Carina Key

[Peter Ward]

Playing with some of my 2010 RCOS data, I chanced upon a sharpening technique that doesn't seem to put offensive dark rings around stars.

Anyway, rather than force the processing, I simply hit it with this much bigger hammer.... Viva Las Vegas baby! :)

The link is here (http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/gallery256.html)

[Larryp]

That's superb, Peter. I have rarely seen such fine detail in images of this object:thumbsup:

[RickS]

Nice and crisp, Peter! The Fickle Finger fair jumps out at you :)

[DavidTrap]

I'm not a fan of the wrinkly appearance of the background nebulosity. This was the appearance that StarTools gave to some of Bert's data a while back. Looks like a cold scrotum to me?

If you can tame that effect in the larger wavelets, and maintain the detail in the smaller wavelet structures, I think you'll be onto a winner!

DT

[E_ri_k]

Wow:eyepop: Thats amazing Peter! Fantastic detail across the whole image. What did you do different in regards to sharpening?

Erik

[gregbradley]

Yep I can get into that. I like that type of contrast enhanced sharpening.

Greg.

[multiweb]

Simply superb. All the right bits are in there. Not silly sharpening artifacts. That'd be my new reference for the keyhole. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[iceman]

I tend to agree with David.

Lovely image but the wrinkly parts don't look quite right to me.

[Bart]

Struck me when I first looked, it is a tad overdone. :question:

[Peter Ward]

Thanks for the feedback guys...

There is no doubt the processing is cooked, char-broiled, then smoked :)
(hence my referral to Las Vegas neon)....but it does reveal some interesting structures that would otherwise be hidden....so I figured.. what the heck?

Does it "respect the light"...probably not...:) That said, I think the intrinsic resolution is right up there.

Might post a more "conservative" version a tad later...:thumbsup:

[sjastro]

Peter,

An example of the Science vs Las Vegas debate.
I prefer an underdone approach.

Regards

Steven

[Peter Ward]

OK

Toned down version here (http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/gallery256.html) (same link as before)

[SkyViking]

Excellent result and what great resolution Peter.
There does seem to be quite a bit of ringing in certain parts. Especially around Eta and to the lower right of the Keyhole. But that might just be a matter of playing with the settings. Great work :)
So what was the sharpening technique used?

[marc4darkskies]

Very cool indeed Peter! :thumbsup:. Didn't much like the "startools ... cold scrotum" look :lol: but the slightly more conservative one is certainly better.

Can't recall - what image scale was the original?

High contrast edge detection mask to protect the stars?

Cheers, Marcus

[marco]

Wow Peter, excellent resolution here! I have to say that despite being extreme I don't dislike it, surely I would have gone for a less overcooked version BUT none the less it is nice to see all available details on display in such dramatic way :thumbsup:

Regards
Marco

[Peter Ward]

Thanks Marcus. Agreed....cold nuts aren't very appealing. :lol:

But yes picked it in one, masked the stars, layered sharpening applied to the rest. Now I have to shoot you :)

The original was binned 2x with the STL11002. From memory the Badder FFC gave it about a 6000mm FL

[irwjager]

Love the cold scrotum - I never even knew I even swung that way! :question: :lol:

Seriously though, it is frighteningly consistent with Hubble imagery such as this (http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0704/carina_hst_big.jpg), with every little detail accounted for. Very, very nice!

[Peter Ward]

Aye carrumba..enough of the male anatomy! :lol:

But thanks for the feedback....and comparison to the Hubble data :thanx:
(I'd not compared the two before your link...I guess not too bad for 3 year old data from an amateur :D )

[marc4darkskies]

That comparison is damned impressive to say the least Peter!! You should whip out that FFC /RCOS combo again!

[RobF]

Really quite remarkable when compared with Hubble. Stunning stuff. The (albeit now subdued) wrinkles still worry me - surely could be tamed by better masking somehow?

I can't suppress 2 other thoughts:

1. Comparing to Hubble may become so "2013" if James Webb ever gets into service (assuming IR images actually do compete with Hubble)

2. I'm waiting for Mike to start identifying animals all along the bottom edge of that hubble images :D

[Peter Ward]

Thanks Rob... but I suspect many are thinking this was a serious processing effort by yours truly.. it was really intended as more of a novelty...that surprised me by showing structures in that part to the sky (some might start seeing a Dragon's gonads :D) that had not really been highlighted previously.





Agreed, the RCOS needs some more use ..while the RHA is cool....as Fred would often say, too wussy. :thumbsup:

[Ross G]

Great photo Peter.

I am amazed at the detail.

Ross.

[Peter Ward]

Thanks Ross. I think the long FL + AO-L helped. :thumbsup:

[dvj]

Holly Smokes Peter! The image is excellent. :eyepop:

[Peter Ward]

Well, thanks John!

I liked it. But it never won me a cigar...

....such is life :)