Not another Bran 285. :)

[sjastro]

Haven't seen any images of this very obscure object except for a small image on the RCW catalogue at the Galaxy Map (http://galaxymap.org/cat/list/rcw/1) website.

Perhaps it is the first amateur image.
The object is embedded in an even more obscure object the molecular cloud GCB88 (http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=[GCB88]+3) visible in the image.

HaRGB image.

11 hrs Ha 1 hr each RGB. BRC-250 CCD, STXL11002 CCD.
Larger image http://members.iinet.net.au/~sjastro/bran285.html

Clear skies

Steven

[gregbradley]

Fabulous work Stephen
With the amount of imaging going on its rare indeed to get one
rarely imaged
Greg

[atalas]

Great effort Steve!another new target for the Carina Region.

[alpal]

Hi Steven,
That's great data you have collected.
I hope you don't mind - I had a quick play with your image?

I would have preferred different processing as per attached:

cheers
Allan

[sjastro]

Thanks Louie.



No problems Alan.
The trouble with the data is that the object is so ridiculously faint that it failed to register in the RGB images. Rather than doing a marathon imaging session I used the highlights option in photoshop to tone down the characteristic salmon pink colour associated with Ha imaging.
I have removed a green cast from the image using PI.



Thanks Greg.

Clear skies

Steven

[seeker372011]

Nice find!

[alpal]

That's much better Steven.
You've got rid of those green stars.
I used the HLVG plug-in filter in Photoshop to do the same.
I notice that I boosted the colour with LAB mode a lot more than you did.
I probably over did it but I would still prefer a little more colour than you.
Each to their own -
10 people would give you 10 different versions by processing the same data.

cheers
Allan

[sjastro]

Hello Alan,

Given there are no reference images except a false colour version from the UK Schmidt scope (http://galaxymap.org/cat/view/rcw/47) a "colour standard" to go by is not possible.
I've decided to throw conventional Ha image processing out the window and have come up with a final version where the star colours in particular are far superior.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~sjastro/bran285.html




Thanks Narayan.

[alpal]

Hi Steven - that's looking even better now - a bit more colour.
It's a pity about the blooming areas in blue around some bright stars.
It may be possible to process it out using "selective colour".
I get the same problem with bright stars & also the bleed lines in black,
going off to the right are a nuisance when you hit the well depth.

cheers
Allan

[SkyViking]

Oh noooo, not yet another Bran 285... :lol:
I mean, that's brilliant, and nice to see a rarely (if ever) imaged object and your image is great. I partcilarly like the later versions that show more colour.
Thanks for the view!

[sjastro]

Rolf,

I think you should invest some time in this region. It probably warrants a 100hr+ mega exposure to bring out the full detail.:)



Alan.

Another way is to select the stars and apply a slight desaturation.

Clear skies

Steven

[sjastro]

The last reprocess of this image.

I have learnt you don't have to blend the R and Ha channels to avoid the salmon pink colours and white stars. In this case however the "correct" balance is anyone's guess given there are no reference images.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~sjastro/bran285.html

Regards

Steven

[alpal]

Hi Steven,
That's looking much better now.
I had pushed the colour far too hard in my quick version.
Just goes to show that it's worth putting extra time into processing.
Now - yours is THE reference image.

cheers
Allan

[Stevec35]

That's looking very good now Steven - a fine image. The green/cyan halos around the bright stars were a bit distracting earlier. Maybe you could further reduce the halos with some selective colour processing.

Cheers

Steve

[sjastro]

Done to the best of my abilities Steve.
The link is below.




Thanks Alan.

It has been brought to my attention there is a fairly rare type of object, an unnamed small white reflection nebula near the centre of the image. Initially I thought it was a halo but reducing the halo effect has brought this object into greater detail.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~sjastro/bran285.html