Tarantula

[2020BC]

Don't you love it when you find some good data in a folder somewhere that you forgot to process. It's almost like discovering that today is Saturday. :D

11x3 Mins, ISO1600, Canon 350D; No filter;
Orion 80ED (with crosshairs) with LXD-75 SN-8 as guidescope.

[Dennis]

Looks very nice Bill - somewhat more blue than I am used to seeing in this region; quite eerie really, but very nice.

Cheers

Dennis

[2020BC]

It's a wierd part of the sky. Knowing the history of how our galaxy is distorting the LMC and SMC, creating massive disturbances, sets you wondering when you look at this area. As for its blueness, the Tarantula appears to emit a lot of energy in the blue-green (OIII & H-beta) part of the spectrum where the 350D camera is most sensitive. The unmod camera detects this very well, but it's not so good (five or more time less good) at detecting all the energy emitted in the H-alpha (red). With regards color balance I don't amplify red or minimimise blue, because I feel that either way this would lose data. I try and leave it at what the camera captured. All I do is remove color cast by balancing red, green and blue so they're centred over the same point on the histogram (i.e. so the dark sky between objects is gray and has no color cast). I think over Christmas after I've imaged M42 I might attempt the operation to remove the IR filter from the camera.:screwy: This would be interesting to make comparisons mod vs unmod.

[Lee]

I like it..... It does look eerie doesn't it.... almost spooky! :scared:

[atalas]

Nice work Bill.