Helix Nebula by the Bunyip

[David Fitz-Henr]

I took this image data (for the Helix Nebula) a few months ago and have just gotten around to processing it.

Lum-18x15m, Ha-20x15m, R-10x15m, G-8x15m, B-10x15m

Large Image: http://www.pbase.com/image/154140519

Thanks for looking.

[Joshua Bunn]

Wow David, Very dramatic, youve captured some faint nebulosity and faint fuzzies there too. cool :)

Josh

[dvj]

Stunning. One of the best posted on this list.

j

[multiweb]

That's incredible David. :eyepop: So many galaxies in that shot too. The Bunyip delivered once again. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[RickS]

Love it, David! A nice contrast to narrowband versions. Lots of detail in those small fuzzies that is not usually seen.

Cheers,
Rick.

[gregbradley]

That's a beautiful Helix David. I really like the processing as well.

Greg.

[Rod771]

Impressive David! Very nice colours.

Well done:thumbsup:

[alpal]

Top image - plenty of detail.

[alistairsam]

Thats stunning David, beautifully processed.
Did you capture RGB binned?

Cheers
Alistair

[DJT]

Thats really a great image, David. I love the depth of the colours as well.:thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

Wow!! :eyepop: I'm going to stick my neck out and propose that, in terms of detail at least, this is the best amateur Helix I've ever seen on IIS!

Cheers, Marcus

[bratislav]

Fantastic result! Stupendous resolution and beautiful colors. I can't stop looking at those galaxies ...
Did you use AO for luminance shot David?

All we need now is for resident experts to explain how come a lowly Newtonian could do this, and perhaps offer a sharper shot done with RC ;) :poke:

[David Fitz-Henr]

Thanks for the kind words Josh, John, Marc, Rick, Greg, Rod and Allan!



Thanks Alistair; no, I take all of my data unbinned. Though I haven't tested it, I believe that colour data does add detail to images in terms of changes in the colour between pixels.


Thanks David.


Kind words indeed Marcus, Cheers! I should mention too that this image is upsized from the original by about 33% as I found during processing that (due to the fine details) it was easier to see on the screen when upsized in this way.


Thanks for the very kind words Bratislav! No, I don't use AO for any of the images that I take since (apart from not owning an AO device) I don't have enough backfocus between the corrector and the CCD to use one.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Superb David!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup :

Just spent a few minutes cruising around your large image and I keep coming back to the inner shell, so much detail, just outstanding!!

Cheers,

Justin.

[strongmanmike]

Ooooh.. big call Marcus :confuse3:

It is excellent though Dave and another demonstration why gathering some LRGB and Ha on this baby is useful too so you can see the galaxies :thumbsup: and I like the deep red colour.......even if it isn't magenta :whistle: :lol:

Top effort

Mike

[SkyViking]

Superb detail and great image scale you've got David. One of the finest Helix images for sure I think. You've picked up a lot of faint outer shells and the resolution in the central region is excellent. Nice colours too and I love the background galaxies sprinkled across the frame! :thumbsup:

[dutch2]

Beautiful colour and detail.
Well done.:thumbsup:

[TimberLand]

Great Helix, but wait there is more in the surrounds, but wait again there is more in the deep background. I can't pick which I like the most the galaxies or the nebulosity. Yes narrow band makes some great images but RGB still takes the cake if the sky permits.

Thanks for the inspiration for next winters imaging.

[Peter.M]

An amazing image David, I thought that if I owned a large newt and mount to carry it that I would look into a system whereby I could use AO for luminance without the filter wheel in place, and then take the colour without the AO. Might be possible to keep the distances correct then but for me at the moment it is a pipe dream.

[David Fitz-Henr]

Thanks Justin!


Cheers Mike; Yes LRGB/Ha and pure narrowband images both have their place as they show different types of detail. Glad you like the colour too :D








Thanks for the kind comments Rolf, Ingrid and Justin!


Thanks Peter. Actually, the filter wheel is builtin on the STL-11000M so I am limited to about 21mm of space between the corrector and the camera, which I recall is too small for the AOL device.

[LewisM]

Typical Fitzhenry Goodness :)

[Stevec35]

Well that's just excellent David!

Cheers

Steve

[Ross G]

A beautiful photo David.

Great colour and the detail is amazing.

Very few astro photos grab your attention for such a long time as yours does.

Inspiring work!

Ross.

[David Fitz-Henr]

Thanks for the kind words guys; I take it then that the upsizing from the native size by 33% has worked out OK? ... cheaper than buying a tele-extender :lol:

[marco]

Excellent, don't know if it is THE best image of helix I have ever seen but surely it is as good as it can get! My only remarks are for the stars, a bit monochrome, but the nebula itself, details and color balance is outstanding :thumbsup:

Regards
Marco

[David Fitz-Henr]

Thanks for the kind words Marco!
In terms of the star colours, I had similar thoughts during processing as the stars did look a little more bland than in my other images; however looking at other people's images of the Helix it does appear that the stars in this region just aren't that colourful :confuse3:

[Shiraz]

:thumbsup: wow, what an excellent image .