Witch Head Nebula

[Paul Haese]

I thought some of the objects I had imaged over the years presented more problems than others but this one takes the cake. This object for anyone who has never imaged it; this sucker is faint.

I have spent 5 or so sessions trying to capture data and now at 9.83 hours, just one 10 minute sub short of 10 hours, I have run short of time left for this season. If I am lucky I will pick up a few more subs early next lunar cycle (this new moon period is now going to be clouded out :sadeyes:), but I think I will need to wait until next apparition.

The image still has noise present and I have used about as much smoothing as I am comfortable with. What I like about this image is that there is lots of striations in the gas clouds. There are also a few small faint fuzzies to find in an around the clouds. If only I could collect another 10 hours soon.

Details of the image can be seen under the image.

Click here (http://paulhaese.net/WitchheadNebula.html)for image.

Added preview image.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

That's impressive Paul!!

I agree it's certainly a faint sucker and needs all the exposure you can give it.

It really does look like rising smoke to me.

Cheers,

Justin.

[Larryp]

One of the best and deepest images I have seen of this nebula:thumbsup:

[ChrisM]

Paul, you've captured lots of it there. I was surprised how bright it was too. What is your FoV? It must be a big nebula.

Chris

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys,

Chris the field of view is 81 x 105 arc minutes, so pretty large but not large enough to capture the entire nebula. I only have about a third of it.

[strongmanmike]

As mentioned before, actually looks like floating gases, very good Paul.

As for needing super long exposures :question:...man, you just need a bigger faster scope ;) :D

Mike

[Paul Haese]

Yeah I know. :rofl: I have the speed covered at f5.6 but I am severely hampered by only have 4" of aperture. I could go an 8" I suppose????

[multiweb]

Great shot. Very clear field. Captured the nebulosity well. :thumbsup:

[allan gould]

As you said Paul, "faint" but thats what I almost did when I saw the full image - faint. It the best Ive seen.
Allan

[strongmanmike]

F5.6??? Man, that's still too slooow :doh: get real F3.8...now that's fast :lol: :P

Mike

[Lester]

Top class image Paul. I can see aperture fever creeping in here one day. All the best.

[Rigel003]

Nice to see it finally posted, Paul. I've certainly seen you put the hours in over the last few months. Looking great but I'm interested in the colour balance. It usually appears a little more blue in images I've seen and yours seems to have more of a golden cast in the majority of stars and the nebula.

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys,

Mike, yep it is not a super fast scope, so you have me there despite the massive aperture difference.

Graeme. It looks more grey to me, but lots of images have a distinct blue to the entire image. I had the image looking like that but the blue cast did not look right. I welcome any thoughts about what is should look like. Rigel is close by and must illuminate it, it should be blue but maybe its not. It is classified as reflection. The star colours are there for sure I just saturated it that way. Interesting thoughts.

[Rigel003]

Some discussion of the colour in the APOD description here (http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121101.html).

[DJT]

That's quite something. It always amazes me a) whats actually up there, and B, that they can be captured so well. Nicely done.

[strongmanmike]

Mate, you have a PME for munyi sake, using just a puny 4" APO on it is crazzzzy :lol:

Actually given your shorter FL but smaller chip you and I have a similar field of view to work with...I just get more and faster :D...comon, you know you want too.... ;)

Hey your gear is great, all good fun :thumbsup:

Mike

[John Hothersall]

That is so bright an bold and detailed for a faint object at your F ratio, very impressive result.

John.

[Paul Haese]

I am with you. A mate some time ago asked me when I was going to remove the straw off the mount and put a real scope on it. I now have both "the straw" and the RC12 on the mount. I take turns on using each. It is high time I used the RC12 though. ;)



Point taken and I have altered the blue channel a little more to get the colour a bit closer. :)

[marc4darkskies]

Nice image Paul. Better since you added a bit more blue but I can't help feeling just a bit more would be nice :question:. Agree it shouldn't be awash with blue though - it should be subtle.

Cheers, Marcus

[gregbradley]

Very nicely done Paul. You got that faint reflection nebula showing up clearly.

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

Thanks Marcus I will certainly just take one more look at the colour tonight. The main problem seems to me that the left shows the blue more than the right side (or the chin). It probably closer to us and hence why it seems more grey.

Greg, if you do it at this focal length don't make the same mistake I did. Go long subs to overwhelm the background noise.

[Ross G]

A great looking photo Paul.

You have captured so much detail.


Ross.