Near and Far

[Paul Haese]

This image is a little out of the ordinary but I really like this part of the sky with all the really nice colours. A larger sensor would be better and one day I will do the entire area with the FSQ and STXL11002 but for now this will have to do. I did this area (http://paulhaese.net/SAO184433.html) close by several years ago.

In the image is Antares, IC4605 (reflection neb) and NGC6144 as well as the some of the darker dust clouds. Antares and IC4605 are relatively close at distances of 550 and 393 light years. NGC6144 on the other hand is much further away at a distance of 33000 light years.

Click here (http://paulhaese.net/IC4605.html) for larger resolution image.

[jase]

Nice work Paul. I like that you've kept Antares relatively large as it gives the image depth, so the post name is fitting. Its a tight fit for this fov with the various features around the scene. It would be good to do as you suggest and get a medium format sensor onto it. A solid image. :thumbsup:

[Ross G]

Great looking photo Paul.

I love the contrasts.... of light, of colours and of tones.

I really like the "rays" emanating from Antares.

Ross.

[Paul Haese]

Thanks Ross for your comments. Much appreciated.



Thanks Jase. As it turns out I have decided to do a mosaic and am currently setting up for the next panel which will join the bottom of this image. The transit time at the moment is good so it should afford me a month or so before I start running into time problems. I figure with about 6 nights I should be able to produce a nice square of the area. Worth a giggle in any event.

[Rod771]

Wow! Nice use of the colour wheel, Paul. Simple and beautiful.

Great Job! :)

[Paul Haese]

It's such a pretty area it really deserves more high res imaging. Not much manipulation of the colour really. Just some liberal use of the vibrance tool in PS.

[gregbradley]

Antares is such a massive star and you are showing how huge the output of that star is. Good one. I imaged this area myself over the weekend with the Honders. I was planning a multi panel mosaic but it looks like it needs around 8 or more panels - ouch. Not sure I have the weather/imaging time available. Perhaps it'd be worth it. I did do it before but that was with an FSQ and its reducer and the 16803 and even that took 12 panels.

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

LOL, I cannot imagine how many panels it would be to do the whole area with the QSI and FSQ. At this stage I am only thinking of doing maybe 4 panels this season and see what that gives me. Perhaps expanding to more next season. The scope would be sitting silent at present otherwise as I have done quite a few images in the region at wide field now, so it might be fun to try another mosaic.

[Stevec35]

Just noticed this one Paul. I really like the composition and, as usual, the processing is immaculate.

Cheers

Steve

[MGTechDVP]

For some reason this image reminds me of something from Starwars....

[jase]

Looking forward to seeing your mosaic Paul. How many panels all up? I think at your field of view its going to be a few. This is a tricky area to do well but I'm sure you're up for the challenge. Attached is my RHO plan when I did the area with the FSQ/STL11k back in 2009.

[Paul Haese]

Thanks Steve. Having lots of data helps in the processing I have found.



Hmmm I wonder why that is?




How long is a piece of string Jase? :) With the 8300 I was thinking of doing up to 4 panels this year and then expand more to the right the next year. Nothing like an impossible mission I say. ;) It is certainly not going to cover the sort of ground that the 11K would cover. That might be a 5 year project. Time will tell if I am up to the challenge.