Thanks for all the encouraging comments
There have been a number of threads here recently discussing the merits of very large data sets with lots of subs as an approach to maximise SNR. I have attempted to follow suit with my imaging projects, using sub times that deliver the maximum SNR for the given temperature (on an individual sub basis - see
here and
here for the procedure) and then acquiring LOTS of dithered subs, before then tinkering with the integration parameters in PI to optimise FWHM of the final image. I actually acquired more than 20hours worth of subs on this one, however many were compromised by poor focus (I still don't have auto-focus setup properly yet) and poor seeing. Nonetheless having so many subs meant that I could further optimise the subs used.
I had hoped to be able to show more of the extended outer halo - the regions circled below - however as I mentioned in the original post I think (given what I have shown here with over 200 subs and dark rural skies) that the gains from additional subs to reveal more of these areas would be incremental at best given the limitations of a broadband 12bit OSC DSLR. Looking at other examples online, I suspect that a LRBG + Ha/NII + OIII would be the required approach to reveal more of these regions.
