Testing New Software on M51: A Deep Dive into Astrophotography Editing

It's always exciting when you get to experiment with new tools, especially when they promise to unlock even more detail from your astrophotography captures. Recently, I've been diving headfirst into learning different editing software, specifically Siril, Graxpert, and Gimp. To put these powerful tools to the test, I decided to revisit a collection of M51 photos I've taken over the past several months. The results? Well, let's just say "Wow" doesn't quite cover it! 😮

The Gear and the Data

All of these images were captured using a trusty Canon 90D. For the optics, I experimented with a Sigma 150-600mm lens at various focal lengths, as well as a Svbony SV48P. The ISO settings varied between captures, and while exact exposure times are not readily available, Siril indicates a total integration time of 2600 seconds across the dataset.

A Glimpse of the Whirlpool Galaxy

Here's a look at the processed image:

The Power of Modern Editing

Exploring new software is crucial for pushing the boundaries of what's possible in astrophotography. Siril is excellent for initial stacking and calibration, while Graxpert offers some incredible sharpening and denoising capabilities. Gimp, as always, provides the fine-tuning and artistic control needed to bring out the best in the data.

It's worth noting that some of the enhanced details might be attributed to features like deconvolution, which are being introduced in newer beta versions of software like Graxpert. These advancements can significantly increase the perceived detail in deep-sky objects.

I'm really pleased with how this processed M51 turned out and excited to continue refining my workflow with these new tools. Please feel free to share your thoughts and critiques – I'm always looking to learn and improve!

Please be kind.