M17 - adding data

[pvelez]

This started as a Ha only project during the Full Moon. After plugging away happily for a bit, I decided to add some LRGB - the last time I tried this target was with a DSLR a few years back.

But...as I hadn't quite mastered loading targets into CCD Navigator, I found that the LRGB data did not match the Ha. The Ha was well centred on the nebula but the LRGB was skewed to the left. So this is the result of LRGB only. When the moon swings around, I'll have another go at Ha to add.

In processing this, I was keen to bring out the whirls in gas under the nebula and some of the features of the body of the nebula - at the expense of the background I think.

I'm still gathering red data - this comprises about 5 hours of Lum, 2 hours each of G and B and 1 hour of R. RGB is binned x2 and Lum is unbinned. All taken with STX16803 from my dark sky site near Coona.

There are halos around the big stars and some deconvolution artefacts in the bright sections of the nebula. But I'm happy with this so far.

Will post more when I have more R.

Larger version is here:

http://www.pbase.com/equitius/image/157104370

Pete

[RickS]

A good start, Pete! Look forward to the final version.

[pvelez]

Thanks Rick - its plugging away as I type.

Pete

[strongmanmike]

Yeeees, can see those tut tut ;) the star halos don't look bad...and you are getting better at disguising the decon bright worm artifacts :lol:

But....I luuuve this image :thumbsup::thumbsup: so bold and nebulous and really looks like I am in there amongst the nebulosity, very cool.

Keep that aspect of the image but get rid of the last vestages of the decon worms and this will be a corker when it's finished :clap:



So am I :thumbsup:

even with the decon artifacts

Mike

[Stevec35]

Like it a lot Pete - good effort.

Steve

[pvelez]

Thanks Mike - it is a bit wormy.

I appreciate the encouragement - last night's data should improve things


Cheers Steve

Pete

[multiweb]

Wow! The high res is sublime. Perfect field and a wealth of details. Very natural looking too. Coona skies. Can't beat them. No need to try harder. :thumbsup: