M101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy: A First Look with a Dedicated Astro Camera
This image marks a significant milestone for me – my very first capture using a dedicated astrophotography camera! I'm thrilled to share my attempt at capturing the majestic Pinwheel Galaxy, M101. As a newcomer to dedicated astro cameras, I'm eager for any feedback or advice you might have on improving image quality, reducing background noise, enhancing coloration, or any other aspect of the process.
Equipment Used:
- Telescope: Zenithstar 73II with Field Flattener
- Camera: ZWO 585MC Pro
- Mount: iEXOS-100
- Filter: UV/IR Filter
Imaging Details:
- Exposure: 80 x 30-second Luminance frames (totaling 40 minutes, with plans for more)
- Calibration Frames:
- 50 Bias frames
- 25 Dark frames (30 seconds each)
- 21 Flat frames (30 seconds each)
- Camera Settings: Gain 252, Offset 8
- Sky Conditions: Bortle 6
Post-Processing:
The captured data was stacked and denoised using Siril, followed by color calibration. I'm particularly interested in any tips regarding gradient removal, as it's an area I'm still learning to master.
I'm excited to continue this journey into deep sky astrophotography and look forward to sharing more captures as I learn and improve. Your insights are greatly appreciated!
