39 Panel Ha Full Disc

Here is my first attempt at a very high resolution image. Taken using an APM 100/800, Daystar Quark and Point Grey Grasshopper (IMX174) camera. The system had 3440mm focal length and 39 panels were needed to cover the disc.

The final raw compilation at the native resolution was 289 Mega Pixel and measures 2.6m x 2.6m!

This is just a low res jpeg but it shows the detail captured

39 Panel Ha Mosaic by Rupert Smith, on Flickr

The panels captured exhibited several problems. Some highlighted pockets of bad seeing and there was a significant shift in exposure during the hour or so it took to capture. This made it very hard to blend and lots of median filtering, dodging, burning and other tweaking was needed. The end result still has some patches but overall for a first attempt I am happy. Next time, different tactics will be employed to try and get consistent exposure although seeing will be down to the gods....