M31 - Luminance Channel

This monochrome image of the Andromeda Galaxy represents just one hour of data capture - 60x60 sec subframes with the Newtonian working at F3 with the Starizona Nexus focal reducer/field flattener. Whilst the spacing of the imaging train isn't perfect, Blur Xterminator in Pixinsight does a great job of repairing the stars in the corners. The SBIG camera still works great although it has to operate via its own USB2 Hub. The Starlight Xpress filterwheel and Pegasus Focuscube 3 operate off a separate USB3 Hub. To capture flat field frames for calibration I use a Pegasus Flatmaster panel which works perfectly in NINA. I use darks, flats and flat darks to calbrate the subframes prior to stacking. Hopefully some clear nights in the coming weeks will allow further imaging so I can add to the luminance channel then add some colour via the RGB filters before completing the project with some Hydrogen alpha data to bring out the star forming regions in the spiral arms. This scope is now incredibly fast at F3 and matches with the SBIG camera really well, even at shorter exposures.