The Fighting Dragons of Ara

[strongmanmike]

Over imaged bit of our southern skies I know :rolleyes: but meah...bit of imaging fun while drinking Beer :drink: (while -4C :cold:) Just a Halpha fill-in-time image so far...while the Moon is nearly full.

Only 4hrs 40min Ha at this stage...maybe I will do the full wavelength ordered emission line version...we'll see, may not get to it now as OIII is best shot with no Moon and I was gunna go for something else over New Moon :question:....:doh:

Anyway nothing flash, 4hrs 40min of Halpha on The Fighting Dragons of Ara (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/28131811447/in/dateposted-public/) (click on image and scroll around with your cursor)

For the pixel peepers check out the uncropped full 4096pix X 4096pix resolution version (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/167705175/original) curves stretching with some contrast increase, no noise reduction.

The thumbnail below is a low res crop from the centre of the full frame

Mike

[LewisM]

I've been FSQ'ing tonight too - M20 - yeah, I know, over imaged too, but this was a test of the new-to-me FSQ-106EDXIII.

Only -2° here at the Airport, but it has a wind chill factor of -4.7° - things outside have been covered in frost already, and certain things are creaking and croaking as they equilibrate (nothing telescope related, just stuff around me)

[strongmanmike]

I took this last night, a great typical Canberra clear cold winter night, only cut it short cus I couldn't be bothered meridian flipping and I needed to do a whole set of new flats....left about 2:30am... Maca's drive through :D then in bed by 4am :P

[Stonius]

Looking amazing! Can't wait to see it all combined!

[LewisM]

Just waiting for the camera to warm back up before packing it in. I suppose I can turn it off when it hits -2° :lol:

Gonna be fun carrying all that metal back inside...glove time :)

[multiweb]

Awesome shot. Very deep with excellent details and contrast. One for the cool wall. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Ryderscope]

That’s great Mike. This is a nice expanse of sky for the FSQ.

I’m pleased you made that observation about the OIII being best under the new moon. Ive just finished capturing narrowband on M20_21 and noticed that the OIII picked up some gradient. The moon was about 70% at the time. It’s not going to be a problem in this case as it can be handled in post processing ok. I will now file this extra little info away for future imaging sessions.

[Stevec35]

Looks good Mike. Certainly one of your favourite targets.

Steve

[strongmanmike]

Let's see, hoepfully I'll get around to it...might be next year who knows :)



Thnaks Marc, glad you think so, didn't use much processing on this one.



The FSQ and 16803 grab a big swath of sky, it's great :thumbsup: Yup, I never shoot OIII in Moonlight, particularly if I am hoping to get faint OIII halos or extensions! For somthing like this field I would probably accept a crescent moon in the sky a long way from the target but no more than that.



I think it is everyones favourite (after Omega) isn't it :lol:... although this is only my 3rd shot of the dragons in 15 years, shot'em in 2007, 2011 and now, all with different scopes and cameras :thumbsup:

Mike

[Lognic04]

You've done it again Mike!!! SPECTACULAR!!!

[strongmanmike]

Ha ha, thanks Logan...it is mostly due to the scope and camera though :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Very very nice Mike. Pinpoint stars and such a widefield.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Greg :thumbsup: With some of the many horror stories abounding out there with peoples cameras (touch wood :scared3:) I have to say, this damn FLI camera is just soooo amazing, even without AO (not needed at this FL), it is just so brilliantly built and utterly reliable and has been for 9 years now :eyepop:...the Tak EDX4 is equally amazing of course, I am blessed to have'em both :thumbsup:

Mike

[Atmos]

Really nice Mike! The full res is a great image to just look around :P

[topheart]

Well done Mike!
I agree, my FLI cameras have been indestructible, but I do also love my STX with AO.

Cheers,
Tim

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Col and Tim :thumbsup:...nice to have so many great cameras Timmy, even more data to get backed up on your hard drive :P

Mike

[Andy01]

Dragons never get old :thumbsup:

Sharp as a tack and always worth imaging - nice wide field too :)

[Slawomir]

Love the wide field! A great imaging combo Mike and in very capable hands :thumbsup:

Speaking of winter - it got pretty cold this way as well, had a week of consistent 26C during the day and around 14-18C at night. Too wet for imaging though...

[LewisM]

Yeah Suavi, that's cold....BRRRRRR.... :scared2::screwy:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Andy Lovin this FSQ can't fault it :)



Ooooh that must have felt really nippy Suavi, did you have to put a T-shirt on at night..? :lol:

Mike

[LewisM]

Best Ara Reptiles I've seen here in a very long time Mike. FSQ's are wonderful

[Slawomir]

Agree 100%. Not sure whether it is the filter, location or skills, but this is the most detailed and cleanest wide field image of the Dragons I have ever seen on IIS :thumbsup:

EDIT: Now I recall Martin's rendition in colour was beautiful as well.

[multiweb]

Did you check Peter's latest (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=1381217&postcount=1)?

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot guys, glad you liked it, it's a Ha image of the NGC 6188 region, an amazing region for sure....but that's all, not worth any worship :prey2: :lol: :thumbsup: :innocent:

[Slawomir]

Thank you Marc. It seems to be just a re-process of some older data from a limited integration thus not as smooth as Mike's, but nice nonetheless.



No need to be so humble Mike - it's a great image :thumbsup:

[LewisM]

100% agree on both counts.

Mike's REALLY pops IMHO.

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
another excellent FSQ106 image.
You're providing free advertising. :)



cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

He, he, geez, I think many others have done that already Al...I've come late to what is the FSQ phenomenon :eyepop: :P but yes, I really love what this scope can do with a big chip :thumbsup:..it would have been amazing to shoot 6cm X 7cm film with this baby.

Mike

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
it would be.
Also if you could piggy back it on your large Newt. & overcome differential flexure
then you could always get 2 pics for the price of one. :)



cheers
Allan

[Placidus]

There's a section about 50% of the way toward 3 o'clock which looks very like bits of the vela SNR.

A very pleasing overview of how the area goes together Mike.

[strongmanmike]

Well, with around 50kg worth of two scopes, two cameras and required off axis balance weight already loaded on the NJP (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/167571710/original) :eyepop: not sure even the Incredible Hulk NJP would handle another FSQ with 6X7 camera :lol:



Thanks guys, yes I call that bit of the Vela SNR The Moustache (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/8906921261/in/dateposted-public/) :P

Mike

[Placidus]

... yes I call that bit of the Vela SNR The Moustache (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/8906921261/in/dateposted-public/) :P

Mike[/QUOTE]

That's it! That's it exactly. There must be a common SNR mechanism that generates Edwardian soup-strainers.

[alpal]

You're gunna need a bigger mount.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I91DJZKRxs