M83 from Barambah

[RobF]

Saw M83 for the first time at the Barambah dark sky camp over the weekend just gone. Was fascinating to see it in different sized scopes. Thanks Steve and other organisers for such a great stay - the skies really were magnificently dark!

Found time to start looking at some of the data collected tonight. Got 10x10mins subs of this, making it my deepest galaxy effort to date.

ISO 800, darks, flats

Thanks for looking.

[bluescope]

Good effort Rob ... seems to be a fair bit of green in the background that could be removed with something like Gradient XTerminator or levels maybe but you've captured the spiral extensions of the galaxy nicely mate !

:thumbsup:

p.s. Dark skies always make a difference ay !

[dugnsuz]

You've captured some very nice detail there Rob - the longer subs have definitely paid off.

[Tandum]

Came out fine Rob, don't forget to remove the light polution filter next time :lol:

[prokyon]

Wow, many details. Great work!

[peter_4059]

Great effort Rob. Did you use the 8" newt as the imaging scope?

[Hagar]

Nice image Rob, Might be worth lifting the colour saturation just a touch and get a bit more colour back in your stars and the galaxy.

[gregbradley]

Very nice image.

Greg.

[AlexN]

Well done Rob! :)

Wish I had been able to go to Barambah this time around... between work and birthdays that I had to attend I just couldn't get there :( Next time I say.. Next time..

Seems your time was well spent! Did you capture many targets?

[RobF]

Thanks for the responses guys.
This was the first time I've tried to use most of the stuff from Covington's CD book, and pretty happy, but still lots I'm only just starting to understand why you'd do it.

Steve - I see you're spot on about background colours/gradients now I take a 2nd look. Haven't got GradientXTerminator. Might check my flats and have a look at PixInSight maybe.

Robin - it might be true that someone did actually forget to take off the pollution filter the first night :whistle::doh::ashamed:. Will have to add that to my dark sky checklist...!

Peter - yep done with the 450D and 8" newt - cropped a little for centering etc (about 75% of original master frame)

Doug - have only just realised how powerful selective masking and colour saturation is - my first effort too purple for M83, but I think I feel a reprocess coming on!...

Thanks Alex - There was only 4 of us imaging I think, and plenty of swearing at given time - we all had issues with something at some time. I think I've got decent data on M83, 104 and M64 (Black Eye gal), with much less data on a few others. Was really keen to get into Scorpio/Sag for the first time (lagoon/trifid, etc), but we got clouds and rain around midnight 2nd night alas (and to make it worse, spotless skies again 2hrs after I'd packed up!). Shame you couldn't get there - but girlfriend birthday's aren't worth messin' with! :)

[AlexN]

It could have been worse Rob.. When I was there last, the skies were sensational every night.. However my polar alignment skills were about nil, and my guiding would not work. :D So I had 3 nights of cursing my equipment, the skygods, and quietly to myself, the other imagers who were plugging along without issue :D hah..

Good to hear you got some good data, I look forward to your M104 and M64 shots!

Yeah mate, This girl can get ANGRY if she doesn't get her way! I figured on her birthday it would probably not be a time to disappear bush for a few days.. :) I'll be there for the camp later in the year..

[h0ughy]

nice shot