M42 Narrowband - "G20 Edition"

[lazjen]

I did this last night as a number of the G20 leaders flew in. I am fairly certain that during the many hours I took getting images there was always at least 1 plane flying around. I was lucky enough that their paths did not interfere with my target region.

With summer coming on, I can just get to the cooling -10 on the CCD. If I get out on the real summer nights I suspect I may have to settle for -5.

Processed in PixInsight, the raw data was:

8 x 300s Ha
8 x 600s OIII
7 x 600s SII

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Astrobin with details: http://astrob.in/136071/0/

I hope to expand this mosaic and fill out the surrounding areas over time.

Any comments, tips or feedback on the image appreciated. I'm quite happy with this one so far.

[Rex]

Hi Chris, that's a really pleasing colour palette you have used here and some fine detail showing as well. Can't wait to see the mosaic, I think it will look smashing with the colours here.

[lazjen]

Thanks Rex. The colours popped right out as I put it all together, it was quite pleasant to see. :) As part of the process I did use Rick's new script to help out: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=1133505

I lost an opportunity last night to do more because I was too tired to setup again. I hope I don't regret that - I remember summer last year as being very sparse for opportunities...

[RickS]

Looks good, Chris!

I wonder if you can get a bit more detail in the Trapezium with HDRMT? You need to use it sparingly otherwise it can flatten things too much. You might be out of luck, of course, if it's completely saturated in that area and you'll need some short subs and HDRComposition.

[lazjen]

Other than the bloomed stars I think that area might be ok, so I'll see what happens when I reprocess it.

[Slawomir]

Very nice colours but I think would like a bit more contrast. The mosaic surely will make a beautiful eye candy when printed and hanged on the wall in the living room :-)

I was also planning to get data through oxygen filter (Tarantula Nebula) last night but unfortunately my biological vehicle run out of batteries...Hope we will get a few clear nights this summer.

[lazjen]

Thanks Slawomir. When I reprocess I'll try the HDRMT that Rick suggests. That might give more contrast.

And, yeah, need more recharge on the biological batteries. :)

[lazjen]

Well, it's been weeks since I did this and I haven't had any opportunity to get any more data yet. So I've done some more processing on the data I've got (including HDRMT).

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Astrobin: http://astrob.in/136071/D/ I've also got a couple of other versions there as well, but I like this one the best at this time.