IC1274 Nebula at the bottom of The Lagoon

[gregbradley]

Also referred to as NGC6559.

I took this one a while ago. Astrophysics RHA 305 F3.8 scope and FLI Microline 16200 camera ( one of the first images I took with it).

I added more data at the time after I first processed it as I thought the image was a tad flat. This lifted it.

Its about 11 hours of data.

I also tried adding some TEC180 FL data I had but it didn't really overall lift the image and the tracking on the TEC data was slightly off.

Its an interesting processing here in that I did have quite a bit more data but when I processed it all I couldn't get it as good as the smaller amount of data. Go figure.

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/164547532/original large size

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/164547532/large regular size

Here is an HaLRGB version:

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/164553301/original large size

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/164553301/large regular size


Here is another version of HaLRGB designed to get the softer nuances. Its more in that direction.

http://www.pbase.com/image/164554001/original

http://www.pbase.com/image/164554001/large

This is 17 hours total exposure, 290 mins of Ha, 80 mins luminance 210 red, 230 green 210 blue.

Also here's a version of just RGB only (10 hour and 50 minutes worth):

http://www.pbase.com/image/164554026/original large size

http://www.pbase.com/image/164554026/lsrge regular size



Greg.

[Atmos]

I take it this is the "foot"?
It is an interesting area that appears to contain a number of small reflection regions.

[gregbradley]

Yes that's righjt the foot below the Lagoon. Its also called NGC6559.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

There's also an alternate version which I did first. It has less exposure time but I like it also. Its less in your face colourful.


http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/163928732/original large size

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/163928732/large regular size

[topheart]

Hi Greg,
All are very nice.

Well done!
Cheers,
Tim

[Regulus]

Interesting comparison Greg.
Firstly, another beauty.
The crimson is bright in the 2nd process, and the red overall is everywhere compared to the 1st version. I am thinking there is more nebulosity showing in the brighter one. Is this right?
I fully expected to see a colour shift in stars when I compared, but the stars are good in both, and there is just less nebulosity in the other.
The black star field has it's attraction, but both work for different reasons, and I like them both. [The chickens way out that :-)]
Nice result(s) mate.

Trev

[gregbradley]

Thanks Tim.



Thanks Trev. I just toned down the saturation a bit on the brighter one.
Its got probably 3X as much Ha exposure in it as the other so there was more to bring out. At first I think I got it too colourful. Its closer to being about right now I think. Its usually shown as a fairly muted area so the depth of the data allows a bit more flamboyance!

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Yeah, both are good Greg, lovely tight stars and great field :thumbsup:...in the words of Marcus Davies though, perhaps lacking some of the nuanced colour, subtle light and shade that makes this field really shine in straight LRGB but certainly still has some appeal :thumbsup:

Mike

[Slawomir]

The new version with more data is looking much better IMO. Colours are great and fainter nebulosities are skillfully presented. I have been a bit absent from the forums lately, but FWIHS this is one of your nicer images.
Really great work Greg :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Thanks Mike. Its funny how we view things a bit differently. I often find versions of this area lacking punch. I do have quite a bit of colour data here so I may try to do a HaLRGB version to see how that shapes up as the O111 S11 are adding some punch and contrast here but are not big elements. The good thing about having lots of data is I can try various combos in the impossible quest for the perfect image (dramatic music)!



Nice compliment ! Thank Suavi.

I have kind of concluded that the Honders is really best as a wide angle telescope and it does do best on emission nebulas and wide fields. My CDK17 is the galaxy and close up nebula machine. The Honders also seems very good at cutting through light pollution - particularly good, better than any other scope I have had.
The Microline 16 seems to complement it very well but the Proline 16803 would still be my choice on some very wide objects like the Orion Nebula for example.

I also use Sky X now to run the camera and autoguider. I prefer it now I am used to the little differences over CCDSoft. CCDSoft though is very robust but Sky X has dither which was hard to implement in CCDsoft (the little plug in also affected the autoguider making it dither on every guide exposure!).

Greg.

[gregbradley]

Here's an HaLRGB version hoping to capture more of the nuances Mike was talking about.

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/164553301/original

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/164553301/large

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

It is a nice shot Greg, don't get me wrong but to me it still looks a tad stark and harsh and a bit contrasty :confuse3:, Two good examples showing the nuanced approach I mean are images by Rick (https://www.astrobin.com/full/191680/0/) and Marcus (http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/126063511/original)

Just ideas mate, your shot still looks pretty good, the dark black wiggly river looks particularly good :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Yes I see what you mean they are awesome images, probably the best around.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

Here is another version of HaLRGB designed to get the softer nuances. Its more in that direction.

http://www.pbase.com/image/164554001/original

http://www.pbase.com/image/164554001/large

This is 17 hours total exposure, 290 mins of Ha, 80 mins luminance 210 red, 230 green 210 blue.

Also here's a version of just RGB only (10 hour and 50 minutes worth):

http://www.pbase.com/image/164554026/original large size

http://www.pbase.com/image/164554026/large regular size

Greg.

[RickS]

Some really nice features in the HaLRGB, Greg, especially the dust lanes. I also like the richness of the colour in the LRGB rendition and the more natural look of the reflection nebulosity around the "toes." Getting the best of everything into a single image may be asking too much :)

Cheers,
Rick.

[gregbradley]

Knowing when to stop is not always easy in this hobby! I think I have processed all my options here.

Greg.

[Andy01]

Looks great Greg, way better than my effort from last year. :D

Fwiw, I'm enjoying the last HaRGB version the most.

Well done :thumbsup:

[Placidus]

Lovely image Greg. The snake-river of black dust is especially fine.

An interesting article here (http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/SP1/h12a.pdf) (by the famous Herbig amongst others) talks about the carving out of hollow IC 1274 by the four hot young stars visible in your image, all about 1 million years old, and close to the surface of a giant molecular cloud. The bubble wall is strongest to the left, against the pre-existing material. The article includes a nice true colour image. So the toe is hollow!

[gregbradley]

Thanks Andy. I think I like that one the best also.




Thanks for that article Mike. That image is spectacular.

Greg.

[atalas]

Nice work Greg!anyone who's imaged this knows how difficult It is to pull out the finest detail....requires the best of seeing.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Louie. Too true.

Greg.

[Retrograde]

Nice to see an image from your 16200 Greg - looks really good!

I especially like the HaLRGB versions :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Thanks Pete. Yes I am very happy with the 16200, its quite performer.

Greg.