An hourglass, some stars and a few Bok globules

[strongmanmike]

I've been tinkering with my Terroux Observatory first light image of the Lagoon.

I have reworked it, improved the dynamic range, reworked the bright stars a bit and cropped and changed the composition, I particularly wanted to make the star cluster NGC 6530 shine...and hey, might be worth a look-see for some of you :)

This is a look deep inside The Lagoon (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/159741296/original)

Mike

[nebulosity.]

Stunning Mike :eyepop: So smooth and detailed, and gorgeous colours :thumbsup:

Cheers
Jo

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
I can't fault that picture -
it's perfect.

cheers
Allan

[RickS]

Very nice, Mike. Nice detail in the Hourglass and great colours for the non-magentaphobe :) Good job on NGC 6530 too.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Slawomir]

Definitely worth a look!

Well done Mike.

[strongmanmike]

Hey, cheers men :thumbsup: I do have another image on the boil waiting for the clear skies but these doodling activities fill in time huh? :)

Oh and Al..perfect? I dunnoooo bout that but nice of you to say :innocent:, now take off the sunglasses :P

Mike

[multiweb]

Love it! (but I'm biased). All the right bits in the right places. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Can't wait to get into it again. Clouds have been a real nuisance in the Sydney area lately and even out west. :sadeyes: I'm slowly sinking in the lack of imaging syndrome.

[Stevec35]

Another good one Mike. Everything looks just right to me except I wonder if a bit more saturation might give it even more punch?

Cheers

Steve

[Placidus]

Hi, Mike,

The detail round the Hourglass is superb. The dust lane across the centre is sharp and clear.

I've fallen in love with narrowband and it's not often that a natural colour image catches my eye. This one does.

Best,
Mike

[Slawomir]

It is about the same in Brisbane. I think too many guys bought too much astro-gear recently...Rick, Greg...I am not pointing fingers at you!

[strongmanmike]

Knew you would :lol:

Thaaat's when playing with old data can replace Valium :P



...:scared: ya yankin ma chain, aren't ya??:question:......... :bashcomp:

I thought it was already a tad saturated for some :lol: but cheers Steve :thumbsup:




Good to hear Mike, bah, broad band meah :shrug:, over rated huh? :lol: playing with weird colours is much more fun :D

Thanks guys again

Mike

[LewisM]

Nice one Mike... now if you only used the Starfire to image instead :whistle::nerd::poke:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers mate...The Starfire...yeees...I know, such a beautiful scope with no mount to sit on :doh:...one day, ooone day...

Mike

[LewisM]

Oh, I can give it a mount... just send it to me on permanent loan :prey::face:

[strongmanmike]

Yeah fat chance :rolleyes: :lol: Actually, I would really like to be able to get it up and running again with a planet cam :question:.. be nice to just have a squiz through her again too, I tested her double star resolution visually back in 06 and she does reach her theoretical limit :)

Mike

[Paul Haese]

Good detail, nice colour and smooth back ground on this perennial favourite. I do like the detail.

[gregbradley]

Its a good image for sure, but a bit soft. Maybe its able to take some sharpening, some selective decon, wavelets, name your poison!

Greg.

[SpaceNoob]

This is pretty amazing, so smooth and lots of range :)

Seeing stuff like this makes me see how much I have to learn lol :thumbsup:

[Rod771]

Yeah good Mike, the stars are really prominent, mission accomplished I'd say. Love the colour too, well done! :thumbsup:

[DJT]

The cluster pops.. what nebula?

[strongmanmike]

Cheers boys :thumbsup: glad the spare time tinkering was enjoyed :D

Greg, I think the slight softness you mention is a function of three things, the seeing which was very average, not having enough data to go harder on the sharpening (only 2hrs total) and the fact that it is zoomed in so much. While acknowledging all that, truth is, I was actually quite happy with that slight softness as I thought in this case it imparted a natural gaseous feel...besides had I gone hard with all those filters you mentioned I would have been hot diggidy Davies Slammed for over cooking :lol: (luv ya Marcus ;))

David, it is a very obscure nebula in the backwaters of Sagittarius called..?.. M8 I believe or The Lagoon Nebula :shrug: Marc Aragnou put me on to it some years ago :)

Mike

[Andy01]

Very beautiful image Mike.
I'm probably not qualified to comment on the tech aspects, but your intention to show off the cluster works very well. The Nebula is dreamy, creamy and smooth.

It's probably just me but the colour palette is a bit pinky purple for my taste - (I prefer a bolder redder presentation of this object). But as always, a lovely, one could say bold - iconic presentation of a well imaged favourite :)

Cheers
Andy

[strongmanmike]

Thanks heaps Andy, coming from the artist imager that you are I will take that one :D...aaah but you see, the artist in you is perhaps the reason you find it too "pinky" too ;)...the colour is in fact magenta :D, ie the exact colour of strong Halpha and weak Hbeta emission when mixed, it's just physics :einstein:, It is not red. Of course the exact hue and saturation of magenta is indeed up for debate :)

Mike

[DJT]

Grrrrr, yet to find a tongue in cheek icon. Nebula is fine and dandy :-)

[cometcatcher]

Sweet image Mike. Looks delicious. :)

[DJScotty]

Love the image Mike.
Once we move AGAIN (but this is the FINAL time ever!) I will be able to start doing some serious imaging again. Looking forward to taking this target again. (Lots of agains...)

Love it Mike!

DJ Scotty:thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers kevin



OH yeah moving is the pits :sadeyes: and getting a stable longer term observatory setup makes imaging life much easier for sure.

Yes, when you get new equipment it is always good to reimage old targets and see what improvements you can get :thumbsup:

Mike

[marc4darkskies]

I like this Mike - nice repro :thumbsup:

Sure, maybe a teeny bit soft, but it's a gentle, almost understated, pleasing to the eye rendition (unlike some galaxy images I've seen lately :D). I also think you've succeeded making the cluster pop out. :thumbsup:

You say zoomed in. What is the actual image scale of this cropped version?

[gregbradley]

That makes sense. I've seen that in own image. At that image scale seeing becomes the main barrier. Very funny post.

Greg, I think the slight softness you mention is a function of three things, the seeing which was very average, not having enough data to go harder on the sharpening (only 2hrs total) and the fact that it is zoomed in so much. While acknowledging all that, truth is, I was actually quite happy with that slight softness as I thought in this case it imparted a natural gaseous feel...besides had I gone hard with all those filters you mentioned I would have been hot diggidy Davis Slammed for over cooking :lol: (luv ya Marcus ;))


Greg.

[marc4darkskies]

That's DaviEs Mr Sidono! ;)

[strongmanmike]

Err, that should have read "Davies" slammed :lol:

[strongmanmike]

:lol: yeah just noticed that spelling mustake and made the correction, you were too quick :P

[stevous67]

Hey Mike,

I think you need to pump the ddp, then push the curve from the midtone all the way to the left, drop a blending layer in and multiply the flux quartex. The image should be fine then.

Otherwise you did a great job. :thumbsup:

Regards,

Steve.

[strongmanmike]

I think you need to elaborate moron that Steve, I'm a little confused :question: I've heard of the flux quartex but not ddp :shrug:

Better go read up on that, all sounds very useful :)

Mike

[stevous67]

No problems ["moron" - cheeky bugger :lol:], I'll show you how to stretch the hell out of it and over saturate it at SPSP. I did enrol last night. Keep dispatching your underlings.

Talk soon,

Steve :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

:lol: great news :cool: and I look forward to sharing notes, you bring a nice bottle of 2010 Flux Quartex and I'll bring a wee DDP single malt.

It's a serious business this imaging game :computer:

Mike

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Nice Mike!:thumbsup:
Best detail I've seen in the hour glass!!

Cheers,

Justin.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Justin but I have seen better, buuuut we do what we can with what we have in the conditions delivered to us, that's all one can ask, getting the best out of those variables, or even just to take an image for fun, regardless of quality, is what it should be all about :thumbsup:

Mike

[Ross G]

A beautiful Lagoon photo Mike.

Nice, smooth colours and such deep, fine detail.

Very sharp and as usual with your photos, I love the composition.

Ross.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Well said Mike!:thumbsup:

Totally agree.:)

Cheers,

Justin.

[strongmanmike]

As always, thanks Ross :)



While it is fine to strive for improvement, we do need to remind ourselves sometimes that it should be enjoyable first and being content with what your specific equipment can deliver is really important, otherwise crazy envy driven determination can make you paranoid and blind to reality and what really matters in life around you and send you around the twist :nerd: :lol:...just read my signature, says it all :thumbsup: not to deny that many of use dance right on the edge of all that of course :question: just keep the safety harness secure so perspective is maintained :rofl:

Thanks again mate

Mike

[Geoff45]

Spectacular image Mike. Tack sharp and good strong colour. I like the framing--it looks complete, not the usual pity it didn't all fit in look.
Geoff

[strongmanmike]

Great to hear Geoffrey, thanks for the feedback and I know what you mean, because of the nebula's square blocky shape it can take on that feel sometimes with certain framings.

Hope to see you and your awesome rig at SPSP :thumbsup:

Mike