The Flame

[Andy01]

The Flame Nebula - NGC 2024 in Narrowband

9 hrs integration with RGB stars

Often photographed with it's companion, the Horsehead - B33.
However, to me that classic composition looks very busy, almost too much to look at in one frame - so I'm just focussing on the swirling molecular clouds that make up the flame itself.

This is three hrs of Ha (20min subs) three hrs S2, two hrs O3 (all 5nm astrodons) RGB stars (10x1min ea)

Tone mapped with J-p Metsavainio method and processed in Startools & PS6.
Hope you like it :)

High res here (http://www.astrobin.com/236484/B/)

Warning - Astrobin does some wacky thing with colour saturation when it strips off the colour profile - I've attempted to compensate with version "B" but sunglasses may still be required! :eyepop:

[Atmos]

B does have a little more punch :)
It is looking really good though!

[Slawomir]

Fantastic composition Andy :thumbsup:

Love the colours and detail in the nebula. Being very particular (sorry, but I cannot stop aiming for perfection!), perhaps only stars could be slightly improved; some have green tint and registration seems to be a bit off in some areas.

[RobF]

Beautiful composition and pic Andy!

[RickS]

A very interesting take on this object, Andy. Nice colours and composition.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Andy01]

He he, thanks Colin :)



Cheer Slaw, I'll have a real close look at the stars before printing this one. :thumbsup:



Thanks Rob - I was amazed what one could get from under light polluted skies. ;)



Thanks Rick - Something different certainly, but a beautiful object in it's own right - hope I did it justice. :)

[John K]

Great work. Really like the framing which is different to what most people do and a great way to capture and present this object. Nice narrowband colouring as well!

John K.

[rustigsmed]

very nice Andy, I have always been a fan of the Flame too, it is quite a unique object.

Like the colour scheme too!

Russ

[Andy01]

Thanks John, wasn't sure how it would be received but it seemed right to try something unusual on this well documented subject. Thanks for your feedback!



Cheers Russ, reminds me a bit of the "burning bush" from the bible stories too. It's so often paired up with B33 that sometimes we overlook it's stand alone magnificence :)

[SpaceNoob]

Top image Andy - Very Sci-Fi (in a good way) and I love the striated appearance of the outer regions.

[Ryderscope]

A great image Andy. I agree with you that it is good to be able to focus on this component of a very busy part of the sky.