M81 and M82 in RGB blended with narrowband subtracted continuum
This is a quick post on the M81/M82 region, also known as Bode’s and Cigar Galaxies, respectively.
This is about 53 hours of broadband and narrowband data taken over 11 different sessions from January to March, 2025.
I preprocessed, combined, and stretched RGB, then preprocessed the NB frames. I then performed continuum subtraction for Sii, Oiii, and Ha.
I then used the CombineRGBAndNarrowband script to add the SOO continuum to the RGB, then added the Ha continuum, also as red. There were MANY iterations of stretching, curves, and masks (the GAME “brightness mask” was extremely helpful).
And, finally, I stretched the starless Lum and applied it via LRGBCombination
If I had to do it over I wouldn’t have spent so much time on the Sii and Oiii, and instead focused on more Ha and RGB
Image details on Astrobin
(the image on Astrobin is also a much higher resolution)
