My Take on M33: Unveiling the Triangulum Galaxy
This post showcases a stunning rendition of the Triangulum Galaxy (M33), a fascinating spiral galaxy located about 3 million light-years away. Captured under Bortle 3 skies during a first-quarter moon, this image is the result of dedicated acquisition and meticulous processing.
Acquisition Details:
- Camera: Canon Rebel T7
- Telescope: Redcat 51 WIFD
- Mount: IOptron Skyguider Pro (with WO Wedge)
- Exposures: 240 x 45-second lights at ISO 1600
- Calibration Frames: 30 darks, 30 flats, 30 bias
- Sky Conditions: Bortle 3
- Lunar Phase: First Quarter Moon
Processing Workflow:
The journey from raw data to this final image involved a two-stage processing approach, leveraging the power of Siril and Affinity Photo 2.
In Siril, the following steps were performed:
- Color Calibration
- Background Extraction
- Image Stretching
- Saturation Adjustments
Following Siril, the data was refined in Affinity Photo 2 with:
- Star Reduction
- Noise Reduction
This combination of techniques allowed for the enhancement of the faint details and vibrant colors within the Triangulum Galaxy, resulting in a visually striking and scientifically informative capture.
