Lagoon and Triffid Mosaic (Qld AF 2016)

[RobF]

This was my main project at AF this year - a 4 panel mosaic of the M20/M21/M8 area. Have always loved the big chip panaromas of this area, but the budget won't stretch to an 11000 or 16803 for a long time.

AF left plenty of time for a multi-frame effort, and Sequence Generator has a great mosaic planning and execution tool now. Besides, more time for chatting, helping, (drinking) :D

Each LRGB panel is roughly 60:35:30:35 (all unbinned: 5 min RGB, 10min Lum)
2 of the panels were further boosted with an additional 1-2 hrs of data taken from Leyburn in July - positioning wasn't quite right at that time, but PI seems to have happily knitted the two together in the end.

Wanted to show the relative brightness and colours against the milky way stars without pushing too hard. Comments and critique most welcome on how its worked out - thanks for checking it out.

Larger (with zoom thingy :)) image here (https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMP-lLu2EFO-U5l4q7ghAivX_kXmRQtKXzj_rQ7RqlQO_0e EXm-LujmETOmHG8VQQ/photo/AF1QipO9TpFbnLuX1L_gk4YXyYtsZX-eWTHHbJkE9LPo?key=YUtCYlM3cjRMV2c5d EU4UGNqYTZfYzBQSm9JdHN3)

[Atmos]

That's really nice Rob, you've managed to capture the "sandy" region around it too which is wonderful.
What did you capture this one with? Assuming it was the FSQ.

[gregbradley]

That's a fabulous image, well done.
Greg.

[RobF]

Hi Colin. Yes, another with the QHY9/FSQ106ED(F5)/OAG/HEQ5Pro combination. Works well in the field with SGP once the first hour or so of setting up is sorted on the first night.



Thanks Greg. Breathed a sigh of relief when the panels came together with an overlap during processing. Checked in the field, but wouldn't be the first time a missing sliver causes heartache putting the mosaic puzzle together. :)

[strongmanmike]

Right THAT'S IT! :mad2:...I'm coming to Astrofest next year!!...I wanna do what you do :mad2: :2thumbs: Lovely work Rob :thumbsup:...Ok Ok I know, I'm having a bit of an "I Love Rob" fest but sheesh...your latest work is unreal :eyepop:

Veeeeery sliiight suggestion...maybe a liiiitle bit of green...?

Mike

[Placidus]

An excellent mosaic, Rob. I like the grand overview, and the squillions of golden stars, something the long focus narrow banders don't get to see.

[RobF]

Heh he - thanks Mike. You do wonder sometimes in this hobby at 3am and 2 degrees what the heck you're doing. Its great when a plan comes together in the end though. :)

Would be great to tempt a few more south of the border gurus up. I'm sure the committee would happily sign you up for a talk or two. Worst places in the world to visit than SE QLD :D

I think you're right about the green - the last thing I did was zap some in the halos of some brighter stars. Didn't want to let the reds and blues get too strong, and being a member of the PI cult discourages me from whacking a lasso around the mid-field star cloud. ;)
Might revisit later in the week when the eyes and brain are a bit fresher on this one.




Thanks Mike and Trish. The FSQ is a handful with the reducer in (getting properly flat field and OAG to fit), so F5 seems to work out best when slewing around multiple targets at a star party. Might do some more mosaicing when time next allows.

[RobC]

Well done Rob.

Regards Rob

[Spookyer]

Good one mate, has stitched together nicely no need for that expensive big chip, you have a created a higher resolution version. You have motivated me to have a go at a mosaic as well.:lol: brett

[RickS]

Very classy image, Rob!

[RobF]

I really was shooting something after all on those occasions I visited the "West Wing Mega Annex" Rob. :)
Thanks for the encouragement :thumbsup:



I can count on one hand the opportunities each year to think about taking on something like this Brett - with your obs set up should definitely be worth a go.



Most appreciated Rick - have enjoyed your renditions of this area - up there with the best. I've been meaning to ask you about colour selection options in PI - will PM.

[batema]

Beautiful Rob. What a scope and talent.

Mark.

[RobF]

Wow Mark - thanks for the encouragement- that'll help me survive through to the weekend :)
Fingers crossed for some clear skies in spring this year :cheers:

[marc4darkskies]

Excellent work Rob! Colour balance looks spot on to me and detail is good. Nicely processed! :thumbsup:

[RobF]

Many thanks Marcus. Really pleased how to came up in the end. Appreciate the encouragment, Rob.

[Stevec35]

Exquisite Rob! As good an image of this area as I've ever seen.

Cheers

Steve

[Geoff45]

Great image Rob. Wide vistas rule!
Geoff

[Slawomir]

Very very nice image Rob :thumbsup:

[RobF]

Thanks for the positive comments Steve, Geoff and Suavi! :thumbsup:

[andyc]

Lovely rich scenes there Rob. Quite deep too, a fair bit of fainter dust and nebula :thumbsup:

[multiweb]

Epic field Rob. One for the cool wall. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[RobF]

Thanks Andy and Marc! Was nice to have the wider field of view - having previously only imaged these individually at a longer focal length.

[astronobob]

Totally riveting action there Rob, Congratts on a very successful mosaic :thumbsup:
That Zoomy Thingy is awesome aswell, great way to peer through & through !
Top work & great Show :thumbsup:

[RobF]

Glad you enjoyed Bob :)
Gotta love being at latitude 27S when it comes to shooting this area :D :thumbsup: