A butterfly in the Milky Way

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

After 5 weeks of missing being under the stars ..?..and ...I finally got out on Friday last week ...

I wanted to shoot something relatively bright all in one night but not one of the usual suspects. There was some Moon in the first 1/3 of the night then no Moon but cloud cut it a little short around 2am sigh...so, this absolutely beautiful region of the central Milky Way was decided on

This wonderful vista in Scorpius, captures the beautiful open star cluster M6, also known as The Butterfly Cluster, fluttering across the back drop of the distant golden star clouds of our Milky Way galaxy, leaving a turbulent dust trail behind her.

Capture details are under each image

The Butterfly Cluster - up close (click on image and pan around with your cursor) full res version of this crop is HERE

The full frame (click on image and pan around with your cursor)

Aaaaaaand, as usual, here is the whole 4deg X 4deg full res shebang, complete with those pin point FSQ stars right to the corners (pull the tabs on the sides of the image to move around)

Hope it's something a little different, colourful...and sparkling

Mike

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
such a pretty picture with golden colours.
The FSQ106 is a great scope.



cheers
Allan

[multiweb (Marc)]

very nice field. the highres is superb.

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Oh wow! We're in love! What wonderful colours.

[gregbradley]

A stunning image. Great framing and that must have been hard as that nebula is quite dim and must have been hard to pick up in a framing image.

Greg.

[PKay (Peter)]

Wonderful wide field image, so colourful.

Good one Mike

[Andy01 (Andy)]

That thar be a maarty purty picha y'all!

Excellent work Mike - top shelf stuff from that classic widefield rig

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Nice one Mike! Vibrant colours and beautiful vista - definitely an eye catcher!

Yeah, the weather hasn't been playing nice in these parts lately has it! I've also got some internal reflections to fix and my flat panel died so I'll be offline till that is remedied - hopefully both quick fixes.

[tornado33]

Gee look at that little bright nebula on far left side. Wonder if it's a planetary or just some isolated bright nebulae. Great vista there.

[topheart]

Excellent work there Mike!!
A well crafted view. Lovely colours!

Love the Butterfly cluster!

Cheers,
Tim

[Bart]

Very beautiful colours, Mike! Love the yellow, such a wonderful contrast to the reds!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Thanks heaps everyone Yes, it is rather colourful huh? Hopefully it slides just under the "yikes" radar

Mike

[Bart]

No worries Mike, we have all seen Star Trek so we know how colourful space is!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Bart

No worries Mike, we have all seen Star Trek so we know how colourful space is!

And at least in the original series..how many strange worlds have spinifex and cardboard rocks on their surface

Mike

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Sakib Rasool has kindly labelled a few of the main objects for me...not so many in this scene...

Mike

[codemonkey (Lee)]

Nice one Mike. Lovely colour and pin-sharp stars across the field and no sign of worms anywhere. What's not to like?

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by codemonkey

Nice one Mike. Lovely colour and pin-sharp stars across the field and no sign of worms anywhere. What's not to like?

Ah sheesh..what is it about you and worms? I mean..seriously??



....sorry

[codemonkey (Lee)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Ah sheesh..what is it about you and worms? I mean..seriously??



....sorry

Can't help myself sometimes, I've always been the ****-stirrer of the family

[vlazg (George)]

The hi-res is fantastic Mike , the cluster is superb.

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Beautifully colourful. Creates a whole new perspective for this familiar cluster