Another M83 ... a start

[Doogs38 (Alex)]

Yep, another M83 - sorry! This is a work-in-progress and I'll collect another 3-5hrs OSC data and leave it at that until next year. This has had an only quick whip through PI and PS. Sharing for fun. Alex

Edge HD 8" with 0.7 R, ASI533MC, Antlia RGB Ultra filter
36 x 300s (3hrs)
PI, PS

Edit: I think I need to have another go at the colour!

[oska (John)]

Nice one mate, that's one serious "start", well done!

[csajal (Sajal Chakrabor)]

This is amazing!! So, is the 3-5 hr of data collected in one night or spread across multiple nights?

[carlstronomy (Carl)]

Really nice image, the extra data will make it pop!

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Very nicely done, Alex. I like it.

[Doogs38 (Alex)]

Thanks John. I got another 4hrs last night and will integrate it with the other 3hrs at some stage this week ;-)

Hi Sajal. The final image will be two nights of OSC data; nearly 7hrs total. I've been using an Antlia RGB Ultra (triband) filter which is a 'wide narrowband' filter - kinda like a UHC filter but with much narrower bands - that does a great job of highlighting detail in galaxies and nebula for astroimagery (and is pretty good under a bright moon too). It's not as good as a true (dual) narrowband filter but it's not intended to be.

Thanks Carl. It's been a week of good astro weather.

Alex

[Dave882 (David)]

That’s a brilliant shot mate! Already bringing out so much detail I’m sure the extra integration will help smooth things out a bit more. Can’t wait to see the final!!
I’ve been considering that RGB filter as well. I looked at the graphs and it seems the UHC is very similar except for a lack of a blue-pass region. Not sure how much difference that makes when you do a colour balance. My local LP is giving me many headaches at the moment

[xelasnave]

That is a wonderful image Alex ...near perfect.
Alex

[Doogs38 (Alex)]

Thanks Dave and Alex.

An updated image, now using the full 7hrs of OSC data. A quick integration in APP then tweaked in PI (NoiseX and BlurX) and PS (Nik Tools), just to see how it looks. I love the yellow central bar and the magenta a blue arms. That said, I'll be re-doing the integration (using WBPP) and processing in PI as I find its tools allow me to bring out more detail.

Dave - the biggest diff between the Antlia RGB Ultra and other UHC-ish filters (like my Baader, for example) is: I don't get filter-induced halos with the Antlia. But as you say, once you start balancing/enhancing colours there's probably not too much in it, but having a little more blue data can't be a bad thing :-). Also, I'm in a B5 zone (Brisbane burbs) and the Antlia does a reasonable job of suppressing my moderate LP if I steer clear of the BrisVegas lightdome. Alex

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Those extra hours of data make all the difference, Alex. There's a lot more colour when compared to your first image.

I have an M83 image with only 1 hour of photon collection, and it looks very poor in comparison. Once we get some clear skies down here I could be tempted to get more data...

Cheers,
V

[oska (John)]

WOW mate! The extra data sure brought it to another level. Superb!

[Doogs38 (Alex)]

Final image integrated and processed in PI (and one tweak in PS). I'm gunna chuck this one into the Big Boys/Gals forum, my first post there. Alex