M31

Hello again,

I got around to adding the color data to my M31 luminance as depicted in the "works in progress" thread. So here's my "probably close to but not quite final" version (it'll probably get subjected to more tweaks some day).

Takahashi FSQ-106
Takahashi EM200 Temma Mount
SBIG STL-6303 camera
Astrodon filters

L: 26 * 3 minutes
R: 24 * 5 minutes
G: 24 * 5 minutes
B: 24 * 5 minutes

All shots binned 1x1

Captured and pre-processed in Maxim DL. Post-processed in Photoshop CS.

Enjoy,
Eric

Attached Image:

Eric,
Nice Image! I think I prefer a little less blue in M31 than you have in this image, but the star colors are great , so maybe it's just me.

It is interesting that M31 mostly gets framed as you have done it rather than a more conventional "North up" framing.

Wow!! That is SWEEEEEET!

I think you're there! Great image.
Larry

Excellent! 8)
Definitely a keeper Enrico!

Keep up the great work!

Very nice!

Tom

Great work Eric !!

A truly marvellous M31 Enrico!

Congratulazioni!

Luca

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone!

Jim, one thing that drives me crazy going from a really nice TIF to JPEG is the loss in color and saturation. The galaxy got slightly desaturated and also had a slight hue shift when I converted to JPEG. I could only guesstimate changes in IrFanView to get the JPEG slightly closer to the TIFF.

That said, the blue shift did bug me somewhat. Here is a less blue representation.

This depiction of the galaxy is a "classic" pose to me - most books on astronomy that have this galaxy on their covers more often than not show it at this angle. I guess I wanted my own version of this pose

Eric

Attached Image:

Very nice image Enrico. I'm using an ST2000XM and I'm curious to know how you manage to keep the center of the galaxy from burning out. You have detail right to the core. I get a big burned out blob. Suggestions appreciated.

Scott Busby
"reconair"