Irregular Neighbours

[Stefan Buda]

I seem to manage about one deep sky image per year so I don't barge in here too often. However, I posted my latest image yesterday on the ASV AP group and it generated some interest and I thought maybe I should put it on wider display here as not too many APs seem to know about the faint structures around and in-between the LMC and SMC.
This in a 3 panel mosaic captured with an old 50mm Pentax SLR lens and QHY8 camera. About one hour exposure for each panel. It was hard work to remove the gradients and the skyglow.
A higher resolution version is in my ASV gallery:
http://asv.org.au/images/gallery/Stefan%20Buda/IrregularNeighbours_small.jpg

[strongmanmike]

Excellent project Stefan and an intriguing result, something different and interesting and indeed something I have aaalways wanted to do myself since way back in the day, so thank you for doing it for me :thumbsup:... I wonder if any of that faint stuff is part of the Magellanic steam?

Out of interest, when you are removing the described gradients in an image like this with such mega faint tenuous features spread everywhere, how do you ensure you don't remove or add structures or information..?

Mike

[Atmos]

That's really good Stefan, you've managed to go very deep there. I may have to give it a shot the next time I am up at my dark site. You've got me intrigued :)

[Stefan Buda]

Thanks guys.

Michael,
Very good question. I spent hours hand selecting reference points in IRIS to generate a polynomial background to be subtracted from each panel and I had to do two passes as well. Maybe there are easier ways with other software but I like the numerical approach and the total control that IRIS provides.
If you follow the links from this site, https://arxiver.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/low-surface-brightness-imaging-of-the-magellanic-system-imprints-of-tidal-interactions-between-the-clouds-in-the-stellar-periphery-ga/, you will be able to download a PDF paper, that I only found yesterday, with information on these faint structures.
Also Phil Hart showed me his unfinished version of the same field and his image shows exactly the same structures.

[pfitzgerald]

That is a truly impressive mosaic Stefan, absolutely stunning to look at.

Thank you for sharing it.

[strongmanmike]

Ok, that all makes sense and a great paper. In case I wasn't clear, I wasn't questioning whether what you had recorded was real or not, just how accurate the structures were given the indicated heavy gradient removal required, that's all. Looking at the images and figures in the Martinez-Dalgado et al paper I'd say you are pretty close :thumbsup:

Mike

[Retrograde]

Great and quite unique image Stefan. Love all that extended structure!

[Placidus]

Both the image and your approach are breathtaking.

[gregbradley]

That's wonderful. I had no idea these existed.

I am sure the LMC and SMC widefield are on people's imaging wishlists now.

Greg.

[Stefan Buda]

Thanks guys for the kind words.



Mike you were very clear, but I had the same doubts about the integrity of those structures after the heavy processing, until I found the above paper.

[codemonkey]

Great work. I too had no idea of that structure there. Thanks for sharing!

[Peter Ward]

Every so often amid the noise of many images you see, one pops up on forums like this that simply astound.

I had no idea these structures existed. I suspect many now will retrace your path! Just superb work. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[RickS]

Very cool, Stefan! I had heard of these structures but not seen them in an amateur image before.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Stefan Buda]

Thanks again everyone for the enthusiastic reception. It makes me happy to know that my image will prompt others to explore the area.



And Peter, I'm sure others will do better than what I could with my entry level camera and 1980's lens that was designed for film.

[multiweb]

This is excellent Stefan. Sub-zero cool. I'm really impressed how you brought up all this faint stuff on such a wide area of sky having to contend with sky glow and uneven light. Quite extraordinary. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
I had a go years ago at the Eridanus loop from Coona which is pretty dark. It was in Ha and even that, it was just almost impossible to process.

[Stefan Buda]

Thanks Marc,
Yes, it was not easy and I had so many attempts at processing it that I'm not sure I can remember the whole sequence that worked in the end.
Other than IRIS the other main software I used was StarTools.

[Paul Haese]

Cool productive image. Whilst I had read about the streams both these galaxies have following them, this is the first amateur image I have seen that looks to have captured the streams. If nothing else the halo about the LMC is larger than that I have seen captured before. Well done Stefan. Certainly an interesting image.

[Stefan Buda]

Thanks Paul,
My understanding is that those long thin structures are just Galactic Cirrus and they are not associated with the two MCs.

[clive milne]

Well done Stefan.
You have brought something new to the table (if you can pardon the clich'e)

[Stevec35]

Pretty amazing! I've never seen this stuff before. Great job of processing Stefan.

Steve

[Ross G]

Hello Stefan.

Amazing capture!

Ross.

[alocky]

Not intending to detract from Stefans astonishingly clear image of these, but I had a sense of déjà vu and recalled the following thread.
I can't believe how beautifully clear and defined these structures are in Stefans processing.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=118775&highlight=Lmc&page=2
Never ceases to amaze me how frequently the bar is raised, and always by more than you could have predicted!

[Phil Hart]

Well done to Stefan on finishing and posting a remarkable image! (which we've been discussing briefly on the ASV list and in person).

The first time I had heard of these (possible) structures was many years ago from a mutual ASV colleague of ours Maurice Valimberti. More recently I had also seen some of Troy's images (as per alocky's link I think) before I gave it an attempt in December 2014. I tried a mosaic but was hampered by intense and highly variable airglow - the result certainly wasn't worth sharing. I did capture a wider single shot at the same time but only processed it last weekend after seeing Stefan's shot:

https://philhart.smugmug.com/DeepSkyAstrophotography/Galaxies/i-82Nvbqv

This is very roughly processed with some ugly processing artifacts, but to me it looks surprisingly similar in tone given the CCD/DSLR difference in capture.

Wide field in general is always hard to remove gradients from but it seems to be particularly bad when shooting south as that is where airglow is strongest and often most structured. By the time you image for several hours with the whole region rotating around SCP and one corner of the frame always being fairly low in the sky it makes for some pretty hard yards after the shoot.

Again nice work Stefan - quality not quantity is a good approach! :thumbsup:

Phil

[marc4darkskies]

A truly remarkable image Stefan!

Marcus

[Stefan Buda]

Thanks Everyone!



Phil,
I totally agree on that as I first tried this field from VicSouth and then from Heathcote and the gradients were very similar and equally severe.

[Paul Haese]

Thanks Stefan for the clarification. My mistake. :) Still a great capture.

[gregbradley]

But there is an interesting smallish arc there coming off the SMC near the top left that looks like a sweep of stars.

Greg.

[Andy01]

Well done Stefan!
Another truly unique and amazing image :thumbsup:
Cheers
Andy