Hi folks
Really wasn't sure whether I wanted to post this. It's my first go editing the data, but because of the data quality, I'll probably be spending weeks playing around with it.
This was taken on a recent trip to the UK on the one clear night I had in a B2/3 zone. Unfortunately, the moon was nearly full and Andromeda was very close to the moon as well, which resulted in some of the worst gradients I've ever dealt with. For quite a while I considered junking this data but then stumbled across a new program called GraXpert which is a standalone program used to kill complex gradients. I found it similar in operation to PixInsights DBE/ABE but far, far, far more accurate and it gave me decent results.
Anyway, here's my first ever:
1. shot of Andromeda.. Life goal achieved!
2. use of the ASKAR FRA400. Bought over a year ago, never used it.. yikes.
3. use of the ASI Air Plus in the field. Bought in March, never used it!
4. use of GraXpert, which is just awesome. Without it, I would have chucked all this data out.
The AM5 was a great mount to take overseas; it fit in my suitcase in it's own padded and secure case and performed excellently.
The shot is built from 73 x 120s images and 30 x 180s images (just tested the latter to see if there was any difference... there wasn't!).
38 flats (junked a few) and 100 bias.
All with the ZWO ASI2600MC at gain 100. I'd like to revisit this one day with my mono camera and try to get some Ha data.
Astrobin link
Seriously though, it must be great being able to shoot such a northern target.
Man, imagine seeing that arc from 3 hours of data with a colour camera in full moon 
and if you've used DBE in PixInsight, it's very similar to that but seems to do a better job.
...me too...one day...
