The Eagle Nebula

[gregbradley]

Its been a while since I imaged the Eagle Nebula. So I thought I would image it again.

I am happy this is better than my previous efforts. I have often found this nebula to be not so easy to image. I imaged around 3X as much data as I used as seeing, wind made some not good enough to use. I graded the subexposures so only the best were in the image.

CDK17, SX694, PME, Astrodon filters, F4.45.

http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/156443221/large

http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/156443221/original

Here's a crop view of the Pillars of Creation:

http://upload.pbase.com/image/156443358/large

http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/156443358/original

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Oooh no :eyepop: a very red nebula...lipstick chocolate red even, :scared:...oh dear, you're in for it :help: :lol:

Kidding, kidding.... :lol:

Well, I like it :) a good image scale too...such a majestic hero of an object that one :thumbsup:

Mike

[RickS]

Nice detail, Greg. It's a great object at that image scale.

Cheers,
Rick.

[gregbradley]

Hehehe :lol: Red is the new blue! Thanks Mike.



I agree, some objects really shine at a certain image scale and I was happy with this. Its the most detailed Eagle I've been able to produce.

Greg.

[alpal]

Great detail but too much naughty red.

cheers
Allan

[Peter Ward]

Not quite sure it's quite that red. :question:

Nice eagle just the same :thumbsup:

[Star Catcher]

Yep, lovely scale and details in image Greg.
Ted

[gregbradley]

I toned down the red a tad.



Thanks. I guess I was basing it on this APOD from Adam Block which is quite a bit redder:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140607.html

I toned down the red a tad anyway.



Cheers Ted.

Greg.

[Octane]

Amazing detail, Greg.

Have you got decent skies at Kurrajong?

H

[alpal]

If Adam Block makes it all red then who am I to criticize?
He's one of the most respected astro-photography experts in the world.

I withdraw my comment.

cheers
Allan

[gregbradley]

Unfortunately not really. Occassionally I get some nice seeing and it makes all the difference at 2 and 3 metres. Seeing in the last few weeks has mostly been poor to below average.



Colour is always a contentious issue. I usually lean towards the more colourful myself but not personally a big fan of all red images. This one though has some nice subtle magentas in the foreground.

Greg.

[astronobob]

Im envious which ever way you look at it - it is a spectacular target and who ever images it with what ever, it still gets a spot with me - it just how them pillars jump out from the surrounds i guess.
Anyway, such a priveledge to see it in this resolution Greg. Top stuff in my books :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Thanks very much Rob. Very kind comments. I am glad you like it. I was very happy with the results as well.

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

The colour looks good Greg and the detail around the pillars is very nice too. Do you think the stars are a little bloated? I am finding them a little distracting; no doubt Fred will think there ought to be no stars at all.

Incidently, is there some flaring around the left side of the stars?

[gregbradley]

Thanks Paul.

I would like to add an AO unit to get star sizes in general smaller. This image though the stars to me don't seem overlarge. Its pretty zoomed in. It was decent seeing for most of the night with some variability.
Seeing at my home observatory has not been in Clayton Bay type standards so you are probably used to seeing smaller stars as a result.


Not sure what you mean about flaring, some stars are bright and are showing sunstars which is common.

I personally like it because its showing nicely those are very bright stars.

Star management with this camera can be an issue but I think its been more variable seeing lately than the camera which seems to be doing very well.

Greg.