Chameleon Cloud - IC2631 from Coona

[Ross G]

Hello,

It has been a very busy 6 months.
I am still processing photos from my Coonabarabran dark site trip in July last year!

This is the Chameleon Cloud near the South Celestial Pole, featuring the Reflection Nebula IC2631.

I had originally photographed this object in January last year, my previous trip to Coonabarabran.
I have combined the images from both trips (..a first for me!..) to produce this photo, totalling 800 minutes of exposure.

Large photo here http://smu.gs/1CzT91D

Original size photo here http://smu.gs/1CzTmBP

What do you think?

Thanks for looking.

Ross.


52 frames of 20 minute and 10 minute exposures, totalling 800 minutes.

TELEVUE NP101 101mm F5.4 Refractor.
QHY8L OSC CCD.
Skywatcher NEQ6Pro mount.

WO 66mm guide scope.
QHY5-II guide camera.

Guiding with PHD2
Capture with Ezycap
Processing with DeepSkyStacker & Photoshop CS2

[gregbradley]

I like that a lot Ross. What was the equipment used?

Greg.

[RickS]

Really nice, Ross. Dark nebs are always tricky and you've done a great job.

Cheers,
Rick.

[multiweb]

Wow! That's awesome Ross. So much going on in that field. The colors are just superb and lot of details. Top shelf. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Placidus]

Hi, Ross,

Followed the links back and hunted round your web site. Astonishing how much you've done. Superb ultra-wide-field stuff.

This fellow in Chamaeleon is most unusual and off the beaten path. Nicely done.

Best,
Mike

[marc4darkskies]

Great colour, great composition and good depth Ross! I like it a lot. Nicely done! The star shapes do detract a bit from the full res though.

Cheers, Marcus

[strongmanmike]

Clean this image up Ross!..I've not seen an image this dusty in a long time, it's digusting :rolleyes:

Great job, this area is not really imaged too often but when it is the reward can be a smokey, mysterious and intriguing result like this :)..yeah some dodgy stars but just post it less than full res so nobody notices (hey Marcus? :P)

Mike

[Geoff45]

Beautiful Ross! Looks like a good candidate for drizzle to up the resolution.
Geoff

[atalas]

Its hell of a field Ross....great work!

[Ross G]

Glad you like it Greg.
My equipment was a Televue 101mm F5.4 refractor and a QHY8L osc ccd.

Thanks.



Thanks Rick.

It took a few versions without many reference photos for guidance.



Thank you Marc.

[Ross G]

Thanks Marcus.
Glad you like it and I really appreciate the feedback.

The stars do need fixing. I don't know whether it's the camera flexing on the focus tube (..it overhangs by about 8" plus the cables..), bad polar alignment or from combining 2 different sets of data from different trips.




Thanks Mike.
I'm always happy when you like my photos!:)

It's always scary to show at full resolution but the feedback has always helped me.



Thanks Mike and glad you like my site. It's in need of updating but it has helped me organise and share my photos.

[Ross G]

Thanks Geoff. Glad you like it.

Please tell me more about "drizzle".



Hi Louie...thanks!

...and thank you for showing this object to me....I didn't know it existed!

[AstroJason]

Wow Ross, that is a nice image of the dark dust in Chameleon. Really top work that and love the colours you have brought out. I tried imaging it late last year and processing it was a tough job, but this is just fantastic! Top stuff mate.

[Rod771]

Certainly took advantage of the dark sky there Ross! That is very nice image, I like the dark dusty ones.

Excellent work, well done! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Leonardo70]

Very nice Ross.

All the best,
Leo

[Stevec35]

Very attractive image Ross! I like it a lot.

Cheers

Steve

[Geoff45]

Drizzle is a technique for increasing resolution in undersampled images, ie those showing "blocky" stars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drizzle_%28image_processing%29
http://www.stark-labs.com/craig/articles/assets/Drizzle_API.pdf

Three essentials are necessary: At least 15-20 subs, dithered subs, undersampled image.
The technique has recently been implemented in PixInsight:
http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=7151.0

I think it can also be done in Maxim, but I'm not sure.

[Paul Haese]

Nice rendition of this very dusty part of the sky. I like the luminance, colour and field of view. The high res looks a little like minimum filter was applied too much to reduce the stars; if that is the case maybe just ease back on that a little. Overall though I really think it is a winner. The elongated stars in the corners are only evident at full resolution and those could be cropped out for the most severe parts.

[Ross G]

Thanks Steve.
Glad you like it!



Thank you Leo.



Thanks Rod.
This photo would not have been possible with my equipment if it wasn't for the dark skies of Coonabarabran.
It's astrophotography "on steroids" when you image from Coona!



Thanks Jason. Glad you like it.
It is a difficult object to process. I tried many versions!
I really liked your widefield version.

[Ross G]

Thanks for the links Geoff. I'll do some reading.

[Ross G]

High praise Paul....thank you!

I'm very happy you like my photo but more importantly, thanks for the constructive feedback.

[DJT]

Great image, Ross. I like the FOV, it's worked well.:thumbsup:

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Beautifully done Ross!:thumbsup:

Colour balance looks spot on, great wide field too.

Cheers,

Justin.

[Ross G]

Thank you David. Glad you like it.



Hi Justin. I'm pleased you like it, especially the colours. It's always the hardest part for me.