M81 & M82

I have set the scope up and all is working well, One piece however was sent incorrectly, a critical piece to the optical train, Sky-Watcher manufacture a dedicated field flattener for the ED100. Unfortunately the one sent was for the Equinox 100 refractor. 

5 Hours total integration time in 3 minute sub frames calibrated and integrated in Deep SkyStacker. A very smooth result showing incredible detail in Ha from the cigar starburst galaxy. Estimated to be 100 times more luminous than our own Milky Way. 

It's incredible amount of star birth is though to have started with interaction with M81 in the distant past. 

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Who remembers the type1a supernova observed in 2014. I was lucky enough to capture it. I believe also it was the closest type 1a recorder in the last 40 years.

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5 hours processed M81,M82

I am getting to grips with the Starlight Express camera from using the DSLR. This is the first time I have captured 5 hours worth of data. Registered in Maxim DL and processed in Images plus. (Pixinsight trial ended the other day). I know I will revit the processing workflow for this one but here it is at present.

Old favourites

The new set up is better than I would have hoped. Shame the skies have not been so cooperative. However last friday was beautifully clear. I wanted to capture and old favourite a target I was familiar with to put the scope & camera to the test. Guiding was absolutely flawless, sub pixel guiding for ever 3 hours. Captured in 5 minute subs these are the hugely cropped images of M81 & M82 processed in pixinsight by fellow blogger Andrew. It was amazing to see the workflow used by Andrew to pull out the detail in the pair of galaxies. I have also darkened the sky background.

I have a small issue with hot pixels which will be addressed, but I just wanted to get some photons on that CCD. I also have a William Optics 50 mm finder scope which other astrophotographers have used their guider. I think I will have a go and use the GT81 with the 40D Canon. I hope you liking the first results.