M51 in living colour.

Heres an image set from last night.

webtreatz.com/component/option,com_zoom/...geNo,7/key,54/hit,1/

Details:
18 February 2007, Raheny Observatory Dublin. 9 x 10 mins in each of R,G and B, ATIK 16HR
Astronomik Type 2 filters and CLS filter.
Autoguided on CGE mount with Guidedog.
10" F/4 Newtonian, Baader coma corrector.
Processed in Images Plus 2.75, PS CS2 and Neat Image Pro.

Sweet Dave, real sweet.

The colours are amazing and the nebulosity around the companion galaxy was captured really well.

Congrats.

Paul

Great detail Dave! I'm guessing that this target would be a difficult one to get perfectly colour balanced as the colour is subtle - unlike M42. I like the way you have captured the active regions in the red channel within the galaxy. Noticed you took 4.5hrs of data on this one! :shock:

It is a great image Dave, as the guys above said. But, I think there is too much purple in there. I know colours can be subjective to what people's own tastes are, but I don't think the 'white' areas should have as much purple! I hope you don't mind this criticism on an otherwise fab image.

Btw, what is the faint streak a little to the right of centre? Looks like a really faint far away object! Have you discovered something, or is it just my lack of knowledge of the area?!

Seanie.

Btw, what is the faint streak a little to the right of centre? Looks like a really faint far away object! Have you discovered something, or is it just my lack of knowledge of the area?!

Seanie. That would be IC4278. A bit distant alright, its a mag 16 galaxy.

As for the colour balance yes your probably right. Its definitely a matter of preference. Until I get to do real G2V colour balancing its always gonna be a guess!

Magnitude 16? Wow, you had some good seeing that night.