The Iris Nebula, NGC 7023

[RickS]

A dusty Iris Nebula captured from DSW in New Mexico. I found this one quite difficult to process. Not sure I'm finished with it yet :)

Scope: FSQ-106ED
Mount: Paramount ME
Camera: QSI683
Filters: Astrodon Gen II LRGB, 5nm Ha, OII, SII (1.25")
Guiding: QSI OAG + Lodestar
Image scale: 2.094 arcsec/pixel
Exposures: 37x900s L, 16x900s R, 17x900s G, 15x900s B
Processing: PixInsight

High res on Astrobin: http://www.astrobin.com/214316/

Cheers,
Rick.

[Ryderscope]

Fantastic image Rick. There is a lot going on in there. Lots of detail in the dusty areas across the image. The eye seems to be drawn to the core of the 'iris' where there are a couple of long features that could be stamens. A very northerly object this one at a dec of 67d. Beyond the reach of us southerners in NSW. Thanks for posting.
R

[Tony_]

Superb image Rick!

The dust around the reflection nebula is fantastic - gives the image a 3D effect.

Tony.

[Slawomir]

It's a really beautiful image Rick of a very interesting area of the sky :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Lovely image of something we don't see posted on IIS very often Rick so really enjoyed the view :thumbsup:

Mike

[Fabiomax]

A beautiful Iris in a field that makes well in evidence all areas of dark dust!
Cheers,
Fabiomax

[RickS]

Thanks, Rodney! I struggled to decide whether to make the dust or the neb the main feature and had a bob each way in the end :)





Thanks Tony & Suavi!



Ta, Mike. It's nice to have access to these exotic northern objects.



Thank you, Fabiomax.

[Paul Haese]

A superb image Rick. Great colour, detail and smooth. :thumbsup:

[Stevec35]

A great Iris Rick! Tight stars, smooth yet highly detailed. What's not to like?

Cheers

Steve

[IanP]

Awesome image, processing, colours and everything, although, as I prefer to see ‘SOME” noise, it seems to me that you’ve employed PI noise-reduction in a rather hard way … ;)

[RobF]

Just stunning Rick. The star colours and dust are processed wonderfully. The beauty of the Iris is almost an interruption in some ways. Thanks for sharing.

[lazjen]

Another great image Rick!

About 15? hours of data seems a bit low for you? ;) Is it likely to be worth putting more hours to it or is the effort/amount not worth the diminishing returns?

[Geoff45]

Another top image Rick. The colour in the neb is really nice and the IFN looks great. Those long exposures really pay off. (Note to self: nothing less than double figure exposures for nebs and galaxies from now on).
Geoff

[RickS]

Thanks, Paul!



Ta, Steve.



Thanks, Ian. I did find the noise in this one a bit ugly and gave it a couple of light noise reductions in the dark areas only. I did try to careful and subtle but maybe I didn't get away with it... Unfortunately, no practical amount of exposure time will get a really dark neb looking cleanish.



Thanks, Rob. I'll clone that dang nebula out next time :)



Thanks, Chris. Looks like I made a mistake in my notes. The subs were all 900s so the total was a more respectable 21 hours.



Thanks, Geoff! It is a pleasure working with large quantities of data but not always possible, unfortunately.

[Rod771]

Very nice image, Rick! I like the dusty objects, you've done a great job processing this one, well done!

[Bassnut]

Thats great Rick. Dark nebs can look hohum, but youve balanced the background well and rendered a huge 3D effect.

[astronobob]

Amaizing Rick, where do you find the time to collect so much dust, reckon nasa needs to send one mighty vacuum cleaner out there to make highways for spacecraft - maybe 'snow plows' Lol , ,
Fantastic !!!

[RickS]

Thanks Rod, Fred & Bob!

[marc4darkskies]

Another stellar image Rick! :thumbsup: You're on fire mate! :)

[Slawomir]

Congratulations on the image of the day on Astrobin Rick :thumbsup:

[ozstronomer]

+1 on Astrobin Image of the Day.

Nicely processed Rick, great overall look to this one :thumbsup:

Cheers Geoff

[Rod771]

Astrobin Image of the day! Woooo hoooo! :party2:

[RickS]

Thanks, Marcus :lol:







Thanks Suavi, Geoff & Rod. I was a bit surprised since they picked Paddy's rendition of the same data only two days ago.

Cheers,
Rick.

[sjastro]

Excellent image Rick.

Steven

[LewisM]

Just a lovely image.

A target I so wish we could image from our latitude. CLOSE, but no cigar :)

[RickS]

Thanks, Steven.



Ta, Lewis. Yes, it's a shame. There's some great stuff in Cepheus.

[Shiraz]

extraordinary image Rick - perfection!

[RickS]

Thanks very much, Ray.