M81/M82 Galaxies in Ursa Major

Well if you've been reading a previous thread of mine re gradients you won't be susprised that this image was coming.

After a whole night of processing and tinkering, I finally got an image I'm 'sort of' happy with. I managed to get rid of the central gradient by using modified flats which I increased the ADU by 15000. Otherwise the flats seemed to overcorrect for the central brightening.

webtreatz.com/component/option,com_zoom/...eNo,10/key,83/hit,1/

17/18 December 2007. Raheny Observatory Dublin. Celestron 80EDF Onyx, ATIK 16HR. LRGB 100:40:40:40 (RGB Binned 2x2) Processing: Images Plus, Maxim DL, CS2

PS almost forgot to mention. I made a dogs dinner of the rotation angle when replacing the camera whilst investigating the cause of the aforementioned gradient. The result is, there is no colour data in the upper left corner! (note the little galaxy up there is mono). I don't think it hurts the image too much though. I was gonna wait till I retook the data but I don't think its worth the hassle.

Opinions?

As the French say...

Incred..eeb..bleh..bleh

Stunning as always Dave.

Dave,

Nice work ... nice to see the h-alpha activity as well as the plumes from M82.

UMa is slowly getting prime for a hit from yours truly as well. If only the damn weather would behave! :evil:

Fantastic image Dave.
Great detail in both the galaxies.

There's some nice red details there Dave, M82 has it particularly strongly.