NGC3576 in Hydrogen Alpha

[gregbradley]

I took this on the last trip to my dark site observatory.

AP140, 6 x 20 minutes, Astrodon 5nm Ha, PMX mount, MMOAG and SBIG STi guided. 1050mm focal length F7.5.

http://upload.pbase.com/image/150155483 crop

http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/150155471 full frame

The 20 minute exposures were a test and I am happy with the results. It just gives that extra depth with less noise that Ha needs. Even longer subexposures may be even better if the tracking can take it.

I got the other narrowband data for this image as well. So a narrowband version to come if it turns out well enough.

Greg.

[multiweb]

Top shot Greg. :thumbsup: I really like the details you've got in the neb at the top of the field though.

[Joshua Bunn]

Yes, great capture Greg, some good contrast in those tendrils.

Josh

[Larryp]

Great work, Greg! Lots of detail there

[RickS]

Looks good, Greg. Looking forward to the NB version...

[Stevec35]

Nice job Greg. Never get tired of this field and you've done it well.

Cheers

Steve

[gregbradley]

Yes, that surprised me. I didn't know there was some more nebula up there.





Thanks Larry. I wasn't expecting the loops to be so well defined. Good skies, sensitive camera and some decent aperture did the job.



Thanks Steve. I hope to be able to get it to look good in narrowband which is always a challenge.



Thanks Rick. I hope it turns out as well in NB too.

Greg.

[jase]

A very clean and tidy image Greg. Top work! Looks like you've push the data quite hard to display the faint regions which are a delight to see. The data is certainly handling being stretch this way, perhaps as you state the long subs providing a noise free foundation to work with. Would love to check out the completed mission of a narrowband image. Hope you don't keep us waiting too long. Well done.

[marc4darkskies]

That's a ripper Greg - nice composition and depth! You might want to mask the central portions from the stretching though - they're looking a liitle burned out.

Cheers, Marcus

[gregbradley]

It was great seeing, a perfectly clear night (I just got 3 perfectly clear, good seeing nights this weekend as well - yah!) and the PMX was humming. 20 minutes is longer than I normally do and I think it paid dividends. 30 minutes on some objects may also be worth it if it doesn't start overexposing. I have all the data. So NB next.



Great catch Marcus. I don't know how that slipped through my processing fingers! Corrected. Cheers.
Greg.

[jsmoraes]

Very beautiful image. I noted that this image is somewhat different from what I caught.
Very similar in details with APOD 2008 March 26.
Congratulations ! :thumbsup:

[Ross G]

Hi Greg,

An amzing looking monochrome photo.

Sharp and detailed.

I love your tonal range and composition.

Ross.

[gregbradley]

Thanks very much for that. The framing is somewhat accidental in that I was taking a shot to see where the object was and this other nebula up top showed up!



Thanks very much Ross. The 20 minute subs seemed to be a winner as long as the tracking holds up which it did. With a guide scope it may be less reliable but this was with a MMOAG which is pretty reliable.
Greg.

[SkyViking]

Wonderful image Greg, the detail is great and well processed. The NB version will be stunning I reckon :)

[LucasB]

Another fantastic image Greg. I love the detail, it is superb.:thumbsup:
Lucas

[David Fitz-Henr]

Top shot Greg - loads of detail and faint nebulosity! Well Done :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Thanks very much. I hope the NB turns out well.



Thanks Lucas. The seeing was great, the mount was humming and the scope tends to get out of the way.



Thanks David. I have quite a few images stockpiled to process. Some of them aren't good enough to post. Or I try to accumulate more data to tart them up.

Greg.

[astronobob]

Amaizing stuff Greg, that Hydrogen Alpha imaging is something else :cool:

[gregbradley]

Thanks Bob. Its a unique look at nebulas. The loops in NGC3576 are pretty spectacular.

Greg.

[naskies]

Looks great, Greg!