M31 - Lots of firsts

First light with a new camera combination and the first image in several months. First image in LRGB. First time using an Off Axis Guider so all in all a bit of a learning curve in capture and processing. A few rogue hot pixel trails and still a bit of a gradient but very pleased with the way the new camera/filter wheel and guider performed. Roll on a few more dark clear nights.

EQ6Pro/FSQ85 7 x 300sec each LRGB Atik383L+/EFW2 Baader LRGB 2"/OAG(lodestar) guided PHD, captured with Artemis Capture, processed PixInsight (Darks,Flats,Bias)

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wow! Stunning! You got so much detail in the arms, and outer regions. One of the better ones I've seen. Certainly better than my attempts.

What a picture.......excellen​t job!

Man, that's beautiful!!

So freakin' cool!!!

I'm really glad I don't know what all those gadgets you mention are. This seems like an expensive photographic road to go down.

Amazing photo, but I have to confess I have no idea what any of the stuff in your list of gear is. It's so foreign to me I'm not even sure it's what you used.

Absolutely fantastic image there!
By the way, are you using an astro webcam to capture the actual images? I ask because you mention LRGB.

excellant image so far!- by the gradient, are you referring to the blueish cast i see on my monitor?

That must have been stressful, having that fun stuff sitting there waiting. It looks like it was worth it though. I like how you've processed it to have a DSO in a rich field of nice tight stars.
Well done.

Steve.

Very very nice!

I guess I'll buy myself an autoguider as well

Absolutely GORGEOUS!!!

Nice image! those Takahashi scopes are awesome!

chris.bailey wrote in post #13181132
EQ6Pro/FSQ85 7 x 300sec each LRGB Atik383L+/EFW2 Baader LRGB 2"/OAG(lodestar) guided PHD, captured with Artemis Capture, processed PixInsight (Darks,Flats,Bias)

Here's the gear list 'translated' for those who want to know.


EQ6Pro/FSQ85 = tripod/telescope

7 x 300sec each = picture x exposure time

LRGB Atik383L+/EFW2 Baader = sensor type and the filters used; most likely photographed seperately and merged in post.

LRGB 2"/OAG(lodestar) guided PHD = used to keep main telescope precisely on a target.

captured with Artemis Capture = program used to control sensor and capture images with

processed PixInsight (Darks,Flats,Bias) = post production stuff

I hope I got that right, heheh!

Thanks all, yes RAWUser that is the translation, perhaps worth adding that the OAG (Off Axis Guider) is a small prism that picks off light from the edge of the light circle and that light is fed up to a second camera that is connected to the mount to issue guide instructions that keep the main camera on target at a sub pixel level.

Spit - yes, the original image had a strong gradient caused by Light Pollution, I just have not completely killed it.

NaddieUK - yes, on this occasion it was a B&W camera, cooled to -20 with images taked through clear, red, green, and blue filters. These are then assembled afterwards to produce the RGB image.

Steve - yes it has been very frustrating but the cloud gods have not been very friendly of late.

Added another hour or so of data to it last night which has allowed a better colour rendition and killed off the residual gradient. Aiming for an hour or so in each channel so a bit more yet.

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