M51

I took this with a C14, ST2000XCM, Optec compensating focuser, and Optec .5 reducer yielding about f5.5. It is a stack of eight 15 minute exposures. I applied cool pixel and hot pixel filters, and then averaged and color converted using CCDOPS. For this first image, I did some processing with Photoshop: curves to bring out the dimmer details and levels correct the black point.

Attached Image:

Here's the same image processed a bit differently to emphasize the nebulosity. I used curves in PS to bring out the detail, levels to keep it quite bright and show the nebulosity. I then used Neat Image to remove noise, increased the contrast and tweaked the levels again.

Attached Image:

Wow, you see detail right into the core!
I have an SBig 2000XM. Excuse my ignorance but can you stack and align images in CCDOPs?

Also can you do a colour combine using it?

I suppose I should read the manual more carefully. I have a number of images I have taken but haven't processed any. A little job for today!

The cold and hot pixel filters are in CCDSoft?

Greg.