Lagoon with a blue skirt

[strongmanmike]

This was a bit of a fun processing exercise and is a combination of data from two telescopes and three cameras.

Telescopes: Orion Optics AG12 F3.8 astrograph and Astrophysics Starfire 152EDF F7.5 APO

Cameras: FLI Proline 11002, FLI Proline 16803 and Stalightxpress SXVRH694

See it here: Lagoon Nebula (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/160737476/original)

Mike

[Atmos]

That is amazing Mike, mesmerising from edge to edge!

[gregbradley]

That's superb Mike. I have often seen some blue edges when I have imaged this down at Bigga and its often not shown but I did not know it extended so far.

Out of interest which camera/scope got the bulk of that blue? Is this refletion nebulosity or an O111 area? I think some of it at least is O111 as I noticed it in some O111 I have recently captured but I did not see it extend that far.

Magic. One of your best images. I think this formula of combining quality data from the past or from multiple scopes is very good indeed and is utilising all that earlier hard work to capture the data.

Now you've set Marc on a mission to explore the blueness of M8.:rofl:

Greg.

[JD2439975]

Two telescopes and three cameras...and was processed while standing on one hand and playing the flute!

Show off ;)

[cometcatcher]

Beautiful. I think I noticed a hint of blue skirt on mine but nothing like this.

[astronobob]

Well, I like Kevin's more - the skirt is smaller, ha ha ;)
Clever processing there Mike, way over my head,,! Image looks grouse, great color and detail in the central bright zones, Top job :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[RickS]

Some extreme smurfiness going on there, Mike! I've noticed hints of blue surrounding the Lagoon in a wide image I'm playing with and pushed them just a little for emphasis but you've taken it to a whole new level :thumbsup:

Cheers,
Rick.

[multiweb]

Wow! That's something new. :lol: Nice shot though. :thumbsup:



That's the word I was looking for. :)

[strongmanmike]

Cool, the effort was worth it then, thanks :thumbsup:



Gee, thanks Greg, I wasn't perfectly happy with the final result actually, the data set really wasn't complete enough for a better result though.

The blue skirt was strongest in the AG12 data (remember it is essentially your scope...just not royalty :lol:)



:lol: nah, not very hard to do, just a fine balancing act to get thedifferent resolutions to look balanced but thanks for the sentiments :thumbsup:



Yeah it's faint but shows up to some extent in quite a few Lagoon shots really :)



Cheers Bobo :thumbsup: and yes nothing wrong with mini skirts...they're on the way back in too... again.



Cheers Ricki, yeah the blue is there so perhaps people just process it out in order to match what other images look like, I dunno?



Glad I was able to surprise M8's No.1 ticket holder :D

Mike

[rustigsmed]

looks great Mike!
these wide field high res combos definitely add that bit extra oomph to an image.

Russ

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Russ, in my case it is not just an unchanged repost of an old image...it's essentially 3 old images blended together, so a completely new image in that sense, not to mention being fun stuff to do when the weather is not on my side, the data is just sitting there so may as well play with it and combine it all :thumbsup:

Mike

[topheart]

Hi Mike,

Wow! :eyepop:
Great work! What an original interpretation with the blue edge...I have never seen the blue edge before - how did you do that??

Awesome image!

Cheers,
Tim

[Rod771]

Nice combination, Mike!

I do agree with Bob though, skirts too long. :P

[strongmanmike]

Hi Tim...ummm? magic! :P..nah, it was in the AG12 data so I just brought it out a bit.

Cheers

Mike



Sorry :sadeyes:

:thumbsup:

[Geoff45]

Well, that's pretty good Mike. Lots of interesting stuff as one surfs around. I like the really deep blue little island at top left of the lagoon--how did that get there?
Geoff

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Geoff :thumbsup:...as for the island?...maybe it is volcanic and just appeared..? :shrug: :P

Mike

[Slawomir]

Very nice image, to say the least. I really enjoyed gazing over the photograph appreciating fine detail. I also like those tiny Italian flags in the corners ;)

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Slaw, always good to hear when people actually enjoy a good peruse of an image :thumbsup: and you noticed the slight colour miss registration up in the corner huh? :doh: well...grazie per guardare così da vicino ;)

Mike

[jase]

The pastel tones are really quite something Mike. Enjoyed seeing how far the reflection nebulosity extends.

[DJT]

Gorgeous image Mike. Had no idea of the extent of the blue reflection neb so thanks!

[Rex]

Awesome detail and colour as usual Mike. I didn't even realise she had a blue skirt. Blue skirt with Pink undies....... got to love a girl who can colour coordinate. :P. I love the colours and clarity of your stars. Something I am trying to work on in my own images, but have a long way to go to get anywhere near yours. Seriously great image!

[Placidus]

Fantastic work, Mike. Since I've only ever tackled the Lagoon in narrowband, the reflection nebulosity was quite lost to me. The extent of it is amazing. Made me go and look at a bunch of other RGB lagoons. It's there, but you've made it dramatic and salient and captivating.

Cheers,
MBJ

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Jase, not quite an Atacama @ 7000ft result buuuut ...Angie won't let us move there :P



Thanks Dave, most people skirt around the issue....:D



Thanks Naughty Rex :evil2:



Cheers Mike :)

There is a mix of Ha and blue in that skirt actually :thumbsup:

Mike

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Wow that's a new view of the Lagoon!!:eyepop:

I've seen some hints in my images, never realised it extended so far.

Thanks Mike!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Cheers,

Justin.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Justin, glad you liked it, Ha + Hb = Mage..:question:...PUCE! :D

Mike

[cazza132]

Awesome work Mike! Love the star colours and details in the nebulosity. Makes a lot of sense that the hydrogen emission colour is actually pastel magenta because of the contribution of H beta with a ratio of 3xHa (red):1xHb (cyan/blue) for typical emission nebulae. More like 6:1 for planetary nebulae.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Troy and as I have said about your (incredible) images lately, magenta is over lambasted by way too many and rather unjustifiably so :)

Congrats on the DM's and I hoped your Stella Riches shot would win as it was my favourite of the finalists :thumbsup:...of course with Mr Malin and his interesting ideas on some things, you can never tell....:)

Mike

[SkyViking]

I'm a bit late to the party here but that is a really cool rendition of the Lagoon. Love the blue extended skirt, it almost makes it look similar to the Trifid in terms of colour. Nicely done Mike :)

[strongmanmike]

Better late than never Rolf :thumbsup:..thanks a lot and glad you like her disrespectful (of the light) skirt :P

Mike

[Shiraz]

different and interesting.

Wasn't sure what to make of your approach at first, but it is nice to see the blue enhanced to easy visibility - as Rolf says, brings out the relationship to M20. Like it - nice work.

apologies for being so late to comment.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Razor, something a little different :)

Mik

[marco]

A very nice version Mike, always great try to imagine objects or features usually overseen in other images :thumbsup:
As usual great job in overall processing, color balance etc, master mike ;)
Ciao
Marco

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot, Sir Lorenzi...now, I have some horseshoes to practice fitting.... :)

Mike

[Fabiomax]

I believe that you've extracted all the signal that exists around the Lagoon nebula, your photo is really awesome!
Thanks for sharing,
Fabiomax

[strongmanmike]

Grazie Fabiomax, molto divertente quando nuvoloso :thumbsup:

Mike

[Bassnut]

well, the 1st thing I noticed was the middle of M8 wasnt blown to hell, not at all actually, thats very unusual, most wide field M8 pics are, including several by members here lately that should know better. Just for that, 10 points Mike.

[strongmanmike]

;) he he...hey, this was an exercise in revealing stuff, not trying to conform or to please fetishes ie. completely disrespectful :lol:

Seriously though, like M104, flattening the dynamic range helps to reveal the inner disc detail which is cool but keeping some brightness in the core helps give the object depth and this is when M104 (and to a lesser extent, the Lagoon) shines :thumbsup:

Mike

[Nicola]

Very nice job Mike, I didn't think there was that blue extension over the Lagoon...

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Nicola, yep it's there :thumbsup:

Mike