Somewhat updated Helix nebula

[Stevec35]

This is an updated version of the Helix nebula with more data and RGB stars. It's not dramatically different to my last posting but a bit deeper and smoother. It also shows many of the tiny galaxies in the area. To do this object complete justice requires darker skies than I have.

Cheers

Steve

http://members.pcug.org.au/~stevec/ngc7293_STL16200_RC14.htm

[gregbradley]

A very solid Helix Seve.

Greg.

[Stevec35]

Thanks Greg

[willik]

Very nice image but try sharpening just a little bit it will stand out
still very nice.
Martin

[Stevec35]

Thanks Martin. I'm still experimenting with it but you have to be careful with sharpening. It can easily be overdone.

[Atmos]

It is looking better than the previous one Steve, not as deep as Mike and Trish's but yours is in colour :P

[Stevec35]

Thanks Colin. Never intended it to be like M&Ts. I think my sky conditions wouldn't allow that anyway. Just wanted a nice clean helix, something that has eluded me in the past. I assume M&T will be producing colour at some stage - that's going to be some image.

[atalas]

Improved contrast and signal by the looks of Steve :thumbsup: that fainter out shell needs a lot of signal to smooth out.

Ive captured 40 hrs of Ha with the 10" and I'm still not happy with the s/n.....I need a faster bigger scope :lol:

[Stevec35]

Thanks Louie. This started out as an experiment to see how well the 16200 would record this thing at full resolution. If I had binned 2x2 I would have done better. A Riccardo Honders is what you need for this thing.

[RickS]

Looks good, Steve. I find a straight HOO combine on the Helix always looks a little bland. It cries out for serious colour tweaking, at least to me :D

What's your image scale with the 16200? I would have thought you'd be oversampling unless your seeing is a lot better than mine.

[Stevec35]

Thanks Rick. This is basically just HaOIIIOIII with 40 minutes of RGB all at 1x1 which is massively over sampled at .37" per pixel. I just wanted to see how it would turn out with my seeing and I think the end result wasn't too bad. Normally with Sakib's planetary nebulae I do 2x2 all the time.

I do always find the colour a bit difficult with this thing. I tried the PI photometric calibration but it didn't work saying there was insufficient data.

[RickS]

Steve,

PCC is intended for RGB images. I guess it might produce a useful result on NB data but it would only be by accident!

Cheers,
Rick.

[Stevec35]

This did include some RGB data though but maybe not enough

[Peter Ward]

Good effort Steve. The faint fuzzies are not an easy catch. :thumbsup:

[Stevec35]

Thanks Peter. The most prominent one up at the top is about magnitude 17 and obviously the others are fainter so I'm surprised they showed up well.

[multiweb]

Looking good Steve. :thumbsup: I'm struggling on this one as well.

[Stevec35]

Thanks Marc. I've just seen your version and I don't think you're struggling at all.

[strongmanmike]

Ha! The seeing was good the other night out at Wallaroo and I almost pointed my scope at this bloody thing... buuuut resisted the temptation. Glad I did, looking at all the versions being posted here is almost as much fun anyway... and I am now imaging another very rarely image but cool object instead :thumbsup:

It's a nice one Steve.

Mike

[rustigsmed]

Nice Helix Steve, getting some of the finer detail show.

Russ

[Stevec35]

Thanks Russ. I won't be going any further with it though.