M51 and first autoguide attempt

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to share results from my first auto-guided attempt from last night.

Target was M51 and I managed to grab 10 X 100sec, 5 X 60sec and 2 X 180sec at ISO800 and the same quantity of subs in Dark Frames - before the cold got the better of me Subs were stacked in DSS and tweaked in Photoshop CS6.

I am reasonably pleased with the image of M51 based on relatively few short subs, but I'm not bowled over with the star shapes. I am using an f4 Skywatcher Quattro 8s Newtonian, so I thought the egg shaped stars might have been attributed to Coma. However, after scanning through individual subs I noted that the stars are round in some, and no so in others so definitely something amiss with my alignment?

Also I did a drift align at the start of the session using BackyardEOS and didn't perceive and RA drift after 300 seconds, but I think I may have rushed the DEC drift a bit?

Any feedback/comments/suggestions welcome.




Another attempt at post-processing, this time eased back on Black Cut-off in levels, definately more wispy-ness visible around Galaxy

Equipment:

Skywatcher Quattro 8s f4 with Orion Accufocus (Scope Collimated with Catseye XLK and BlackCat tools)
Meade LXD75 Mount
Canon 1000D modified
Astronomik CLS Clip Filter
Skywatcher Coma Corrector
Modified 8X50 Finder Guidescope
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
PHD Guiding
BackyardEos
Subs Stacked and pre-processed in Deep Sky Stacker
Post-processing done in Photoshop CS6

Location: Lucan Co. Dublin

Regards,

Neil

i think the slightly green colour is the Astronomik CLS Clip Filter
i use the idas lps p2 filter its double the price but better natural
colour i think the first one is better

I think so too.
The first one has a better colour about it
Unusual to see such an expansive fov for this target, make for a nice change.

I don't know much about the technology and techniques of astro photography - but i think they are nice images. I also agree that the wider field of view shot is impressive

Many thanks to all for looking, and for your comments.

Yes I agree, no.2 looks a bit greenish/noisy. I am using a modded 1000D, and I have read from other forums that this type of modded DSLR used in conjunction with the Astronomik CLS should provide well balanced colour? I think the greenish hue could be attributed to my heavyhanded use of the levels sliders in PhotoShop

I'm going to stick to this target for my next attempt, and go for longer Guided Subs c.5mins to see if I can grasp more detail/colour, i'll also do some flats and spend more time getting my initial drift align correct.

Also, forgot to mention that there was a bit of vignetting present on the pre-processed .tif coming out of DeepSky Stacker.



I used the GradientExterminator Plugin for Photohsop, and I think it did a fairly good job of removing it?

Cheers.

Very nice Neil. Just wondering was it a windy night? That may have caused the oval stars in some subs and not in others. Thats a nice fast scope you have there.