Deeeeeep Inside the Keyhole

[strongmanmike]

Well, what does one do when the clouds are floating and appearing at will with clear sky in between...but the seeing is bloody excellent :eyepop::eyepop::eyepop:

Pick something bright that doesn't require weeks of exposure :rolleyes: :D

This is a combination of 1sec, 5sec, 20sec and 3min exposures...many ruined by clouds :cloudy: but I persevered :rolleyes:.....

This is an 1120mm FL F3.8 fast Newt at 600m ASL :shrug: not a long FL RC at 2200m in the Andes :sadeyes: :doh:.... soooo I am pretty Happy with the outcome :party: :D

Very happy with the level of detail and really wanted to show the Homunculus without looking unnatural...hopefully I have done this...?

Deep inside the Keyhole (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/159445895/original)

The mighty star - Eta Carina (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/159457206/original) (the major axis of the twin lobed ejecta bubble is only 17 arc sec)

Mike

[Placidus]

Mike,

Utterly extraordinary. The seeing must have been joyous and your guiding and tracking perfect. I'm sure there are others out there somewhere, but that's the first time I've seen the bright inner part of the Homunculus actually looking like a double-ended shuttlecock as it's supposed to, with amateur gear. You've got the outer fainter Lion's Mane too.

Great stuff.

Best,
MBJ

[Paul Haese]

Kudos on the peanut being part of the image. It's been a long term plan of mine but issues with my camera have affected that.

Colour is pretty nice but I reckon the whole image area needs stretching a little more whilst protecting that peanut.

Again well done on the capture of the peanut.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Mike, the seeing was good but I recon even better is needed to get the basket weave structure and some more focal length of course :)



Yep, I'm good with peanuts :)

[RickS]

Great detail, Mike! I always look at the Fickle Finger to gauge sharpness and it looks sharp as...

Cheers,
Rick.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Ricki, bit of fun to idle the time rather than cuss at the passing clouds and pack up...:question:...bit of cussing occurred at the computer this afternoon though with each chucked cloudy sub :whistle:

[alpal]

Looks great Mike,
the detail is extraordinary & you've done well to combine the different exposures.
It makes me think that you'd be even more happier with this:

http://www.optcorp.com/asa-2inch-1-8x-barlow-corrector-2korrb.html

but they are very expensive.
I was thinking about getting one when I get my new 10" f4 Newt up & running.

cheers
Allan

[Slawomir]

Very impressive, this is simply astrophotography at another level.

:question:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Alan because of the number of sub frames and the number ruined by cloud and the blending necessary, it required a bit work to put together ...but sigh...that's why we do this huh? :)

Yes thought about one of those, would work perfectly with my AG12 and would have been useful for this image too...but gee, apart form the price :eyepop: the field would be very small with the H694 thus limit suitable objects so I would need a bigger chip which would have bigger pixels most likely, so back to where I started really, resolution wise..:question: :lol: and too much work to swap over when I wanted to as well. Would be a good accessory if I had an 8300 or even better an APM size chip.



Glad you like it Slaw :)

Mike

[alpal]

Come on - I know you want one. :)

[DJT]

That's cool. Detail is incredible and it's just a darned good image. Well done!:thumbsup:

[alistairsam]

Mike,

is that another "up yours" nebula at 2 O'clock? why do I see so many in your images?? :-)

nice stuff though

Cheers
Alistair

[stevous67]

Well done Mike, that is a terrific achievement! First class effort on capture and processing.

Actually, it's an inspiring effort Mike, I'd like to give it a try - thanks.

Best regards
Steve

[SimmoW]

Wow, so deep yet crisp, great one Mike! You can really see the violent nature of the target.

Only criticism is that you need to use more emoticons in your posts :lol:

[multiweb]

Not bad. You'll definitely need more FL for that one. Maybe a barlow or powermate?

[marc4darkskies]

Just lovely Mike! :thumbsup: Looks better at 100% though :P:lol:

You seem to be taking a more reserved approach to processing colour & contrast these days (?)

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Davo :thumbsup:



Well, what ever do you meeeean?? :P...at least I don't see dead people :question: well, except Gabriela Mistral...



Glad you liked it Steve, bit of improvised fun under adversity...what is it about this imaging game :shrug:..just :scared2: ...GOT TO IMAGE :scared: :nerd:



Thanks :thumbsup: Simon :hi:...what do you mean :shrug:...I don't used many emoticons :question: I mean reeeally? :rolleyes: :innocent:...emoticons? humf :bashcomp:



Yeah maybe.. but we use what we have, huh? :)



...ok, wise guy :rolleyes: heeere weeee go...pick on the 75% full res poster again...I dunno can't please some fussy imagers, too much colour, not enough colour, post at 100%, don't like the colour palette, love the colour palette, stretch it more, don't stretch it, not enough exposure there's a skerrick of noise :scared: use a bloody barlow man! lower the contrast!!...:question: ...:bashcomp: :rofl:
Oh, yes, I am veeery conservative these days, arhem, I even get all my learned opinions from Alan Jones and Andrew Bolt now :D...just need to get my humour from someone funny now :question:......

Ok, sorry.....

[multiweb]

Couple of $$ on a rig that's worth $$$$. All I'm saying is that it's better to over sample a close up shot rather than cropping a prime focus picture. I barlow my small scopes all the time. Makes it easier to get better fine details.

[strongmanmike]

Yeah, I guess, if I could be bothered, thing is apart from being a drive away now, my setup takes too much work to reconfigure, it is setup for the big arse corrector (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/151108789/original) in the FLI Atlas, so I'd need new adapters so I'd have to do real close ups in a batch to make it worth while...I'd get bored :lol:. That image is already at 0.83"/pix at prime focus anyway...that's plenty good enough in my general conditions I recon and I'm at F3.8 at that res too :)

Mike
who could get less lazy I guess...?

[gregbradley]

That's sensational Mike. Love it.

Saturday night had superb seeing for me as well.

Greg.

[multiweb]

Fair enough. Forgot you were semi-remote. Gee that corrector looks like a gun barrel. :lol:

[Shiraz]

really outdid yourself this time - that's a fantastic image of the region, particularly considering the wide dynamic range.

[Bassnut]

Yes, I must say that is very tasty indeed, you do produce some crackers sometimes Mike ;). Apart from the detail, the colour balance is most attractive :thumbsup:.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot for the appreciation men :thumbsup: from two who produce their own fair share of cracker jacks, it is nice to know I can returned the favour :love: :drink:

Mike

[Stevec35]

Very very nice Mike. The processing is excellent.

Cheers

Steve

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Steve :)

[cazza132]

Impressive work Mike!

[Ross G]

A beautiful photo Mike.

So sharp with amazing detail.

I love your composition!

I've also learnt something new...The Humunculus...thank you.

Ross.

[Andy01]

WOW! Looks sorta like Tom Cruises' chopper in Oblivion, and re those Bok globules? You don't see them every day, except in the running chicken of course. Amazing stuff Mike :)

[suma126]

I like it very nice processing and great colours :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Troy



Cheers Ross, people who don't like ejecta lobes because they are different to themselves, are... Homocuphobic :P



Now Andy, are you seeing things in images of nebulae again...like dragons? :face: really you have a problem mate :stupid:

Cheers dude ;)



Glad you think so Shane :)

[Leonardo70]

Wonderful Mike.

All the best,
Leo

[astronobob]

What'cha gouing into 'lock picking' now huh, unlocking the secrets to the universe !
Mighty nice to gaze apon Mike, always a special treat :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Salute Leo :cheers:



Oh ya Bob :thumbsup:
Mike

[Octane]

Beautiful work. Even the thumbnail image is glorious.

H

[strongmanmike]

Thanks H glad you like it, the seeing was quite good on the night but not the best I have had and like planetary imaging this sort of high res deep sky imaging is still seeing limited so it could have been better buuut sigh...all we can do is use what the sky condition gods dish up at the time, huh? :)...take last night (Thursday), the seeing started out crap then improved slightly then went crap again and wouldn't improve...perfectly clear night of course - very frustrating :rolleyes:...went home at 1am regardless with only some very ordinary data :mad2: (this is not an obsesssion...this is not an obsession...this is....) :screwy: :lol:

Mike

[SpaceNoob]

Really nice image Mike and I like the presentation of this one. The lobes on Eta Carina are pretty awesome. Understandable re- the clouds, I've had similar problems of late. 30minute subs have been a real challenge for me. I can certainly see the advantage of faster optics and more suitable image scale.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Chris, yes clouds and the seeing..sigh...perpetually our nemesis huh? The AG12 is pretty well the ultimate in imaging scope versatility really while still remaining affordable and manageable and they (and fast 10" to 12" ATM versions) have become quite popular in recent times for exactly this reason :thumbsup:

Mike

[cybereye]

Mike,

It's been a while since I've visited IIS...

Once again a sensational image... Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!:clap:

Cheers,
Mario

[strongmanmike]

Ah haaa Muzza! :thumbsup: how you been?

Glad you like Eta's hole :P now don't be a stranger :)

Mike

[SkyViking]

That's one wonderful image of the Keyhole for sure Mike, very pleasing colours and great to see the Homunculus so clearly. Seems you've even got the extended ejecta around it :thumbsup: I'm itching to get some narrowband data myself now :P
Such classic bright nebulae just never disappoint with their magnificent features :)

[Rod771]

That's deep alright, in your face! I love the colour, well done Mike! :thumbsup:

[cybereye]

Mike,

I've been fine but seem to have lost my astro mojo.... it'll be back, just need the clouds to clear!

Cheers,
Mario

PS Rita would love your latest work!

[gvanhau]

Beautiful work on this one.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Rolf, the fill in image when most would have probably gone home :P

You can see the four perpendicular lines/jets eminating form the star too (at 45deg to the diffraction spikes) :D



Thanks Roddles :)



You'll be back ;)

:lol: Ripper Rita (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyI_dmYqw84) :thumbsup:



Cheers geert :thumbsup:

Mike