Messier 17 - The Swan Nebula (aka. Horseshoe, Lobster, Checkmark nebula)

[PhotonCollector]

Geeday everyone,

Here's an image I did about a month ago of M17.

There's a higher resolution image here http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/ngc6618.html

Clear Skies
Paul Mayo

Imaging Details

Telescope: 12-inch f/5 GSO newtonian telescope on Sampson GEM.
Guiding: Hand guided with 4.5-inch f/18 guidescope.
Camera: Canon EOS 300D Digital - Hα enabled.
Exposures: 16 x 2-minute exposures @ ISO400
Total Exposure time: 32 minutes.
Filter/equipment:
Baader 2" Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector.
Baader 2" UV/IR Cut Filter.
Processing: Dark frame subtraction, bias and flat-fielded in Iris,
smoothed in Noiseware CE.
Exposure Date: 2006, May 28.

[Striker]

Another nice image Paul,

How can you wait a month before processing your images.

I cant wait till the next day in most cases otherwise I get this voice in my head screaming at me saying "process me you idiot otherwise I will be gone from your computer" or "process me now you idiot otherwise I will find another astronomer who cares about me"

Notice the idiot part.....lol

[Dennis]

Another beautiful image - thanks for posting it and reminding me of what is up there...beyond the clouds.

Cheers

Dennis

[ving]

so much nebula i cant even see the swna any more!!!
great shot :)

[PhotonCollector]

LOL,

I did process it the day after, but I wasn't happy with the image. So I fiddled with it off and on for a month. I bit the bullet today when I convinced myself "thatta have to do".

yes i notice the idiot part (love it). Anyhow according to my brother in law "were all nuts" LOL, he came outside to see what i was doing when my wife told him I was out with the 'scope, it was mid-winter and freezing cold. After only a few minutes in the cold and dark he commented "your nuts" and quickly returned back into the house for warmth and light.

[tornado33]

good shot, well composed and good colour balance. Yes I find myself going over past shots, some I cant improve on having fluked it first time round, others I can. I guess the ultimate trick is to get all the imformation the camera has captured readily visible, but without unwanted artifacts.
Scott

[acropolite]

Beautiful image Paul, as Ving said so much nebula. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Heck I can't even wait till the sun has risen after packing up, my images are usually processed and on my website before sun up! LOL

Nice M17 Paul, even if it was sitting in the matrix of your hard drive for too long! :-)

Mike S

[PhotonCollector]

Thanks you guys for all those positive comments.

It's great to be able to share and show these images to all of you shortly after taking them.

Thanks Strongmanmike
I have dozens of images that have never been shown and/or processed to completion - but I will attempt to get them on IIS when the rains return. In the meantime I'll just be capturing all the photons I can :-)

Paul M