Deep look into the Keyhole

[strongmanmike]

While my observatory has been coming along and since there have been quite a few places to submit images lately ;) I have recently been working on some existing images and some past data (Sidonioing ;))

One thing I did was go back and combine some old Starfire Ha data with my more recent AG12 HaOIII and RGB data on The Carina Nebula from last year.

Here is an extreme close up version to see all the cool details inside and around the Keyhole structure. You can see the complex shells of ejected material around Eta Carina itself and the inner famous dumbell shaped Homunculus nebula with Eta at its centre but hidden from view. The Fickle Finger feature made famous by the Hubble Space Telescope is clear above the keyhole too.

Eta and her Keyhole (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/150699458/original)

Slightly wider field view (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/150699460/original)

The original full frame image (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/141738539/original)

Mike

[h0ughy]

well you floored me mate - simply stunning

[RickS]

That's fantastic, Mike! There must have been some cunning processing going on there.

[LewisM]

Eta Carinians must have abducted you, whisked you through a wormhole and allowed you to image Eta Carinae at close range from their home world, before returning you home (...no longer a virgin...)

[RobF]

Wowser that sure is amazing.

If grasshopper may comment on the masters work, my only thought is it needs to be zoomed out 30% - perhaps showing a wider surrounding field. Being zoomed in quite so close starts to show limiting artefacts. Zoomed out a little its just even more jaw dropping and the fuzziness doesn't distract.

[David Fitz-Henr]

Yeah, amazing resolution there Mike; I don't recall seeing this level of detail around Eta Carina before :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Larryp]

Stunning resolution , Mike-love it!

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Guys :)

Rob, I agree with you I guess but much of that fuzziness is actual detail...but I was pushing the envelope...you know me ;) :thumbsup:

Mike

[E_ri_k]

Extreme closeup alright ;) Fantastic detail :thumbsup: Awesome capture.
Erik

[SkyViking]

Now that's a nice closeup Mike! And a nice touch with the Homunculus details, that looks really great.
I do agree that at this image scale one does begin to see some processing artefacts, a slightly zoomed out version would have a stunning effect I think.
Thanks for the lovely view Mike :)

[strongmanmike]

Ah, processing artefacts, bah! Had to be real close, I wanted to be swiiiimming inside the keyhole :lol: besides there aren't that many processing artefacts :)
Mike

[RobF]

I guess you have to be pretty close to see the homonculus is being resolved. Bonus point for being bold and fearless? :painting:
Certainy no doubt there's stunning detail rarely seen in even the best Etas.

[gregbradley]

Nice work Mike.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

OK Rolf and Rob added links to original post to a less zoomed-in version plus the original AG12 full frame image that I started with :thumbsup:

Mike

[SkyViking]

I think that image scale works best Mike, it looks really crisp now :)
If you are able to tease out that resolution across the AG12 frame, have you considered extending your hi-res version to also include the Trumpler 14 / Mystic Mountain region? That would look stunning I reckon. :thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

Impressive Mike!! :thumbsup: What kind of processing steps are you doing here - your apparent image scale is around 0.5 arcsec per pixel!(?)

Cheers, Marcus

[strongmanmike]

Ah you know, a bit of this, a bit of that....;)

Mke

[iceman]

Wow, quite stunning Mike! Well done.

[astronobob]

That is just insane Mike ! ! !
How I always wondered what this keyhole looked like to this resolution :eyepop:
Facinating details, whooo . .

[pluto]

That's awesome! :D

[alpal]

Top image Mike - that's one we can all aspire to equal.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks guys, just a bit of fun in front of the puter :computer:
Mike

[DavidU]

Hell yes !! well done:thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Dave, it's a cool area to look at closely :)

Mike

[DJT]

Gobsmacked..

[marco]

Another excellent image Mike, I love everything of it, color balance, sharpness, dept.. your photon sucker in your hands is making wonders :thumbsup:
Regards
Marco

[cybereye]

OMG!

OK, I'm bringing my scope down to Canberra and setting up in your backyard - I might get a clear night then... God you do some good work! :thumbsup:

Cheers,
Mario

PS Yes, I did call you God by Jove!!!

[Rod771]

WOW and WOW again!

That's off the top shelf, well Done Mike :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Glad you enjoyed the view boys :thumbsup:

Mario, actually none of the data was collected from here in Canberra, both the Starfire and AG12 data were collected from crappy Newcastle, the morning I grabbed the 30min of Ha with the Starfire it was uncharacteristically quite steady while the seeing was characteristically poor for the AG12 data...so perhaps I should have another go from the steadier skies of Wallaroo...and of course you are welcome to come down anytime :thumbsup:.

Mike

[iceman]

This beautiful view is now IOTW (http://www.iceinspace.com.au).

[ourkind]

WOW MiKE I can almost make out some exo-planets around those foreground stars! Love your work! :thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

To me it just doesn't seem appropriate to refer to the nebula as

"Eta and her keyhole"

however the wide field is quite stunning :thumbsup:

[SkyViking]

Congratulations on IOTW Mike! :thumbsup:

[Craige]

Wow mike! That is magic.

Cheers Craige

[Ross G]

Amazing photo Mike.

Congratulations on IOTW....well deserved!


Ross.

[strongmanmike]

Nice thing to wake up to on a Sat morning, glad you liked it Mike :thumbsup:

Cheers for the comments guys and Trevor, Mrs Eta Carinae was stopped at Sydney airport customs with 20 lbs of crack in her underpants :eyepop:

MIke

[TrevorW]

Thank goodness it was in her underpants !!!

[David Fitz-Henr]

Congrats on IOTW Mike, Well done :thumbsup:

[RobF]

Yep, congrats Mike - well deserved IOTW! :thumbsup:

[AG Hybrid]

Damn that's amazing. Wouldn't mind seeing you "Sidonioing" some Hubble heritage pictures.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers guys :thumbsup:

Adrian, yes I have contemplated having a crack at some HST data, actually I was asked to present at NEAIC in New York this year but due to circumstances out of my control I was unable to attend but (amongst many other things :eyepop:) I was looking forward to sitting in on Rob Gendlers presentation on using Hubble data to create your own versions :thumbsup:

Mike

[Higbyrichard]

"Gobsmacked" Mike. Why do we need Hubble when we have Mike?

Just superb. Richard.

[strongmanmike]

On ya Ricki :thumbsup:

Mike

[ChiefDreamer]

Aye Chiwawa..!!! :eyepop:

How did you do it?

[Leonardo70]

Congrats on IOTW Mike. Great image.

All the best,
Leo

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Hun and Leo :thumbsup:

Mike

[atalas]

Looks great Mike!