The Western Veil NGC6960

[cometcatcher]

Strangely enough, this is the very first time ever I've imaged this. I've been wanting to get around to it for the last 30 years but never did. But I had to have a stab at it after drooling over the pics of others.

Another strange combination of Baader Semi-Apo, Lumicon Deep Sky and Astronomik CLS filters were used. The Baader picked up the blues well but not much of the reds. The CLS picked up the reds better than the blues. The DSF was somewhere in the middle. So I combined the lot and averaged them out.

100 x 3 minute subs for a total of 5 hours, Skywatcher ED100 at F7.2, standard Pentax K-5, HEQ5 Pro, guided with PHD2, 68mm guidescope and a video camera.

Bigger --> http://astrob.in/114409/0/

[RB]

Well done Kevin, that's a very nice catch !
It's an amazing region and you've framed this part of it nicely.

Have a look in my signature to see my rendition of this too, if you like.

Good work.

:thumbsup:

[Camelopardalis]

Lovely Kevin, such rich colours and texture :thumbsup:

[Amaranthus]

Nice mix of colours Kevin. Maybe the bright star could be toned down/shrunk a little via selective masking?

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Andrew. Wow that's a ripper you took in your sig. With a 20Da too.

Thanks Dunk. I had to try for it after seeing your pic.



Thanks Barry. You should have seen 52 Cygni before I toned it down. ;) At magnitude 4.2 it makes it's presence known.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

That is great image Kevin!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I reckon your best yet.

Good detail, colour seems perfect to my eye and nicely processed.

Cheers,

Justin.

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Justin, glad you like it. I have to give some credit to the CLS filter. Without it the image lacked vibrance.

[Tony_]

Nice image Kevin, I like the color balance and overall framing - this barely rises above the trees at the northern end of my backyard.

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Tony. I guess it's something like 17 degrees higher at the meridian here in the tropics than down there in Mexico. Gets to 38 degrees here so that would make it... 21 degrees down there. About where M51 is for me.

[RickS]

Nice work, Kevin. You're taking maximum advantage of your northern location ;)

A couple more clear nights in California and I'll have enough data for my 6 panel Ha/OIII mosaic of the Veil. That's going to tax the poor old computer and my processing skills!

Cheers,
Rick.

[Tony_]

Yes - but we get a better view of Octans down here! A real treasury of DSO's!

[cometcatcher]

Ah but I can see Octans just fine also. Well, except for the LP in that direction.

Looking forward to that image Rick!

[Camelopardalis]

You can see Sydney's light dome from up there?! :eyepop::lol:

[cometcatcher]

Ya donkey! lol.

What goodies are in Octans anyway? Looks boring. :shrug:

[Ric]

Lovely work Kevin

Love the subtle colours.

Cheers

[Camelopardalis]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Don't think I've ever knowingly looked at Octans, but if a new star were to be born there to help with polar alignment (like up north ;) ) then I'd be eternally grateful :lol:

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Ric!



Yeah something at magnitude 1 or 2 would be nice, right on the mark and that moves with precession. :lol:

[Amaranthus]

SCP is easy to find. Just look for the most EMPTY bit of sky! Should be called the South Celestial Hole...

[rustigsmed]

that is really good Kev and with a dslr!
I might have to look into a CLS ccd filter...

cheers

rusty

[cometcatcher]

It's probably a good thing too. The scope gets into some screwy angles near the pole.



Thanks Rusty!

[Camelopardalis]

Hey, I'm not picky, I could live with gentle precession :P



No kidding...although besides Polaris it's not like it's all that interesting around the northern pole either...

[Tony_]

I was joking about Octans - the only time my scope points at it is for alignment.
It only has 1 DSO with a magnitude brighter than 12.