Omega Neb now with CDK17 data and much better

[gregbradley]

I took this data a while ago and only just now processing it.

I found some CDK 17 data I took a few years back so I added that to the mix and its come up quite nicely now. Much nicer than the original I posted. I am now quite happy with this one.

It has some intricate web like tendrils and gaseous ridges.

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/163620517/large regular size



Greg.

[strongmanmike]

He he looks cool..very Vincent Campbellesque :lol:

My only little quibble is that Cyan processing artifact in the neck region of the swan....kinda like the Mole (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BNkt0pnejk) in Austin Powers, I can't not see it :tasdevil:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Thanks Mike. Its pretty vivid but as Marcus pointed out it can be a bit non photogenic. The cyan isn't an artifact though, its not something that was added in as such. I think its a bit of Ha in the blue channel that must be bright there. I kind of like it as it adds some extra colour.:lol:

Greg.

[astroron]

I am sad to say this magnificent nebula is being processed into oblivion.
The name now has become obsolete,the object is unrecognizable from it's title
Just my observation.
No offense meant to the imager.
Cheers :thumbsup:

[Placidus]

Hi, Greg. The super-wide-field swan in NB is magnificent. I really like it for its depth and colour.

Of extra interest is the faint, roughly equal-sized structure toward top left of the Swan. A smoking guitar perhaps. Or the guitar could be the body and neck of an emu on skis.

[Andy01]

Greg, I like the concept but I'm sorry to say it's a bit heavy handed in the processing imo.

The dark gaseous clouds near the neck can be visibly seperated from the background but here they have disappeared/blended into oblivion.

The image also looks noisy around the feint extremities of the nebulosity.

And yet the detail in the highlights is awesome and the colour palette is rich!
I think a reprocess would help as the data is there for sure. :thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

I'm confused Greg. What palette did you use? Whatever it is I'm afraid I'm not a fan. I agree with others too that the Cyan is probably an an artefact - it's way too abrupt and out of character with the rest of the colour tones in the image. BTW, what does it look like without layering in RGB stars?

[gregbradley]

Thanks Ron. I knew it was strong processing but its more than I realised. I am also using a new monitor and I am still gaining confidence it is displaying colours correctly. Its calibrated but it shows colours as way more saturated than I see on my laptop.



Hehe thanks Mike.



Yes I'll retweak this one. I started processing it a while ago and the initial set didn't seem too impressive so I dropped it. I picked it up again lately and it came up better than I thought which as you say I liked the great detail the AP scope has gotten in the core area. So its worth some repro'ing.



I'll check it out. The cyan appeared in one layer I threw in for effect. It will be easy enough to remove. I'll rework it and make some other variations.

The data is quite good and the Ha is quite deep.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

I have tweaked the image a tad more. Its still very vivid in colour which is my processing choice and it may not be others. Narrowband is an open field really.

Lots of detail in the core still. Got rid of the cyan by popular request!

Probably another go at this one later on with a different setup and more traditional HaLRGB once it rises earlier.

Same links as before.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Yeah I recon that's a bit better Greg, actually looking at it again it has grown on me more :love:...although the inner details are visible now, the main swan is a bit silver/white but maaan, the stars look great!...probably the best I have seen in any of your Honders shots to date really, so what ever you did here keep doing it :thumbsup:

Mike

[atalas]

Hi Greg

Have to admit this has never been one of my favourite objects but, I think you've made a fine effort.

[alocky]

I've always loved this object visually, the texture and detail at a dark sky site can keep me looking for ages, but it's a very tough object to image! I like the detail and contrasts in this repro much better; and as you say, once you're doing false colour imaging there are only opinions when it comes to saturation!
Cheers,
Andrew.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Louie.

I have reprocessed it twice tonight! I think the current version is about as good as I can get it with this data so I am calling it a wrap! It will be different to the one you viewed though.



Cheers Mike. I was not happy with the processing as I can see what the criticism was talking about. I have redone it twice since. This last is it for this data. Yes the stars came out very nicely. Very short exposures.



Cheers Andrew. I hope you like the latest version. Same link.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

.....:scared: what have you done????????????????? :doh:...sigh....

[gregbradley]

LOL. OK fair enough, its gone, you'll never see it again. I got it, I lost the plot.
Reverted back to a better version.:sadeyes:

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

:lol: Yaaay! :thumbsup:

[Andy01]

Greg, I kinda saw where you were trying to go with these variations, and it's admirable to experiment - but, Mike's right - it's very easy to get carried away when doing so ... in my case especially after a few glasses of wine! :P

I found this reference (http://billsnyderastrophotography.com/?page_id=2035) helpful when processing my own 4-5 versions. (http://www.astrobin.com/204450/D/)

Don't give up, take a deep breath, go for a walk, catch a pokemon or two and revisit with fresh eyes, the data's there and it's great! :thumbsup:

Cheers

AC

[gregbradley]

You're welcome.



I usually don't post an image for a while now for that reason. I like your final version. I think I need more S11 and O111 data the Ha is fine but these are a bit weak I think.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

Here is the Ha component.

http://www.pbase.com/image/163659536/large regular size

http://www.pbase.com/image/163659536/original large size

Greg.

[RickS]

Greg,

I have struggled to get decent NB colour out of this bloody object a few times without what I'd consider great success. Your version has promise but it's not quite there yet (according to my personal taste...)

Cheers,
Rick.

[gregbradley]

Yes I have to agree with you there Rick. I was of the same opinion. I find the image appealing but not really where I wanted it to be. I think I will take some more S11 and O111 as it is a bit light in that. Plus a bunch of LRGB as the LRGB here is minimal just for the stars only really.
I think as Marcus has shown LRGB Ha and O3 was the best combo for this one.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

Its hard to argue against the benefits of aperture and focal length.

I was looking through my older images and came across some CDK17 data of this object a while ago.

I've added it to the Honders image and the result is a lot more pleasing as the CDK data was mostly LRGB instead of the evil narrowband.

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/163620517/large

Greg.

[Kunama]

As much as I admire the talent and dedication you imagers have, my favourite M17 is definitely that which I see in the Delos eyepiece in the focuser of my 18".......

I can sit for hours just taking it all in.......

But it is an interesting treatment Greg.

[strongmanmike]

I agree Matt, I also love looking at M17 in the right FOV eyepiece from a dark sky, one of my favourite deep sky objects. You can see pretty much all the extensions seen in good images of M17 but just without the colour.

Nice combine Greg :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Thanks Matt. Makes me realise I haven't looked through any scope for a while unless I was aligning something! I should do some more visual.



Thanks Mike. I like your idea of a Dob onsite with your observatory. I am thinking of doing something similar. Perhaps another Celestron Nexstar 11. They are good for visual and perhaps a bit of planetary as well.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Oh it's great Greg, love being able to visually observe while the AG12 images :thumbsup:

Have to say though, having used a Meade 12" LX200GPS for several years of visual observations and now a 12" F4.9 Skywatcher flextube goto Dob...while the Meade views were lovely the dob views are definitely a little better and the scope is a little easier to setup (should you need to) with excellent goto accuracy, plus a 12" goto dob is only about $2500 delivered too!! Of course I want a 16" or 18" now...:rolleyes: :doh:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Sounds good. I'll check them out. I take it you can view through it standing up and now ladder?

Greg.

[Atmos]

I have a 12" Orion dob that I can easily look through at zenith. I'm 5"10' so not tall by any means.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Colin.

Greg.