Pièce de résistance!

[LewisM]

Just when you thought it was safe to look at images again, I post this...thing...

Apparently it is NGC 2736 "Pencil Nebula". Apparently. I am not entirely convinced. I think the plate solver might be drunk.

I used every conceivable trick I know in PI and PS to even extract this much poor detail and definition. It is stretched and manipulated and pixel mathed this far merely to show SOMETHING for my irreplaceable hour. If I go as far as Rick with this ( ) remains to be seen.

Another BRILLIANT target choice for an 85mm telescope

Oh yeah, here it be, in all it's glor-eee: https://www.astrobin.com/343557/

(seriously, DON'T click the link. You aren't missing out)

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

Well, as a plus the stars are nice and round.

Seriously, the main object is well defined. Just needs more exposure and cropping to highlight it.

[RickS (Rick)]

I'll swap you some half-cooked chicken McNuggets for the pencil, Lewis?

[willik (Willik)]

You can put any image on iceinspace now it must be a upgrade
I might put the rubber duck next might get a good feed back
Martin

[LewisM]

Ah Martin , it’s all about having fun and enjoying life. Very few of us get paid to do this kind of stuff, so have fun at it. I present my stuff warts and all - good (ha!) and bad (lots). Do post your rubber duck though

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Here ya go


Oh and nice image of the pencil...the nebulous thingy looks good too

Mike

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by RickS

I'll swap you some half-cooked chicken McNuggets for the pencil, Lewis?

Holy crap Ricki ....those globs look bloody excellent

...aaand so does your pencil Lewis

Mike

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Holy crap Ricki ....those globs look bloody excellent

...aaand so does your pencil Lewis

Thanks, Mike. I reckon the pencil could be sharper

[LewisM]

It’s a used pencil

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Here ya go


Oh and nice image of the pencil...the nebulous thingy looks good too

Mike

Your duck is an insult to diplomacy and common sense Mike. Let it free on the river and hope it never comes back...

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by RickS

I'll swap you some half-cooked chicken McNuggets for the pencil, Lewis?

Tasty nuggets. Just needs some sweet chili red H-a sauce...

[willik (Willik)]

HI Lewis the Zorro duck just for you:rofl
This is in the consolation duck you can find it on a clear night
somewhere in the cosmos.
Martin.

[LewisM]

I almost told Mike to Duck Off...but Zorro is more acceptable

[Paul Haese]

That's pretty good for a one shot colour image of this narrow band area. You should be happy with that result.

[LewisM]

I'll be happier with another 7 hrs

Bad positioning for me now - it's near zenith at last light, which means I get roughly 1 hr every clear night thanks to a gum tree. I'll keep chipping away at it.

[LewisM]

OK, I had a quiet afternoon, so ran the entire thing through PI again. I then took the output to PS and simply did a Soft Light overlay and a slight star colour tweak.

So, this is essentially the NON-stretched or manipulated "virgin" image, centre cropped (Full size).

Maybe another 7 to 10 hours...possibly not this season unless I move imaging position.

https://www.astrobin.com/343728/