Helix Nebula NB - processing collaboration with Martin Pugh

[alistairsam]

hi

This has been a trying project with data gathered from multiple sites in varying conditions, but I kept at it and managed to get around 20hrs Ha and 12hrs O3.
This is a bi-colour narrowband image.

http://www.astrobin.com/full/229989/0/

I processed this as per workflow kindly provided by Martin Pugh as I really liked the way he combined the O3 with Ha.
He's been patient with my PS skills but I learnt a lot, so thanks so much Martin. really appreciate it.

its been challenging to say the least. if you want to retain O3 spikes, you lose Ha so its a compromise. I really wanted the O3 spikes more than the Ha, but didn't get it as strong as I'd have liked it.
Might add RGB stars and more O3 next year, but I think i'm happy with this for now.

Processed in Startools and PS.

SBIG STF8300
Astrodon 3nm O3 and 5nm Ha
10inchF4 CF Newt (home built)
Paramount MyT

comments welcome

Cheers
Alistair

[Shiraz]

well you definitely succeeded. That is a lovely deep image that still retains the fine O3 structure - excellent work.

[Slawomir]

A wonderful image Alistair, really awesome work :thumbsup:

[Somnium]

what a great take, i love how it shows distinct regions, and the O3 spikes are fantastic, well done

[Martin Pugh]

Alistair

you persevered and produced a very fine result indeed. It is not an easy task to reveal those O3 spikes and it is totally worthwhile sacrificing the Ha in that area in order to this.

Well done.

Martin

[Paul Haese]

Alistair,

well done. I personally like the idea of something in between the Ha and OIII outright views. Your image is still very nice in my opinion despite my preference.

Martin is a great teacher and worth listening to always. I have learnt a lot from his help over the years. :thumbsup:

[Regulus]

That has some great depth in in Alistair!
Strong colours work well and i like it a lot.
End result well worth the time put in. Well done.

Trev

[topheart]

This is a very special rendition indeed!

Very well done.

Thanks,
Tim

[RickS]

Definitely achieved your target, Al. Well done!

[strongmanmike]

A great result Alistair :thumbsup: good deep Helix shots are coming thick and fast these days so welcome to the fray :cheers:

Mike

[rustigsmed]

looking super deep there Alistair.
nice work on the spokey dokes!

[SkyViking]

Very nice spikes there Alistair, an impressive image for sure!

[alistairsam]

Thanks a lot Ray.



Thanks Slawomir



Thanks, yep I wanted to emphasize the O3 as well as the faint outers



Thanks Martin. Your image is what inspired this effort and as I said I enjoyed the collaboration.




Thanks Paul, glad you liked it. Your image was always on my screen as a reference. Yep Martin's methods are cool

Cheers
Alistair

[alistairsam]

Thanks Trev. I have toned the colours down slightly. I played with a few subtler versions but decided that the strong colours are warranted.



Thanks Tim. Yep a lot of blood and sweat in those 32 hrs of data but I'm very happy with the result.



Thanks Rick. Might have to do this someday at f9 like yours.



Thanks Mike. Yeah after you get some of the faint stuff you just have to keep going deeper.



Thank you. Glad it's deep and spokey :-) that's what I was hoping for.



Thanks so much Rolf. Glad you liked it.

Cheers
Alistair