I got Starnet++ working on my M1 Mac so here is a better edit of my M45 shot from Oct 31, done in PixInsight and Affinity Photo

[angkymac]

This image is way beyond my ability to offer a comment...
But it surely is a pretty picture.
Angky.

[aitrus3]

This image is way beyond my ability to offer a comment...
But it surely is a pretty picture.
Angky.

Thanks Angkymac Starnet++ is a star removal program. It allows one to remove the stars in an image so you can work on only the dust and gas. As the dust and gas are a lot more faint that the stars, when you try and bring it out without removing them, the stars get quite bloated and burnt. So as a result, without a star removal program, data can really only be taken so far before things turn quite ugly. Star shape and colour are very important to me. This image isn't perfect, my collimation was out so my stars look like little eggs. Hard to notice on small screens but definitely eggs.

[Astropaps]

I got Starnet++ working on my M1 Mac so here is a better edit of my M45 shot from Oct 31, done in PixInsight and Affinity Photo

Awesome shot! I haven’t done any observing all winter. Gotta get out before the winter goodies disappear.

[MikeNArk]

Very pretty image. Don't know much about this photography, but enjoy the results.

[aitrus3]

Awesome shot! I haven’t done any observing all winter. Gotta get out before the winter goodies disappear.

They're leaving quick! I'm excited to do more galaxies this spring. Knocked off Bodes/Cigar, think either Pinwheel or Leo Triplet next.