Extreme imaging - M101 - 7 degrees above horizon

[RobF (Rob)]

On Sat/Sun night at Leyburn I was able to catch some images of the remaining 4 Messier objects that just creep above our horizon here at 27.5 degrees South latitude that I haven't imaged to date. I've been particularly keen to have a go at the magnificent M101 galaxy, and was fortunate to get some LRGB data while it sat at about 7 degrees for 30mins. I binned on the first night as the scope laboured through a gusty breeze, but Sun night was calm allowing a few longer Lum subs.

The master stacked image was of course heavily skewed to reds (like a sunset) but a little colour has come through in the end. Yay....
I think I'm allowed a bit of leeway for the Lum and chrominance noise coming through in the background all things considered.

LRGB 24:12:15:12 (mostly 3min subs binned x2 LRGB with 3 additional 5min unbinned lum frames) through the 8" Newt/MPCC/QHY9 etc

[Phil Hart]

lol.. nice effort Rob. how many years have you been waiting for that?!

[adman (Adam)]

I notice you have now changed your description....

[Stevec35 (Steve)]

That's an incredibly good result for that altitude above the horizon Rob! Would love to do this one myself some day but I would have to go a lot farther north.

Cheers

Steve

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Well nabbed young man.

[TrevorW]

7 degrees above the horizon well let me see, I can see maybe my neighbour's roof, well captured

[astroron (Ron)]

Well Done Rob.
Well there goes one of your reasons to come to Cambroon in the future as you have imaged it at last

[Leonardo70 (Leonardo Orazi)]

Hi Rob,

it's interesting to see you to make objects that for me are at the zenith .... gives me the feeling of how far we are .... just as I envy you (in a good way of course) for all objects that are not visible from here.

This galaxy is hard to do well in good position, I really like your photo.

Regards,
Leo

[RobF (Rob)]

Thanks everyone. I should have explained the horizontal eggy stars are due to the gusts from the 5-20knots breeze that stayed about until sun-up.

Originally Posted by philiphart

lol.. nice effort Rob. how many years have you been waiting for that?!

Thanks Phil - best part is I won't have to explain to people at star parties why my scope is horizontal with the camera clicking!!
I'm sure you thought I'd lost it at Wiruna - BUT I did glimse it for 30secs before it went behind a bush. Honestly!
Actually Astroplanner is to blame - ever since I plugged in my location and it said I could theroretically see M40, 101, 108 and 109 at right time and time of year I've wondered if it would really be possible. I hadn't expected cloud and thunderstorms to let me on the night, so pleased to cross it off the hitlist.

Originally Posted by adman

I notice you have now changed your description....

Thanks Adam - we'll, i have been waitin' a while....
Only trouble now is when I look back at all the Messier pics I cut my imaging teeth on, I know I could do a whole better now - albeit after spending a lot longer on each object in most cases. Still, we're always better with a challenge in a hobby....

Originally Posted by Stevec35

That's an incredibly good result for that altitude above the horizon Rob! Would love to do this one myself some day but I would have to go a lot farther north.

Cheers

Steve

Its harder than you think getting a good N horizon Steve, let alone being at a dark site the right time of year with no clouds. Hope you get a go - Darwin probably best bet from Oz really.

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Well nabbed young man.

Young man? Where?!

Originally Posted by TrevorW

7 degrees above the horizon well let me see, I can see maybe my neighbour's roof, well captured

Me too Trevor - not to mention the trees and streetlight in front of the city glow...

Originally Posted by astroron

Well Done Rob.
Well there goes one of your reasons to come to Cambroon in the future as you have imaged it at last

Nah Ron, I hardly need an excuse to come to Cambroon. I just had itchy feet to travel around a bit. The Leyburn guys actually said they haven't had a decent new moon Sat for 9 months, so I was very lucky all things said and done.

Originally Posted by Leonardo70

Hi Rob,

it's interesting to see you to make objects that for me are at the zenith .... gives me the feeling of how far we are .... just as I envy you (in a good way of course) for all objects that are not visible from here.

This galaxy is hard to do well in good position, I really like your photo.

Regards,
Leo

Its always frustrated me there are goodies we never see from here Leo, and I"m sure you feel the same way. Keep you wonderful pics coming though we can drool and daydream about what's over the horizon