M51 from Pier 8

Good evening Simon, 

Exquisite image. Reminds me of the one that won APOTY back in 2012 taken by Martin Pugh. When I saw it back then it became my ambition  to eventually image M51, one of my favourite galaxies, as near as possible to that photo. Never ever had the equipment to do so alas, or sky conditions. You've got as close as I would have ever liked to have got to already, and I'm sure you're not finished yet. Maybe some more processing and/or imaging time? I'd quit there if I ever got that far. Lol. 

Made my evening seeing that. 

Cheers, 
Ray 

Good evening Simon, 

Exquisite image. Reminds me of the one that won APOTY back in 2012 taken by Martin Pugh. When I saw it back then it became my ambition  to eventually image M51, one of my favourite galaxies, as near as possible to that photo. Never ever had the equipment to do so alas, or sky conditions. You've got as close as I would have ever liked to have got to already, and I'm sure you're not finished yet. Maybe some more processing and/or imaging time? I'd quit there if I ever got that far. Lol. 

Made my evening seeing that. 

Cheers, 
Ray 

Ray,


You are too kind! I am really grateful for your support, I have never done an image that made someone's evening before! Thank you! I do hope you are ok and managing well, and that the coming days will give you some more data to look at, as the team get back from Spain. I think there may be some more on the way soon. Take care. Simon

Hi Simon,

I'm a hoarder and was able to rummage around and find the Sky at Night (other magazines are available) 2013 calendar, which displays the winning entry on the front cover. That image was actually taken using a Planewave 17 inch scope and Apogee CCD camera. I believe those cameras are relatively expensive as well. Given the equipment comparison, the image you were able to skilfully extract from the data, is awesome. This image in particular, plus so many other great ones so early on, have fully justified the decision I took recently. The equipment is all there (very nearly), the skies (hopefully) far more astro-friendly, just need time to improve my understanding of the software.

The only fly in the ointment as it were, are the shenanigans of a certain "Noel Skum", who is determined to fill the skies with those annoying little things that right now occasionally streak through our images. Permission to allow up to 42,000 of those things! Cheap and improved internet access for all, don't make me laugh. End of political statement. It's going to come to a time though when wishing someone "clear skies" will be pointless.

Take care and have a great weekend, and for now, clear skies...

Ray

Cool image Simon

The camera was a FLI ML8300 binned 3x3 and was just a temporary fit while its ML11002 was being serviced at FLI in the USA

Steve

Cheers Steve, does this mean you are all back safe and sound!? I hope so. I appreciate you liking the image too.


Simon

[size=100]Thanks Ray for letting me know all of that - it is great you kept the magazine and so forth. Yes it is so disappointing that 'you know who' is doing what he is doing - out of protest we might all stop wearing musk... not that I wore it anyway, but you know what I mean! Stay safe and have a good few days. I hope to do some imaging from home tomorrow as the weather is set to improve, down here on the south coast.


Simon   :   )


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Now that is nice!

[size=100]Thanks a lot Mark, I appreciate your kind comment and your images too! Simon[/size]

This is so awesome Simon! Superb! 

Thanks so much for your kind words! It takes some effort this processing... but we keep trying! All the best. Simon