Messier 83 (Southern Pinwheel galaxy)

[RobF]

While sifting back through data recently I realised I had quite a bit more M83 data from multiple sessions earlier this year then I thought. The colour frames were all collected unbinned, and there were a pretty a good selection of both 5 and 10min lum subs to warrant spending time on the processing. I've aimed to bring out the fascinating dust lanes and the Ha highlights (even though there is no pure Ha in here). Some of the colour subs were lost to poorish tracking unfortunately, ending up with:

8x5min Lum + 4x10min Lum
3x5min Red
4x5min Green
4x5mins Blue

Total LRGB exposure times: 80:15:20:20 (all unbinned)

All with the usual QHY9/MPCC/8" rig.
Thanks for looking...

[astroron]

Nicely done Rob, Like it a lot :D

[RobF]

Glad you liked Ron :hi:

[bmitchell82]

Detail looks good there rob but i dunno your blue channel seems to be really vibrant you might have pushed it a little hard over all but thats just my opinion and if you like it like that :) another cracker by the time you actually get to take new data youll be a processing genius

[Alchemy]

Even without a Ha channel, it stands out nicely

[Stevec35]

That's a pleasing M83 Rob. I like the wide version best.

Cheers

Steve

[gregbradley]

I agree a very nice M83 and the widefield looks best and I like your processing.

In the close up there are some subs you've used that had some tracking errors that have affected the shapes of the stars but the widefield version you can't notice that at all.

Your filters must have good Ha response to pick up that much of the Ha in just LRGB.

Greg.

[Lester]

I like the view Rob, thanks.

[TrevorW]

Nice I like the widefield the best but the diffraction spikes stand out to much IMO on the larger stars

[midnight]

Very nice Rob. Presentation is lovelly.

Darrin...

[RobF]

Yes, I tried quite a while to get the outer arms looking less blue Brendan. There are 3 nights worth of data here of which only one was from dark skies and unfortunately time and weather didn't allow RGB collection, so perhaps I haven't tamed the colour cast from the pollution filter well enough. Hopefully will get more data for it in the future. All too often I'm happy to move on to another object rather than keep pushing a single project. Also depends a lot on family and horizon limitations too :)



Thanks Clive - was a surprise for me too. Red sat has been pushed a bit mind you.



Fair call Steve - I like to include a 2nd zoomed image where a link to a hi-res picture isn't given otherwise the 200kb jpg limit can be brutal to fine detail. Think I've pushed in further than need be here though and shown up some things that might better have been concealed ;)



Good call on the RGB Greg. I certainly do need a decent number of subs to get the noise down AND help tame any minor tracking variations (which isn't the way it's normally supposed to work of course). I guess it's a bit of hallmark for my rig and techniques used. I wouldn't have stopped at only 3 R,G and B by choice. I actually hummed and hah'ed quite a bit about doing separate star processing. Theoretically I could have deconvolved or minimsed/eroded the stars to a more regular and circular shape as required, but in the end it didn't seem "honest". After all, the fine galaxy detail is also effected by the blur from my focuser and tracking. BTW, it's fascinating the modelling routine in Star Tools almost exactly predicts my overall star shape from the focuser overhang I have, mirror clips and secondary support vanes. I just don't want to start messing with it all unless I have stacks of time up my sleeve which is rarely the case.

I'm still using the "Orange Bright" filters that QHY9 supplies and really don't have anything else to judge against. Is it unusual to get that much Ha in red?



Cheers Lester :)



Thanks Trevor. I love diffraction spikes, but then I'm a true "reflector nerd" too I guess :P



Thanks for commenting Darrin :thanx:

[trent_julie]

Rob the widefield looks stunning, keep it up

Trent

[RobF]

Thanks Trent :D

[CoolhandJo]

Nice one - agree re the widefield best. :)

[batema]

Great Job Rob and I loved the Messier Catalogue. Well done.

Mark

[Ross G]

Great photos Rob,

Great detail, great colour and very sharp.

I love your composition of the wide shot. It really makes it stand out.

Thanks.

Ross.

[RobF]

Thanks again guys. Funny part is I thought a fresh rendition of M83 had escaped me this year, so another bonus image salvaged "from the vaults" :)

[RickS]

Rob,

At least there is an upside to the broken camera. You've found a few gems you might have missed otherwise :D

Cheers,
Rick.

[RobF]

Yes Rick - have been a bit busy and using PI for the majority of the workflow creates a bit of a bottleneck for me such that I rarely get straight into processing things. Theo has sent it back today so hopefully will have it soon + perfect clear skies...;)

[Zubenel]

Good one Rob. How's the "twins" at 3:30. cool

[RobF]

Thanks Wes - I was really pleased that there's just a bit of detail starting to show up for those two. Gave me a smile :)