M51 processing questions

[Moonstruck]

Hello,
I imaged M51 last night, and just processed it with Startools. I am new to using this software, and not very familiar with all of its functionality. The final image came out ok, with the exception of a bright halo/color bleeding from the smaller adjoined galaxy (NGC 5194). How can I get rid of that, and in general clean up the image? If it helps, I included google drive links to the image below (raw stack and final processed file).

Thanks!

DSS Raw stack (93 60-sec subs, 20 darks, 20 flats, 20 dark flats):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j_rZ9l ... sp=sharing

My final processed image(jpg):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v3mzR0 ... sp=sharing

Equipment:
Skywatcher Esprit 100
ZWOasi 294 MC pro color camera
EQ6-R-Pro mount
Unguided
Sharpcap Pro

Camera settings file:
[ZWO ASI294MC Pro]
FrameType=Light
Debayer Preview=On
Pan=0
Tilt=352
Output Format=FITS files (*.fits)
Binning=1
Capture Area=4144x2116
Colour Space=RAW16
High Speed Mode=On
Turbo USB=84
Flip=None
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Gain=120
Exposure=59.964s
Timestamp Frames=Off
White Bal (B)=50
White Bal (R)=50
Brightness=6
Cooler Power=34
Temperature=-10
Target Temperature=-10
Cooler=On
Auto Exp Max Gain=123
Auto Exp Max Exp M S=30000
Auto Exp Target Brightness=90
Mono Bin=Off
Trail Width=3
Minimum Trail Length=100
Trail Detection Sensitivity=9
Remove Satellite Trails=Off
Background Subtraction=Off
Planet/Disk Stabilization=Off
Banding Threshold=0
Banding Suppression=0
Apply Flat=None
Subtract Dark=None
NegativeDisplay=0
Display Black Point=0.009765625
Display MidTone Point=0.0157244155401476
Display White Point=0.92578125
Notes=
EQMOD ASCOM HEQ5/6=RA=13:29:51,Dec=+47:14:17 (J2000)
TimeStamp=2022-05-25T01:35:34.5118426Z
SharpCapVersion=4.0.8861.0
StartCapture=2022-05-25T01:34:42.0029302Z
MidCapture=2022-05-25T02:43:01.3669302Z
EndCapture=2022-05-25T03:51:20.7303196Z
Duration=8198.727s
FrameCount=135
TimeZone=-4.00

[decay]

Hi,

at first: I'm still beginner by myself. But maybe this helps a bit until the experts pitch in ...
Please find the ST log beneath. There you can follow my workflow and get an impression of how it works.

Regarding your data set: The background is fantastic even, but it seems to be a bit blurry? But the SVDecon module did a great job revealing some details ...

Maybe you want to check out some of the tutorials?

Best regards, Dietmar.

m51-Moonstruck.jpg (34.53 KiB) Viewed 4057 times

Code: Select all

-----------------------------------------------------------
StarTools 1.8.527MR2
Wed May 25 18:07:52 2022
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [C:\Users\tussi\Downloads\Autosave.fits].
Image size is 4144 x 2116
--- 
Type of Data: Linear and was Bayered, but not whitebalanced
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside RoI Influence] set to [15 %]
Parameter [RoI X1] set to [0 pixels]
Parameter [RoI Y1] set to [0 pixels]
Parameter [RoI X2] set to [4144 pixels (-0)]
Parameter [RoI Y2] set to [2116 pixels (-0)]
Parameter [Detector Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Shadow Linearity] set to [50 %]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [scale 50.00% / +2.00 bits / +1.00x SNR improvement]
Image size is 2072 x 1058
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [351 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [185 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [1734 pixels (-338)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [903 pixels (-155)]
Image size is 1383 x 718
--- Wipe
Parameter [Synthetic Dark/Bias] set to [Off]
Parameter [Gradient Edge Behavior] set to [Absorb 50%]
Parameter [Synthetic Flats] set to [Off]
Parameter [Sampling Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [5 pixels]
Parameter [Gradient Falloff] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Synth. Bias Edge Area] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Gradient Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
Parameter [Correlation Filtering] set to [Off]
Redoing stretch of linear data
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside RoI Influence] set to [15 %]
Parameter [RoI X1] set to [574 pixels]
Parameter [RoI Y1] set to [295 pixels]
Parameter [RoI X2] set to [768 pixels (-615)]
Parameter [RoI Y2] set to [374 pixels (-344)]
Parameter [Detector Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Shadow Linearity] set to [50 %]
--- Contrast
Parameter [Expose Dark Areas] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Brightness Retention] set to [Off]
Parameter [Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Shadow Detail Size] set to [10 pixels]
Parameter [Locality] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Shadow Dyn Range Alloc] set to [50 %]
--- HDR
Parameter [Signal Flow] set to [Tracked]
Parameter [Quality] set to [Low]
Parameter [Gamma Shadow (Lift)] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Gamma Highlight (Tame)] set to [1.25]
Parameter [Gamma Smoothen] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Context Size] set to [30x30 pixels (2.17% image W, 4.18% image H)]
Parameter [Shadows Detail Boost] set to [30 %]
Parameter [Highlights Detail Boost] set to [30 %]
--- Wavelet Sharpen
Parameter [Structure Size] set to [Large]
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)

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

--- SNR-aware Wavelet Sharpening
Parameter [Protection] set to [Shadow/Highlights]
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [4 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [300 %]
Parameter [High SNR Size Bias] set to [85 %]
Parameter [Low SNR Size Bias] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Dark/Light Enhance] set to [50% / 50%]
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)

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

PSF samples used (6 PSF sample locations, BASE64 encoded)

VFMAAAYAZwXOAiIEjwCoA10CzwHpANsCywFiA9kA/gE1AQ==

--- Spatially Variant PSF Deconvolution
Parameter [PSF Resampling] set to [None]
Parameter [Synthetic PSF Model] set to [Circle of Confusion (Optics Only)]
Parameter [Sampled PSF Area] set to [15x15]
Parameter [Synthetic PSF Radius] set to [1.5 pixels]
Parameter [Synthetic Iterations] set to [Off]
Parameter [Spatial Error] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Deringing Fuzz] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Deringing Detect] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Dyn. Range Extension] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Linearity Cutoff] set to [85 %]
Parameter [Sampled Iterations] set to [10x]
Parameter [Deringing Amount] set to [0.80]
--- Color
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Scientific (Color Constancy)]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [Straight CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Matrix] set to [Identity (OFF)]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [3.6]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [176 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.16]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.39]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Highlight Repair] set to [Off]
--- Super Structure
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Linear Brightness Mask Darken]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Multiply, Gamma Correct]
Parameter [Brightness, Color] set to [Process Both]
Parameter [Brightness Retention] set to [Local Median]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Airy Disk Radius] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [0.75]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [72 %]
Undo
Image size is 1383 x 718
Mask used (BASE64 PNG encoded)

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

--- Shrink
Parameter [Mode] set to [Dim]
Parameter [Halo Extend] set to [2 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [7]
Parameter [Regularization] set to [0.85]
Parameter [Color Taming] set to [2 pixels]
Parameter [De-ringing] set to [Off]
Parameter [Un-glow Strength] set to [Off]
Parameter [Un-glow Kernel] set to [Off]
--- Super Structure
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Linear Brightness Mask Darken]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Multiply, Gamma Correct]
Parameter [Brightness, Color] set to [Process Both]
Parameter [Brightness Retention] set to [Local Median]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Airy Disk Radius] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [0.75]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [73 %]
--- Super Structure
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Linear Brightness Mask]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Screen]
Parameter [Brightness, Color] set to [Only Color]
Parameter [Brightness Retention] set to [Off]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Airy Disk Radius] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [0.50]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [169 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [100 %]
--- Unified De-Noise
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [6.0 pixels]
Parameter [Walking Noise Size] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Walking Noise Angle] set to [0]
--- Unified De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [99 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [95 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [95 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [95 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Equalized Grain] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Scale Correlation] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Grain Dispersion] set to [6.0 pixels]
--- Photographic Film Development Emulation
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [0.91]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [2 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [Off]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [6.0 pixels]
File saved [C:\Users\tussi\Downloads\m51-Moonstruck.tiff].

[Moonstruck]

Thanks Dietmar. I'm specifically wondering how to get rid of that haze surrounding the adjoining galaxy. Anyone else have any ideas? I have seen a lot of other pictures of M51, and a lot of them have this haze, so it must be a common occurrence. I'm just wondering how I can eliminate that in processing without sacrificing detail in other areas.

[fmeireso]

Can't see too much wrong. Nice data, processing perhaps has a bit green. Use Maxrgb to determine if there is green in the image. In the color module click on a green area to eliminate or you could use cap green

Anyhow my take on it

M51_2.jpg (141.39 KiB) Viewed 4048 times

[admin]

Thanks Dietmar. I'm specifically wondering how to get rid of that haze surrounding the adjoining galaxy. Anyone else have any ideas? I have seen a lot of other pictures of M51, and a lot of them have this haze, so it must be a common occurrence. I'm just wondering how I can eliminate that in processing without sacrificing detail in other areas.

Hi,

Lots of great help already, thank you all.
With regards to "haze" I think you mean the tidal tail? This is a real feature (which ST should preserve) and is caused by previous violent interactions between the pair. You can read more about the pair, for example, here on Wikipedia;

"As is usual for galaxies, the true extent of its structure can only be gathered from inspecting photographs; long exposures reveal a large nebula extending beyond the visible circular appearance."

Hope this helps!

[Moonstruck]

Thanks Ivo, and everyone else! I thought the "haze" was due to a processing error. I guess it looks pretty good after all!

[Mike in Rancho]

The peculiar "capture cropping" straight out of Sharpcap seems oddly familiar....

Anyway I tried this dataset a few days ago, but didn't get around to logging on to put it up. No matter, I think Dietmar and Freddy did better than I did anyway.

I would assume 60 seconds through an Esprit 100 ought not to be too bad, but, it did seem to me that a lot of star cores were blown out more than I would like. Or it could be the way I AutoDev'd it, perhaps. So at the end I did my little trick in Layer with a star mask, maybe hit it with a shrink or two to get down just to the fully-white pixels, and then a wee bit of kernel radius to provide some blurrage and soften up the harshness.

Moonstruck M51 ST8 1B.jpg (384.98 KiB) Viewed 3943 times

Regarding any other background issues, longer integration, plus tracking and dithering, will help clean things up. Absent that, just go lighter on the stretching - only stretch to what the data can reasonably handle.

As Ivo explained, the other background "noise" about the target is real structure! Along with looking things up on Wikipedia, good sources of imagery include Stellarium (a planetarium program is almost mandatory), or just Google search strings like "M51 APOD" and "M51 Hubble." Those tend to be pretty sweet pictures that you can rely on for comparisons, and also often have an nice little paragraph of relevant science info.