Xmas tree nebula

[multiweb]

Another one I shot last Monday at Ilford. Beaute conditions. Regrettably not enough subs. Could do with double the amount but I was spending a lot of time on M42 and the HH. Maybe pick it up again next new moon :)

Same rig. QHY8/FSQ106N on G11, Lodestar OAG. 15 x 10 min subs.

1:1 here (http://www.astropic.net/astro/NGC2264_FGSQ106N_100.jpg)[3040x2016 - 4.8MB]

70% here (http://www.astropic.net/astro/NGC2264_FGSQ106N_70.jpg)[2128x1411 - 2.8MB]

HD version here (http://www.astropic.net/astro/NGC2264_FGSQ106N_HD.jpg)[1920x - 1273 2.4MB]

I annotated the small ones with a zoom of the interesting bits. Could be a lot smoother with more data but the details are still alright and the colours are coming through. :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Tiny stars. Looks very good. A hint of green noise so could benefit from a run with HLVG plugin. Its a quick way of getting rid of excess green which often comes into astro images. I often wondered where it came from until I did a lot of nightscapes and airglow is common and sometimes its very bright almost like an aurora.

Greg.

[RickS]

Nice Xmas tree, Marc!

[multiweb]

Thanks Rick. :thumbsup: Personal best color to date on that one. Will definitely do more at SPSP weather permitting.



Thanks mate. :thumbsup: I did use HLVG on that one but only slightly. I was trying to keep the golden starfield, but I see your point. I'll try to boost the blues and reds a little. Not wrong about the sky glow. It's very obvious in timelapses overnight. I thought it was LP at first but it's amazing how the sky colour changes so radically.

[Placidus]

A great shot Marc. Instructive to see the Christmas Tree, Fox, Cone, and that little boomerang thing all in context. The fox fur must be very faint.

[Atmos]

Really nice field Marc, I think most would prefer double their data... Maybe there should be an App for that :P

[multiweb]

Thanks Mike. :thumbsup: I found another 10 subs or so I shot at your place in January 2015. They're orientated the other way though. I might use the overlay to boost the SNR in the central part.

[multiweb]

:lol: Yeah that'd be good. Although there is that "cheat" with the doubled up Luminance in PI, one LUM and one from the RGB combined channels.

[marc4darkskies]

That's a great field Marc and it looks pretty good to me after your tweaking! :thumbsup: There is still a sliiight green cast I'd get rid of though and some blue to be teased out IMO. (You'd still retain the golden star field)

[multiweb]

Thanks Marcus. :thumbsup: I did what you've suggested and it looks better still, you're right. I don't want to push the blues too much or the dust starts looking blue too. There's so much dark lanes in the fov too I reckon I need way more data to get the real colors.

I'm working on combining old data for a close up of the core and still I reckon I need more data, even with 40x10min. This is the most unforgiving DSO ever. Maybe 2nd to M78 on the b|tchin' list. Shame because it has such a wide range of colors.

[Andy01]

Looking good Marc, great FOV - seems a tad flat on my monitor and it appears that maybe some of the bigger stars are blowing out a bit.
Lovely rich field though, well worth getting the extra data when you can :)

[multiweb]

Thanks Andy. :thumbsup: Yes I do get caught out stretching the faint DSOs with the stars. That scope is very sharp and the stars are very easy to burn. I should do a star mask and blur them or something.

Working on a close up with additional data. Will keep all comments in mind.

no blown stars - checked
no green - checked
more contrast - checked
:lol:

Might even do a cool 3D version.

[Geoff45]

Great wide field Marc. Impressive detail. Perhaps the red needs a bit more sparkle--after all it is a Christmas tree.
Geoff

[E_ri_k]

Nice FOV:thumbs:I like the zooms, there's some cool detail in there.
Erik

[multiweb]

Thanks Geoff. :thumbsup: I'll be able to push the data harder when I shoot more next new moon. It's on my todo list.


Thanks Erik. :thumbsup: yeah it's sharp enough, just a little grainy in the shadows still.

[Camelopardalis]

That is indeed a beauty :thumbsup: well done Marc!

[multiweb]

Thank you Dunk. :thumbsup:

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Great work Marc!!

Like the colour through the image, looks spot on.
Glad you got Hubbles variable in the image, completes the scene.

Cheers,

Justin.

[multiweb]

Thanks Justin. :thumbsup: The field is as interesting if you rotate it 90 degrees. There's a big yellow cluster nearby. But I think the Hubble's variable is cooler.

[Shiraz]

wow, what a great image.

Thanks for the inspiration - will have to set up a widefield rig and dust off the old QHY8 - had forgotten how good they are.

[multiweb]

Thanks Ray. :thumbsup: They are hey? Mine's the first generation, not regulated and not sealed. Going on 10 years. Survived through many brown outs, hot summers, dewy nights, drivers and OS updates, still chillin' :lol: Love that cam.

[Ross G]

Hello Marc,

Haven't been on IIS for a long time so it's so nice to see such a great looking photo on my return.
This is such a beautiful part of the sky.
Nice composition and so sharp.
Love the colours and detail.

Ross.