Helix faint features: One photon per pixel every four hours

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Awesome Mike and Trish.. reeeally amazing depth and resolution.

Only other image I have seen of the Helix that goes as deep and shows those intricate fine shock fronts as well is one by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) Interesting that the Ha features match the UV ones so well.

Man, I wish you had a slightly larger FOV...?..mozaic perhaps

Great scope and mount and observatory you have

Mike

[Bassnut (Fred)]

That's just nuts, insane depth right there . Goes to show what 1 hr subs on serious appature can do. And bin 2 too, excellent

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Marcus, Russell, Simon, Clive, Richard,

Thanks for the encouragement.

Best,
Mike n Trish

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Only other image I have seen of the Helix that goes as deep and shows those intricate fine shock fronts as well is one by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) Interesting that the Ha features match the UV ones so well.
Mike

Hi, Mike,
That Galex shot is just jaw-dropping. Thanks for the link.

Best,
Mike n Trish

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Goes to show what 1 hr subs on serious aperture can do. And bin 2 too

Cheers, Fred. Vaguely wonder whether to try even longer 2x2 subs one day. Unbinned, there's no great advantage, but 2x2 I'm not sure of the maths.

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

Gobsmacking Mike!

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
What an amazing photo.
I am sure it has scientific value.

cheers
Allan

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Incredible!! Thanks for sharing.

[DJT (David)]

That's an awesome Image, Mike and Trish. Incredible detail. Top Job!

[LewisM]

GULP!!!!!

Wow indeed

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Cheers, Rod, Allan, Geoff, David, Xeno in Lux Urbis,

Thanks muchly. Glad you like it.

[gregbradley]

That really picked up some fine detail. Nice and deep. The main feature here I think are those fine shock fronts you mentioned. I haven't seen them before.

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

The binning would account for why I was struggling to get much with the 12" with 30 minute subs at 1x1. This has got me thinking now. Binning will reduce resolution a lot on the 12, so I am wonder how long I would need to go to capture the same amount of photons. I think over 1 hour per sub.

Excellent detail. Inspiring image.

[dvj (John)]

Nice explanation and image. I tried 50 hours with the FSQ and 16803 unbinned and did not get any of the faint structures seen above the main "v" structure to the left. Well done.

j

[sheeny (Al)]

Wow!



Al.

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

The binning would account for why I was struggling to get much with the 12" with 30 minute subs at 1x1. This has got me thinking now. Binning will reduce resolution a lot on the 12, so I am wonder how long I would need to go to capture the same amount of photons. I think over 1 hour per sub.

Hi, Paul,
Thanks muchly! With 0.55 sec arc pixels and very best 2 sec arc seeing, we're not quite critically sampled 2x2, so we're elsewhere messing around combining 1x1 for stars and highlights, 2x2 for faint nebulosity, and pro rata in between. The technique fails miserably with small faint background galaxies, but seems good for extended stuff. Will have something to show soon.

That said, your shots are hugely sharper than ours!

Best,
Mike

[Joshua Bunn (Joshua)]

Inspirational Mike and Trish! Fantastic effort with the results to show.

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

Fantastic picture You should get an APOD for this !

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by Placidus

Hi, Paul,
Thanks muchly! With 0.55 sec arc pixels and very best 2 sec arc seeing, we're not quite critically sampled 2x2, so we're elsewhere messing around combining 1x1 for stars and highlights, 2x2 for faint nebulosity, and pro rata in between. The technique fails miserably with small faint background galaxies, but seems good for extended stuff. Will have something to show soon.

That said, your shots are hugely sharper than ours!

Best,
Mike

Yes my seeing contributes to that sharpness. Often quite good. I might have to try 2x2 binning on the helix as a test myself to get that faint stuff out.

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

John, Al, Joshua, Marcus,
Thanks very much indeed.
Cheers,
Mike n Trish