Honoured & thrilled to have my 3rd APOD!
Could't have done it without all the help and motivation from all you good folks here on IIS.
This is likely to be the first ever high res colour image featuring the whole of this huge SNR in Ara.
It was originally thought to be a ring nebula surrounding the Wolf-Rayet star WR 90, expanding into a pre-existing cavity created by the supernova remnant 343.0-06.0.
However, current research suggests that is much closer to us than WR90, so is an Ancient SNR in it's own right.
I've searched and searched the web for examples but have only found 2-3 widefield camera images, including one by Greg Bradley here on IIS.
This is a six panel mosaic in HaRGB data gathered over 6 months from my backyard in suburban Melbourne, Australia.
I first noticed this SNR on an Ha Galaxy survey, but for some reason it's been largely overlooked by amateur astrophotographers.
Credit is also due to John Gleason, who captured the region in Ha 4 years ago, but I wanted to create a colour image, so 208 subs later - here it is
Took forever to register, and process, and shooting RGB under LP is not for the feinthearted!
Anyway, thanks for looking, I hope you enjoy the image
Last edited by Andy01; 17-01-2018 at 03:53 PM.
Reason: APOD!
Brilliant work. I got 4 panels of a mosaic last year and it got too low to continue. I see its back up.
A rarely imaged region indeed yet its quite photogenic.
Greg
Thanks Greg, I believe it's over 250 arc mins in diameter - it's HUGE!
took forever to register & assemble it all - I'm looking forward to seeing your version. Are you doing HA & S2?
Anyway, now that that monkey is finally off my back - time to move on to something new
I really appreciate these lesser known (to me) objects.
I always look them up in Aladdin to see if I can add them to my To Do list, but I had to zoom out quite a bit to see this one.
Even if I tried a mosaic with my widest scope, it would take forever :/
Cheers Furgle, the less trodden path sometimes can be very rewarding to us backyard imagers.
Don't misunderestimate this one, it's huge - and dim = very challenging!
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickS
That's very cool, Andy. Lovely shape/composition. Is there any Oiii as well?
Hey cheers Rick!
Seems there's no O3 although a paper suggests that there may be S2 present.
Thanks too for the feedback about composition, guess if you're going to spend 6 months on an image, you want to be sure to frame it well from the start!
Per my FB comments Andy, as Rick said, lovely shape and compo. or did he copy my FB comment?!
250 arcmins? Is that as big as 4 degrees?
Cheers Simmo, yes I understand it's 4-5 degrees - probably a good one for your yellow Tak & Sony combo
Quote:
Originally Posted by Placidus
A truly superb effort Andy.
Thanks very much M&T
Thought you'd have fun analysing and interpreting the various shapes present, I reckon the dark one at 2 o'clock looks a bit canine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by astronobob
Nice work Andy, wow, so much more pleasing in colour too
Cheers Bob, yes, might be even more interesting to capture the S2 and try for a bi-colour version
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Enjoyable image of a refreshingly rare Ha structure Andy and nicely executed too, very well done
Mike
Thanks very much Mike, another one for your growing list of targets for the Tak/FLI combo perhaps?
Appreciate the positive comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ross G
What a great looking photo Andy.
Amazing work!
Ross.
Chees Ross - was nice to get a pleasing result after all the hard work!
Thanks very much Mike, another one for your growing list of targets for the Tak/FLI combo perhaps?
I just checked and yes I can juuust squeeze it all in one frame..but it's tight, be perfectly framed if I had the 0.72X Tak645 reducer..hmm? they are just so expensive!
Interesting target Andy some good detail in there.
cant see any hints of gradient light pollution degradation.
how do you generally go about rendering out LP?
Superb image, congrats with a SV70T very nice scope
Cheers Beren, Yes the SV70t punches well above it's weight - I'm delighted with it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flugel88
Interesting target Andy some good detail in there.
cant see any hints of gradient light pollution degradation.
how do you generally go about rendering out LP?
Thanks Michael - Some procedures resulting from my experiences imaging RGB under LP as follows....
Capture:
- Don't use LP filter (as it messes too much with star colours)
- Take lots of subs to get better s/n and overcome skyglow.
- Use lots of very good flats
- Image as near to zenith as possible
- Don't even attempt it when the moon is up!
Processing:
- Gradient Xterminator is very useful
- Don't overstretch the data
they are just so expensive! 
