M31 from Duckadang - one that nearly got away

[1ponders] (Paul) · #1 14-09-2009, 05:43 PM

One that nearly got away. I was planning on taking 20 or 30 subs with ICNR on this baby. Unfortunately after 10 subs I realized I still had the "B" mask on and I was shooting in Med Jpeg. Yeah yeah I know.

It was a bit of a standing joke amongst some at Duckadang for a while. Some still won't let me live it down.

Anyway I did managed to catch 10 subs, and I took the darks after I finished seeing as daylight was fast approaching (there was a fair bit of cloning to do

to get rid of hot pixels).

WO 72 FD & WO Flat III FR and Flattener (works quite well on this little scope)
10/360sec @ISO400
10 darks
Processed using Images Plus and Photoshop CS3. Basically curves, levels and a few Carboni actions, though these were applied as layers and then the opacity adjusted to suit. I find they can be a bit harsh sometimes.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #2 14-09-2009, 05:57 PM

On this desk top monitor, it looks a bit clipped Paul.
I've really noticed that with the last image I posted.
Will you be capturing more data to replace what you lost??

[1ponders] (Paul) · #3 14-09-2009, 06:12 PM

No I'll replace. It is clipped. I've been back through my processing and one of the Carboni Action (Local Contrast Enhancement) bumped the core up too high. I couldn't be bothered going back through it, but I might reprocess it completely. I do like the amount of contrast that's there with the dust lanes.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #4 14-09-2009, 06:19 PM

this one is a bit better, but there's a slight gradient still to it.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 14-09-2009, 06:22 PM

Looking better.

AlexN · #6 14-09-2009, 06:28 PM

Looks sweet Paul! Looking forward to hitting this target again... Its been 12 months since my last attempt at M31, I dare say I can do better this time around... If I get something even half as good as yours I'll be very pleased!

Paul Haese · #7 14-09-2009, 08:26 PM

That is a really nice image. Well processed and nice stars. Great stuff.

Robh (Rob) · #8 14-09-2009, 08:34 PM

Truly awe-inspiring!

Regards, Rob

alan meehan (Alan) · #9 14-09-2009, 09:53 PM

Hi Paul damn nice shot , i think the second process has done the trick it has also taken away some of the red in the image id be pleased with that one.You wern,t the only galah to leave there "B" mask on i know a couple of nsw men that did the same thing .

Hagar (Doug) · #10 14-09-2009, 10:56 PM

You might have only got 10 subs but it has come out a ripper.

Lovely image, well done.

Spanrz (Brett) · #11 15-09-2009, 10:24 PM

Love it Paul, awesome for what you got... But the story that goes with it, makes it even better....

[1ponders] (Paul) · #12 16-09-2009, 09:34 AM

Thanks again guys. I'm hoping next week to cut down a big old wattle in my front yard. Once that's done I'm going to Christen the new sky view by redoing this image with the preferred number of subs.

Octane (Humayun) · #13 08-10-2009, 11:22 PM

Paul,

Second image is a ripper.

Regards,
Humayun