M101 "the Pinwheel"

[floastro]

Hi guys,


I did not posted one image here for a long time. This is my last, M101 "the Pinwheel galaxy".

It has begun in May 2010 and i just finished it 2 weeks ago. 2 nights in 2010 and 4 nights this year have been realized.

13hrs for the luminance, 3hrs for RGB (1hr for each filter). I took 1h47min. of 1 minute exposures to decrease the M101 core.

Astronomical material :

-ASA Astrograph 12" f/3.62 using the Astrooptik 3" Wynne corrector
-Losmandy HGM TITAN Gemini Goto mount
-CCD SBIG ST-10XME + SBIG CFW8-A
-Astrodon LRGB filter set


Software :

-MaxIm DL CCD 4.11 use in the field
-pre-processing with DeepSkyStacker
-combined with MaxIm DL
-preparation with SBIG CCDOPS, PRISM 6
-final processing with PhotoShop CS5


Processing hardware :

-home made Cooler Master HAF-922 computer with Intel Core i7 950
-LaCie 526 26" LCD wide gammut graphic art monitor adjusted with the LaCie Blue Eye PRO color calibrator
-Wacom Intuos4 Medium pen tablet


The link to display the image with the FULL resolution using Zoomify :
http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/M101_Astrograph.html



Enjoy !

Florent :)
________________________________
Florent POIGET-Artist photographer : http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com (http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/)
Deep Sky & West USA photography - Art prints

[atalas]

Nice work.

[Ross G]

Hello Florent,

What an amzing galaxy photo.

Brilliant colours and detail.


Thank you.


Ross.

[Saturn%5]

Very nice shot :thumbsup:

[multiweb]

:eyepop: This is APOD material. Terrific. The absolute best shot I've seen of this object. :bowdown:

[renormalised]

Great piccie!!!!:):)

[alistairsam]

Hi

that looks amazing.
anyone know what the "saturn" like object is to the right of the galaxy, above the bright star?
all the stars have the fainter spike vertical, but this one is horizontal.
were the diffraction spikes added on?
brilliant result nevertheless.

[allan gould]

Beautiful shot of a great galaxy. Superb execution.

[multiweb]

That's a small side-on galaxy just above the star. He's resolved a galaxy a few arc seconds from a bright star. That's how good this shot is (and his optics). The faint vertical line I'd suspect are from the NABG ST-10. The other 4 are from the spider vanes.

[richardo]

Truly an amazing image of this object and would have to go with what Marc has said....
Also the diligence of waiting till weather, time and opportunity has certainly payed off.
This is the way things are I think these days with weather... some images can take up to a year to do them justice as they come around again.

A definite APOD.

Beautifully executed in all respects, everything/ stars and galaxy are crisp and sparkling.. a pleasure to view in full res.

Congrats!

Rich

[Ken]

Wow that is a sharp galaxy well done. I might have to buy a ASA newt or a Wynne corrector for mine. Actually the corrector would stretch my budget but if that is the results then I would find the money.
Clear skies Ken

[desler]

A truly inspirational image Florent!

The data collection and processing must have been a labour of love! To then reveal such a stunningly presented image makes all the time and effort worth while!

Thanks you for sharing.

Darren

[Visionoz]

Florent

Chapeau bas! :thumbsup:

Cheers
Bill

[floastro]

Thank you so much guys for all your replies :thumbsup:

A few answers :

- the small UFO to the right is the PGC49919 galaxy. You can see several other galaxies in the field of view.

- the vertical spikes come from the blooming of my ST-10XME NABG CCD chip (KAF-3200ME).

I research a final image quality for my art prints.

I am very happy with the optics inside my ASA, made by Orion Optics and we can see the differences between the M101 image from my old Meade SCT OTA and taken with my ASA.

Thanks once again, i am very happy you like it ! :)

Warmest Regards,

Florent :)
________________________________
Florent POIGET-Artist photographer : http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com (http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/)
Deep Sky & West USA photography - Art prints

[floastro]

Merci Bill :)

Florent

[Osirisra]

As one fellow in a black suit once did say..."Impressive...most impressive"

Another thumbs up for that being a APOD.

[midnight]

Absolutely beautiful!

Your image is beautifully presented and has elements of being subtle yet sharp in areas it needs to be.

Well done and thanks for sharing.

Darrin...

[Gem]

Stunning!! How faint must some of those galaxies in the background be?? Incredible!

[floastro]

Thank you guys once again.

I don't know if this image is a possible APOD, i am unlucky with APOD, may be they research other kind of images.

Thanks !

Florent :)

[renormalised]

Enter it....I would if I were you. You never know your luck:):)

[Ric]

A wonderful image Florent, you should definitely enter into APOD.

I enjoyed the zoomify version, so crisp and clear and full of lovely details to view.

Cheers

[gregbradley]

A very clear image. Lots of fine detail and it really jumps out of the page.

Greg.

[TrevorW]

Very nice

[Fabiomax]

Wow amazing picture,so deep!!!
Congratulations,
Fabiomax

[FranckiM06]

:eyepop:Whoo, it is fantastic image and so much details
Franck

[floastro]

Thank you very much for your last messages. :thumbsup:

Warmest Regards,

Florent :)

[ngc891]

Just stunning!

[MGTechDVP]

Fantastic image. Well done.

[Jeffkop]

GREAT work Florent ... everything perfectly done ... such a pleasure to view and explore around ... Thanks for showing !!!!

[iceman]

What a beautiful image, Florent. Thanks for the great view.
Nice to see you posting a new image.

It's now IOTW (http://www.iceinspace.com.au).

[floastro]

Thanks all !

Hello Mike, also a pleasure to me to be there and to share with you my deep space or West U.S.A pictures !

Thank you Mike for this picture of the week here on this australian forum. I am very proud.

I just read this same image was picture of the week too on Futura Sciences, a french astronomical & science forum. A great week, i think !:thumbsup:

Thanks once again !

Warmest Regards,

Florent :)

[multiweb]

Bien vu Florent! :thumbsup:

[floastro]

Thank you Marc :)

Florent ;)

[paulF]

wow :eyepop:
Absolute stunner! If this is not APOD material, i don't know what is!

Cheers Florent

[floastro]

Thank you Paul :thumbsup:

I'll see for APOD but not sure for that. Sometimes APOD choices are strange.
My M51 ( http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/M51astrograph2.html ), taken with this same ASA Astrograph, did not have the success from APOD team.

Thanks.

Warmest Regards,

Florent :)