Veil Nebula in Cygnus

Martin Pugh · #1 31-08-2010, 01:30 PM

Hello everyone

Finally a new image, consisting of new data and new equipment.
This 17 hour composition of Ha and OIII data has been used to create an RGB image where the OIII data has been used for both blue and green.

The new equipment is an FLI Proline 16803/CFW5-7, attached to a Bellepheron focusser, Astrodon MMOAG, and Lodestar guider.
The filters are Astrodon Gen2, and the OIII has a bandpass of only 3nm, so it took hours of exposure to build up enough signal, whereas the Ha filter has a slightly wider bandpass of 5nm. The FSQ106/Proline combo has easily framed this huge scene in one go.

I thought you might be interested in 2 versions - one is subtle, the other sharpened to enhance the delicate filamentation. Which do you prefer?

I have not reduced the file sizes, so these are full-sized images, and therefore large downloads.

Subtle full-size version (10mB) - http://tinyurl.com/29pdj6c

Enhanced full-size version (10mB) - http://tinyurl.com/2768brp

thanks for looking

Martin

multiweb (Marc) · #2 31-08-2010, 01:47 PM

Sublime Martin! Amazing. Links posted don't work. Need to correct the space between 'a' and 'u' in 'au'. Top work as always. Best I've seen

Martin Pugh · #3 31-08-2010, 01:52 PM

Hi Marc and thanks very much.

The links did appear to work from my PC....but I have created tinyurls instead.
cheers
Martin

TheAstroGuy (Shane Ross) · #4 31-08-2010, 02:00 PM

Whoa!!!!!!!!!! Nelly!!!!!!

Martin, Absolutely stunning images there, all i can say is wow!!

In fact i just can't get the words together to express just how fine that work is.

May i inquire as to the individual sub lengths?

Kind Regards

Shane

troypiggo (Troy) · #5 31-08-2010, 02:04 PM

Jawdropping detail. I quit now.

Martin Pugh · #6 31-08-2010, 02:05 PM

Hello Shane, and thanks a lot - glad you like it.

All subs were 30 minutes duration, and most of them taken under full or close-to-full moon.

regards
Martin

AlexN · #7 31-08-2010, 02:09 PM

Amazing... Once again the FSQ/16803 combo produces the goods!

TheAstroGuy (Shane Ross) · #8 31-08-2010, 02:12 PM

Martin,

Thanks for that, i have never been able to produce any significant Veil shots and yours is what one would only dream to achieve one day, perhaps by my retirement i may get there

Thanks again

Shane

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #9 31-08-2010, 03:58 PM

Now that is by far the best Veil Nebula I have ever ever seen. Its 3d without the glasses! The stars have amazing depth, not just the nebula region. Congratulations on a masterpiece - very sharp, very clean. I like both but prefer the enhanced version.

batema (Mark) · #10 31-08-2010, 05:14 PM

Martin that is an amazing image and I almost cannot comprehend that all of that field of view was taken with the 106. Did it have a focal reducer or something to open the field of view that wide. Congrats

Mark

DavidU (Dave) · #11 31-08-2010, 05:28 PM

Damn !

Octane (Humayun) · #12 31-08-2010, 06:13 PM

Extraordinary, Martin.

H

Hagar (Doug) · #13 31-08-2010, 06:31 PM

Brilliant Martin, Hard choice. I think the first has a more smooth appearance to it so I will go with No1 but honestly it is a tough choice.

Bassnut (Fred) · #14 31-08-2010, 07:34 PM

Well, thats pretty awesome indeed, wish we could image Veil in OZ.

Thats an exceptional image Martin, well done.

RobF (Rob) · #15 31-08-2010, 08:08 PM

Oh my goodness. Just an amazing field to take in both sides of the veil so easily and in such mind boggling detail. Just awesome!

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #16 31-08-2010, 09:26 PM

That's a pretty darn marvellous shot there Martin!

Maybe not too much of a surprise, but I prefer the enhanced version!

Much more striking!

Cheers, Marcus

strongmanmike (Michael) · #17 01-09-2010, 12:50 AM

Pretty amazing shot there Martin, an excellent FOV.

To be honest I can't really see any significant difference between the two

they are both excellent.

You have the ProLine siging

that focuser sounds interesting too, the triangular hinged structure "looks" flimsy but I suspect it is quite the contrary.

Mike

Tom Davis (Tom) · #18 01-09-2010, 07:11 AM

Beauty, Martin!!!

Tom

Martin Pugh · #19 01-09-2010, 10:18 AM

Hello and many thanks for the comments.

Mark - no focal reducer used. The 16803 and FSQ combo gives a 4deg square FOV.
Mike - yes, the Proline at this point has produced a fairly good image in my opinion. Pity it wont last - I am on the verge of selling it having bought at STX.

The Clement is amazing - I have never seen such linear vcurves as I achieved with this - perfection. Robofocus alone just could not manage the Proline/CFW5-7 or STX/CFW payload. I even had custom made couplings. My very expensive adapters that I bought, so that I could remove the FSQ CAA, did not resolve the aberrations in the corners. This was the case, even when the FSQ drawtube was only extended by 12mm or so. Now, it is fully racked in and locked, and a perfect flat field is presented.

cheers
Martin

Lester · #20 01-09-2010, 03:09 PM

Beautiful image Martin, thanks for the view.