M81 and M82 Galaxies - 8 Hours of Processing!!!

Over the past couple of days I faced what I think is my biggest challenge, the processing of my data for M81 and M82, my usual processing would not work, I just could not get the pair of galaxies to come out right at all! So after hours upon hours of going back to original and starting all over again, someone suggested to use PixInsight, so after 8 hours of learning (which it felt like I was back to 8-9 years ago) I finally processed them using PixInsight

Image Details
29x300S in LRGB
17x600S in 7nm HA
25 Darks and 25 Flats applied

Equipment Details:
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ8 Pro
Imaging Scope: Sky-Watcher Quattro 8-CF 8" Newtonian F4
Imaging Camera: Atik Cameras 383L+
Guide Scope: Celestron Telescopes C80ED
Guide Camera: Qhyccd QHY5L-II
Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Ltd 7x36mm
Filters: Baader Planetarium LRGB+HA 36mm Unmounted

Proccessing:
Stacking and Combining: Maxim DL
Processing: PixInsight 1.8 x64

The images were taken over a number of nights since the beginning of december and totals 12.5 Hours of exposure time

M81 and M82 Galaxies LRGB+HA by Simon Todd , on Flickr

Enjoy

A real beauty Simon. Great processing!.....welcome to the world of PixInsight....a really amazing piece of software and well worth the effort to get familiar with it.

Thanks Brendan

I think I'll be re-visiting some of my previous images like M33 with PixInsight

You have me looking for other galaxies again in this spectacular image, Simon.
Maybe this time I can make out 4 or 5!
Wonderful!

Perhaps it is high time I observed M81 and M82.

Aubrey.

Hi Simon,

Beautiful photo, very well done! I used to rely on photoshop and other bits of software but 3 years ago converted to PIXINSIGHT. Now, I don't bother with anything else, PI does the whole lot for me. I recommend you check out the video tutorials on Harry's Astroshed, this is a great resource to start with.

I have compiled a workflow document based on various experiences, books, youtube videos, etc. If you would like a copy of this to help you get up to speed quicker, just PM your email address & I can send it on to you.


Clear skies


Dave