M101 Final Process OSC+Ha

[Juno16]

Yes, this is the final version of M101 (well, for now anyway) ! ! ! ! !

I have been working with the data from the 7.5 hours of broadband combined with 4.5 hours of Ha (derived from the R channel using the L-eNhance). See thread viewtopic.php?f=66&t=18131&p=151237&hilit=m101#p151237

Sounds like a lot of integration time (it is considering that I only get a few nice nights a month), but integration time is no match for Bortle 7-8 skies. I would really like 2x the data.

Graeme and Greenman (Tony) pointed out that the OSC+Ha process (12 hours) that I posted looked a bit softer than the original 7.5 hours of broadband OSC data and they were right.

I reworked the whole process from the beginning. Used the Pixinsight NBRGB script to combine the data and ended up with a cleaner version.

I used Pixelmath to combine both the first 7.5 OSC process and the new OCS+Ha process.

A few tweaks in Adobe Camera Raw finished it off.

A bit noisy, sure.
Over-saturated, oh yeah.
Over it, definitely!
Over it for now anyway. I have already thought about another approach!

Yes, the colors are a bit bold and I am sure will not appeal to everyone. The Ha areas definitely stand out and the image looks as sharp as the original.

Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I am good with it for now.

Thanks for looking and comments welcome!

Original OSC (Broadband) image 7.5 hours integration

Final OSC+Ha image 12 hours total integration

[Larry 1969]

I like them both Jim!
I find M101 tough to process... I thought it would be fairly easy but noooooo.....

Larry

[Juno16]

I like them both Jim!
I find M101 tough to process... I thought it would be fairly easy but noooooo.....

Larry

Thanks Larry. Yes, M101 isn’t an easy process for me at all.

The low surface brightness makes for processing struggles.

Still would like to get more time on it though.

[notFritzArgelander]

Yes, this is the final version of M101 (well, for now anyway) ! ! ! ! !

I have been working with the data from the 7.5 hours of broadband combined with 4.5 hours of Ha (derived from the R channel using the L-eNhance). See thread viewtopic.php?f=66&t=18131&p=151237&hilit=m101#p151237

Sounds like a lot of integration time (it is considering that I only get a few nice nights a month), but integration time is no match for Bortle 7-8 skies. I would really like 2x the data.

Graeme and Greenman (Tony) pointed out that the OSC+Ha process (12 hours) that I posted looked a bit softer than the original 7.5 hours of broadband OSC data and they were right.

I reworked the whole process from the beginning. Used the Pixinsight NBRGB script to combine the data and ended up with a cleaner version.

I used Pixelmath to combine both the first 7.5 OSC process and the new OCS+Ha process.

A few tweaks in Adobe Camera Raw finished it off.

A bit noisy, sure.
Over-saturated, oh yeah.
Over it, definitely!
Over it for now anyway. I have already thought about another approach!

Yes, the colors are a bit bold and I am sure will not appeal to everyone. The Ha areas definitely stand out and the image looks as sharp as the original.

Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I am good with it for now.

Thanks for looking and comments welcome!

Original OSC (Broadband) image 7.5 hours integration





Final OSC+Ha image 12 hours total integration

I really like these two images. The OSC+Ha edges out the other in this pairing, though. I think the Ha makes it pop a little more crisply.

[messier 111]

nice work , thx .

[Juno16]

Yes, this is the final version of M101 (well, for now anyway) ! ! ! ! !

I have been working with the data from the 7.5 hours of broadband combined with 4.5 hours of Ha (derived from the R channel using the L-eNhance). See thread viewtopic.php?f=66&t=18131&p=151237&hilit=m101#p151237

Sounds like a lot of integration time (it is considering that I only get a few nice nights a month), but integration time is no match for Bortle 7-8 skies. I would really like 2x the data.

Graeme and Greenman (Tony) pointed out that the OSC+Ha process (12 hours) that I posted looked a bit softer than the original 7.5 hours of broadband OSC data and they were right.

I reworked the whole process from the beginning. Used the Pixinsight NBRGB script to combine the data and ended up with a cleaner version.

I used Pixelmath to combine both the first 7.5 OSC process and the new OCS+Ha process.

A few tweaks in Adobe Camera Raw finished it off.

A bit noisy, sure.
Over-saturated, oh yeah.
Over it, definitely!
Over it for now anyway. I have already thought about another approach!

Yes, the colors are a bit bold and I am sure will not appeal to everyone. The Ha areas definitely stand out and the image looks as sharp as the original.

Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I am good with it for now.

Thanks for looking and comments welcome!

Original OSC (Broadband) image 7.5 hours integration





Final OSC+Ha image 12 hours total integration

I really like these two images. The OSC+Ha edges out the other in this pairing, though. I think the Ha makes it pop a little more crisply.

Thanks nFA!

Glad that you felt that I didn’t go too far with the process and really glad that you like the Ha “pop”!

[bobharmony]

HA - I love that comment "this is the final version of M101 (well, for now anyway) ! ! ! ! !". We always come back to our testers, they are just irresistible. I like the new Ha version, you have gotten the best out of the two sets of data this time!

Bob

[MariusD69]

Wonderful! Great work, Jim!

[Greenman]

Hi Jim, an image is always final(ish), rather like writing stories. Published, observe - see the faults, promise to leave it alone... For now...

Love this it fair pops and fizzes with life.

[jthommes]

New Ha version looks great.

I have been doing my own pixel math for NB and RGB combination. I may give the NBRGBCombination script a run next opportunity.

[ic_1101]

Both beautiful images Jim, nicely done!

[bernhardhubl]

Hello Jim,

Two wonderful renditions of M101!

best,
Bernhard