More wall to wall nebula - NGC6357 in Scorpius

[PhotonCollector]

Hi everyone

This image shows a lot more nebula than I expected around the NGC6357 nebula in Scorpius. You can even make out what appears to be a snaking shaped dark nebula running from top left to centre-left. The only part of the image that appears black is an area around the bright star at bottom-centre.

You can see better resolution at
http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/ngc6357.html

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: 13 x 3-minute exposures @ ISO400
Total Exposure time: 39 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, June 28.

[tornado33]

Excellent work Paul. Yes every bit of ionized hydrogen there is showing up :)
Scott

[ving]

sweet!
such a great looking picture :)

is it just me or is there some sort of friendly rivalry between you two as to who can push the deepest? ;)

[h0ughy]

shouldnt that be blue:P :eyepop: wow, very impressive, like it very much. Heaps of detail there:thumbsup:

[PhotonCollector]

Na! no real rivalry anyhow 30 and 40 minute exposures on my 'scope aren't really going deep as I suspect one could. I will however say there is a cosmic connection between us - when I met tornado33 it turned out we both had the same birthday, the same GEM, the same interests, the same 400mm f6.3 lens. We end up with the same DSLRs and imaging the same object on the same night but all of this is completely coincidental (mathematically speaking) or perhaps we are cosmic twins?

ok then to be honest maybe there is just a little rivalry in that we both keeping pushing the limits which makes the other one keep up or do better.
:P
Paul M

[PhotonCollector]

Hi Houghy

Blue ?

Paul M

[Striker]

Lovely image Paul,

Lots of detailed neb there.

Too me on my monitor it still looks way to red...I dont know what other see.
I see you and Scott as great mates sharing the same goal.
You both do similar work as you said and provide us with some great results between the both of you.

I still reckon you can improve on the red balance.

[ving]

so you say!
lets hear scotts take on this :P

(stir, stir, stir...)

[PhotonCollector]

Geeday striker,

yeah you're right BUT ...... I don't necessarily want to create beautiful correctly color balanced images! rather I prefer to create images which show the maximum amount of detail, and I find doing that usually results in an off color balance.

To show you what I mean I have attached two images. The first image I suspect is much more to your liking and the second image shows the nebula captured in the red channel. As you can see the first image is probably more appealing however the second image shows the full extent of the nebula so I have tried to make an image somewhere in between but that still retains a lot of detail.

So my preference is to bias the image towards more detail. Does this make sense? or have I had to much coffee ?? :D

Paul M

[PhotonCollector]

Ving, Ving, Ving,

I thought of you when I posted this image - oh no! hope ving doesnt see this one :-) re: do you have an GEM yet ?

[ving]

er....

[xelasnave]

Nice work again Paul.. I dont suppose my endorsement as to the great colour will really count but honestly it looks great. As you know by now I tend to place my emphasis on detail irrespective of colour... and I do get some wild ones... but why not its not hurting anyone.
alex

[tornado33]

I think Paul and I compliment each other, boouncing suggestions off each other, using slightly diferent techniques, and of course Pauls excellent Star Atlas pro software, without which, most of the faint obscure stuff I image would have gone begging :) And yes it is amazing that including our birthdates we have so many things in common.
Scott