M106 LRGB

19:10 12/4/2010 UTC

This is my very first try at LRGB imaging. I finally got Nebulosity to understand SX wheel via ASCOM drivers. Now I can script my LRGB imaging session, which makes LRGB imaging a much easier. I chose M106 as my target, since I haven't imaged it since and it has nice field of small bright galaxies around it resulting a very nice framing. Processing this image was pain due to low SNR. LRGB should be done in dark site instead of my light polluted backyard which better suites narrowband imaging. I've booked a dark site weekend, lets hope for clear skies and make it a grand finale before summer!

Camera: Atik Instruments 4000LE | Telescope: Skywatcher ED80 Pro 80mm f7.5 refractor, William Optics 0.8x focal reducer | Mount: Vixen GP-D2, Boxdoerfer PowerFlex MTS-3SLP drive controller | Filters: Baader 2" LRGB Filter Set | Guiding: , The Imaging Source DMK 21AU04.AS CCD camera, Orion ShortTube 80mm f5 refractor, Stark-Labs PHD Guiding | Exposure: L 18x180s (54m) unbinned, CCD @ -25° RGB 16x45s (12m) each binned 2x2, CCD @ -25° Total exposure 1h30m | Software: CCDWare CCDStack, Adobe Photoshop CS4, Stark-Labs Nebulosity 2 | Location: 60°31'N 26°52'E (Koivula/Kotka,FI)