Still Giving It A Go: I am still working on M31 as it is one of my few available targets. This was 192 subs taken with Nikon 800e and Orion 8 inch, F/3.9 Astrograph on Atlas Pro mount.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

I am still working on M31 as it is one of my few available targets. This was 192 subs taken with Nikon 800e and Orion 8 inch, F/3.9 Astrograph on Atlas Pro mount. Supporting files, 200 flats, 100 bias, and 50 darks. I used two nights to accumulate close to 5 hours of signal. Still not there yet but in this case - the moon was lighting up the heavens and that played a role in screwing with the data....IR/UV, LP, filters help but nothing can stop the moon. Some pretty decent skies are promised through Wed - hoping I can get out some of those nights. The Pinwheel is moving into my FOV. I need a target change!

(Download)

twowindsbear

WOW! Looks like a shot from the Hubble

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Beautiful, Ed!

While your targets may be limited, you do excellent with what you get.

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

Really nice, I've been doing some shooting at this too, but nowhere close to what you have, I'm still chasing you.

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

nikonshooter wrote:

I am still working on M31 as it is one of my few a... (show quote)

Now you've done it Ed.
I have clear skies, a decent alignment and 2 hours before the moon comes over the mountains.
I am shooting 180 seconds with my Canon 7D and the slightly wonky Newtonian. I plan to shot darks and try to stack but I bet it won't look like yours. The singles look pretty good though.

I really like what you are pulling.
Kudos and bows my friend.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

nikonshooter wrote:

I am still working on M31 as it is one of my few a... (show quote)

Excellent work nikonshooter

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

Extremely nice image, you did very well in not blowing out the core while preserving the vast amount of detail contained in the outer spiral arms.

Are you adding all your older images of this target to improve your SNR, just curious because it seems fairly low. Not sure adding all the frames would help much in pulling out more data, but the theory as I understand is that the more frames used the greater the signal to noise ratio.

Very well done, Ed
Matthew

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Albuqshutterbug wrote:

Now you've done it Ed.
I have clear skies, a decent alignment and 2 hours before the moon comes over the mountains.
I am shooting 180 seconds with my Canon 7D and the slightly wonky Newtonian. I plan to shot darks and try to stack but I bet it won't look like yours. The singles look pretty good though.

I really like what you are pulling.
Kudos and bows my friend.

I am imaging all of the time and getting good data doesn't always come easy. What seems like a perfect sky often delivers so so info and visa versa. Keep trying. Processing images AFTER capture in PS or other post software is where the "pop" for most of my images comes from. Often it is there....you just have to dig it out. But, as in all hobbies, the fun is in the "trying."

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

nikonshooter wrote:

I am still working on M31 as it is one of my few a... (show quote)

Nicely done Ed.
Craig

seemore_Stars

Very nice Ed.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

steveNovice wrote:

Very nice Ed.

I added another 66 subs to this image - so far the obvious is ...the more data the betta. But - at some point the laws of diminishing returns will set in.....but my computer may slow to a crawl first. Didn't do the math but I think that is 305 subs in all.

(Download)

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

nikonshooter wrote:

I added another 66 subs to this image - so far the obvious is ...the more data the betta. But - at some point the laws of diminishing returns will set in.....but my computer may slow to a crawl first. Didn't do the math but I think that is 305 subs in all.

Now that is a great shot Ed.
Craig

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

CraigFair wrote:

Now that is a great shot Ed.
Craig

Tks all!

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

nikonshooter wrote:

I added another 66 subs to this image - so far the obvious is ...the more data the betta. But - at some point the laws of diminishing returns will set in.....but my computer may slow to a crawl first. Didn't do the math but I think that is 305 subs in all.

Way to cool.
Mine look like Bantha boodoo.. lol..