards ray

[RickS]

Thanks, Ray. Hmmm... a huge mountain in the likeness of Clive Palmer? :lol:

[atalas]

Should be a beauty when finalized Rick!good work so far.

[RickS]

Thanks, Louie. I only have some minor tweaks so the new version won't be a huge improvement. Maybe with a couple more years practice at processing...

Cheers,
Rick.

[Bart]

IOTW I reckon

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Wonderful M51 Rick!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

The processing really makes it leap from the screen.

Cheers,

Justin.

[RickS]

Thanks Bart & Justin!

[RickS]

I tweaked the image with some of the feedback I received (got rid of a slight red gradient and increased the contrast of the body of the galaxy). Hopefully this is an improvement :)

High res version is here: http://www.astrobin.com/105992/B/ Low res version is added to the original post.

Cheers,
Rick.

[multiweb]

That's an awesome shot. Very deep and detailed. :thumbsup:

[allan gould]

Beautiful image Rick and I can't but help imagining what the view would be like from a planet in the faint zones looking back at M51 and it's companion. Stirs the imagination and a great collaboration.
Allan

[RickS]

Thanks, Marc!



Thanks, Allan. It's certainly a fascinating galaxy.

[Star Catcher]

Now that has come up a treat Rick! Most enjoyable. Glad to see things getting sorted.
Ted

[RickS]

Thanks, Ted!

[Tandum]

Nice shot Rick.

[RickS]

Thanks, Robin. When are you going to give up bikes and get back into imaging? :lol: