Taking Liberties again...(updated)

[Andy01]

Finally, Alllllmost finished this one.

NGC 3576 - Just need the RGB stars added in and it's complete.

I started it waaaay back in January as a bit of a time filler at the end of some image runs, but then got distracted with the new widefield 'scope.

Anyway, following on from M&T's & Suavi's recent wonderful renditions, I thought it's time to dust off my old W/O FLT110, get the remaining O3 data and get this image up and processed.

I love the diversity that several different imagers can bring to the same target.

This is of course, not subtle. I don't do subtle! lol :lol:

It's more like Madonna proudly arriving on stage on a flaming jet chariot with all the glitz and a dazzling lightshow you would expect from such a stellar performer on the universal stage... or that moment when the stadium is hushed and the Olympic flame arrives to all the fanfare before the Olympic cauldron is lit for all to see.

... anyway, you get the idea :D

Around 20hrs exposure Ha, O3 & S2 from the backyard in light polluted suburban Melbourne

My first completed image using 30min subs.
Thanks to fellow colleague AL Sam for the mega performing hyper tuned EQ6.

High res here - (http://www.astrobin.com/244477/)

New version here - (revised stars) - http://www.astrobin.com/full/244477/B/

C&C welcome as always :)

[Slawomir]

This certainly is a glamorous image Andy :thumbsup:

Nice rich colours and fine detail. 30-minute subs with eq6....that is awesome mate!

[Decimus]

A glorious image, Andy! And is that a "tiny" Bok globule almost dead centre (such a dense black)? Well done - masterful, as usual! :)

Cheers,
Richard

[gregbradley]

Very nice Andy. Lovely colours. Narrowband really suits this object as its hard to present well in LRGB as it tends to be too red.

Greg.

[Stevec35]

Wow - that's the best one of this object I've seen in quite a while! Really pops out of the screen at you. A potential prize winner I would think.

Cheers

Steve

[Ross G]

Wow!

Amazing photo Andy.

So sharp. So detailed.

I love the wide composition.

You have raised the bar another notch.

Ross.

[billdan]

Excellent and awesome Andy, you can almost see a face in Liberty ( or Madonna).
To think, that it is all done from a light polluted suburb.

I'll have to save up the pennies and get some narrowband filters, next years budget for me though.

Cheers
Bill

[alpal]

Great picture Any -
that is one to be proud of & framed on the wall.

cheers
Allan

[multiweb]

There is so much blue in there. Very pretty photo. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Looks quite nice Andy, the blue and yellow mix tends to work well. NGC 3576 has such a cool shape, those arcing tendrils always remind me of Mountain Goat (Ibex) horns :)

Fingers crossed, I'll have a wide field imaging setup by the end of the year :prey: I miss imaging large nebs :sadeyes:

Mike

[DaveNZ]

Wonderful image Andy. Great detail and I like the colour palette.

I need to get a SII and OIII filter and give it ago.

[SimmoW]

Very nice Andy, yes it's a beautiful and popular target

[Andy01]

Thanks Suavi - yes that's a gun EQ6 here - all of Al's hard work paid off, interesting to compare the differences in the approach to both of our images :)



Thanks Richard, yes that's a bok globule - Suavi posted a very interesting link about this object on his earlier image post - seems that these two objects are 5000 light years apart in reality!



Thanks Greg, NB is a necessity for me imaging from the 'burbs, but I love the creative freedom it offers as well :)



Cheers Steve, that's a lovely compliment, much appreciated, glad you liked it :)



Cheers Ross, it's a good subject - lends itself to all kinds of interpretation,



Cheers Bill - Actually I was wondering if it was Ben-Hur! yes, NB rocks :)



Cheers Al - nice of you to say so :)



Thanks Marc, I capture something like 8-10 hrs O3 data and it made a heap of difference.



Thanks Mike - cool - can't wait to see your widefield rig in action :thumbsup:



thanks Dave, yes go for it, it's a great subject for NB :)



Cheers Simmo, ta for the nice compliment :thumbsup:

[Placidus]

Nice to see a wide overview of the area in Ha-OIII-SII. Well done.

[Paul Haese]

I like the palette of this image. Detailing is good too in my opinion. Certainly a striking looking image.

The star registration looks a little odd in the hi res version, but that is a really minor issue.

[RickS]

It has all the glitz we've come to expect from you, Andy :thumbsup:

[rustigsmed]

yep, another lovely liberty shot! love the field and colours. very nice,

rusty

[Geoff45]

Another spectacular image Andy. Well done.
Geoff

[Andy01]

Cheers M&T, it's a fascinating target that's for sure.



Thanks Paul, I spent some time tidying up the stars today, new version link below.



Why thank you sir! Cheers :)



Thanks Rusty, turned out better than I hoped, appreciate the feedback :thumbsup:




Thanks Geoff, appreciate the kind words :)

New version here - revised stars etc...
http://www.astrobin.com/full/244477/B/

[Andy01]

Spent some more time on this image, attempting to tidy up the stars.

They're now all new 15x1min R,G & B take with no LP filter from the 'burbs.

I've tried balancing the channels in PS to minimize yellow or blue haloes.

The yellows & blues were then enhanced with curves in LAB colour, then the whole starfield colours were boosted with Annies Astro Actions.

There are hints of white Ha peeping through in the smallest stars.

Also gave the entire image a hint of tonal contrast (NIK filters) and Dust Lane Enhancement (Annies actions again) which has allowed the dark dust lanes above Ms. Liberty to be more prominent.

The new version is HERE (http://www.astrobin.com/full/244477/C/)

Cheers

Andy

[Ryderscope]

Beautiful. Your description is as resplendent as the image itself.

[billdan]

Wow, the latest version seems to have a different personality, now it looks like a raging storm around NGC-3603.

I love it all the same.
Cheers
Bill

[Shiraz]

agree, a very dramatic scene and beautifully interpreted. The colour is remarkably easy on the eye as well.

[Rex]

Awesome job Andy! Detail is really good