NGC 6334 - Cat's Paw Nebula in Ha

[RickS]

It was nice to get some clear skies this weekend even though I wasn't able to get away from the light pollution at home. Here's a close up of NGC 6334, the Cat's Paw Nebula, at 2700mm focal length.

Scope: Ceravolo 300 Astrograph at f/9 (2700mm FL)
Mount: AP900
Camera: U16M
Filters: Astrodon 5nm Ha
Guiding: Lodestar/MMOAG
Exposures: 16 x 600s
Processing: PixInsight

I also collected three hours of LRGB but that will require a lot more work. It's always a struggle to get decent colour from data collected at home (inner Brisbane suburb).

Larger version here: http://rickstevenson.smugmug.com/Astro-Photography/2013-06/i-568Z4qQ/0/X3/NGC6334_Ha_med-X3.jpg

Constructive criticism always appreciated...

Cheers,
Rick.

[gregbradley]

Gee high quality image. Only possible improvement is it appears to be slightly black clipped? That scope is really top notch and your mount and camera match it.

That setup should produces some great shots.

Greg.

[DavidTrap]

Gotta be happy with that Rick!

My only suggestion would be something like HDRMT to rein in the bright areas - just needs some more definition IMHO.

DT

[ozstronomer]

Lovely detail there Rick, well done. The FOV is great, lets you get right in there

[RickS]

Thanks, Greg. I may have gone a little overboard with the contrast. I'll have a bit more of a play with it. According to the histogram the FITS image is not clipped, but only just. The conversion to JPG and 8-bit data may have truncated the low end.



Thanks, David. I did use HDRMT but in an effort to avoid the flat look which often results I blended 1/3 of the HDRMT version back into the original. Maybe that wasn't quite enough?

I appreciate the comments, guys! I always end up with an improved image as a result of the feedback.

Cheers,
Rick.

[RickS]

Thanks, Geoff.The FOV at 2700mm just happens to be exactly right for that target. Hope you got some decent data this weekend too!

[Larryp]

Really nice, Rick

[Dennis]

Superb image Rick. There is so much to look at in the frame, the tones, structures, shape and detail across the field is just stunning. Excellent technique and set up in order to operate so flawlessly at 2700mm fl.:thumbsup:

Cheers

Dennis

[marc4darkskies]

Whoa! Very striking image Rick - good one! Just ease off on the contrast a tad and I'll bet you see some faint neb in the black areas.

Cheers, Marcus

[strongmanmike]

Great contrasty look Rick, it looks like it was done with a red sensitive emulsion plate on the AAT :thumbsup:

Mike

[multiweb]

Superb stuff Rick. Stratospheric! :eyepop:

[Stevec35]

Very impressive image Rick! Excellent composition. I would agree with others though that the dark areas look a little too dark.

Cheers

Steve

[multiweb]

I'd say it's spot on. There is a very dark patch next to the 'spongy' bit at 8 o'clock which is way darker than any sky background count.

[RickS]

Thanks, Larry.



Thanks a lot, Dennis! That guide graph certainly bounces around a lot more at 2700mm. Most of the credit must go to the AP900 which is running at 5Kg over "max" weight and still performing wonderfully.



Thanks, Marcus. I'll see if I can pull out a little more.



Thanks, Mike!



And thanks very much, Marc!



Thanks, Steve. I will definitely experiment some more.

[gregbradley]

Rick, Marc pointed out to me that the histogram in PS is often cached. If you look at the histogram it has a little number up top right. That shows you how far back it is showing. You can update it to show the current image and when you do that it invariably shows the black point moved up. Click the little warning triangle for the refreshed histogram.

So the image could still be black clipped and not show it in the histogram.

Greg.

[RickS]

Thanks, Greg. That's definitely something to keep in mind. I was using the histogram process in PixInsight but only on the FITS image. It's quite possible the low end got truncated during the final conversion to JPG, so I will check that with PS.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Ross G]

An amazing closeup photo Rick.

Incredible detail.

It looks fantastic!

Ross.

[RobF]

Watching your exploits with the new scope with interest Rick. Was a pretty good weekend end for an astro-fix in the end.

Top work on the Cat's Paw! You've come a long way since the one-shot-colour image of this posted a few years ago (which wasn't shabby at all mind you) - onwards and upwards to new heights :)

[RickS]

Thanks, Ross.



Thanks very much, Rob. I have certainly come a long way since my first attempts at imaging in 2011 but there's still a lot further to go :)

Cheers,
Rick.

[naskies]

That's fantastic, Rick! And only 2.5 hours worth of data! :eyepop: My only minor suggestion might be reigning in the noise in the fainter nebulosity, or add a tad more data?

I've been mosaicing the Cat's Paw with my RC8/STF-8300 for a while... I'm up to 31 hours in Ha and it has about the same (maybe a bit less?) SnR as your effort :rofl: Not surprising though - I think your set up catches photons at 12 times the flux rate as mine :P

I'm glad you've got this combo working well - can't wait to see the LRGB images. Have you thought about pointing it at the one target for 120 hours? ;)

[RickS]

Thanks, Dave. I was hoping to add some more data but I probably won't have a chance for a couple of weeks.

I do like the cameras with 9um pixels. It seems a lot quicker to get clean data than with the smaller pixels on the KAF-8300. Of course, you take a hit on image scale unless you have a long FL and big aperture. TANSTAAFL :lol:

I have some LRGB for the Cat's Paw. May not get a chance to process it soon unless I do it on a plane.

I'd love to collect 120 hours on a target but I reckon it would take me a few years at the current rate!

Cheers,
Rick.

[allan gould]

Just catching up with some of these images after getting back from Japan.
Great image Rick, love the contrast and details that Ha can pull out with your setup.
Allan

[RickS]

Thanks very much, Allan! I'm quite pleased with the performance so far. I just need to get the corners perfect...

[Shiraz]

that's a cracker of an image Rick - exceptional detail. Regards ray

[RickS]

Thanks, Ray!

[John Hothersall]

Detail is breathtaking, can't wait for the finished result.

John.

[RickS]

Thanks, John! Unfortunately, it may be a couple of weeks before I get any time to do more processing :sadeyes: