APOD 11/1/18 - The Dragon's Heart - RCW 114

[Andy01]

EDIT: Today's APOD (https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180111.html)

Honoured & thrilled to have my 3rd APOD! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
Could't have done it without all the help and motivation from all you good folks here on IIS. :thanx:


This is likely to be the first ever high res colour image featuring the whole of this huge SNR in Ara.
It was originally thought to be a ring nebula surrounding the Wolf-Rayet star WR 90, expanding into a pre-existing cavity created by the supernova remnant 343.0-06.0.
However, current research suggests that is much closer to us than WR90, so is an Ancient SNR in it's own right.

I've searched and searched the web for examples but have only found 2-3 widefield camera images, including one by Greg Bradley here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=159565) on IIS.
This is a six panel mosaic in HaRGB data gathered over 6 months from my backyard in suburban Melbourne, Australia.

I first noticed this SNR on an Ha Galaxy survey, but for some reason it's been largely overlooked by amateur astrophotographers.
Credit is also due to John Gleason, who captured the region in Ha (https://www.astrobin.com/94334/?nc=iotd) 4 years ago, but I wanted to create a colour image, so 208 subs later - here it is :D

Took forever to register, and process, and shooting RGB under LP is not for the feinthearted! :screwy:

Anyway, thanks for looking, I hope you enjoy the image (https://www.astrobin.com/full/328424/0/) :)

[lazjen]

That's nicely done, indeed.

[gregbradley]

Wow, wow, wow Andy.

Brilliant work. I got 4 panels of a mosaic last year and it got too low to continue. I see its back up.

A rarely imaged region indeed yet its quite photogenic.

Greg

[Andy01]

Cheers Chris - it's a labour of love :)



Thanks Greg, I believe it's over 250 arc mins in diameter - it's HUGE!
took forever to register & assemble it all - I'm looking forward to seeing your version. Are you doing HA & S2?

Anyway, now that that monkey is finally off my back - time to move on to something new :)

[furgle]

I really appreciate these lesser known (to me) objects.

I always look them up in Aladdin to see if I can add them to my To Do list, but I had to zoom out quite a bit to see this one.

Even if I tried a mosaic with my widest scope, it would take forever :/

[RickS]

That's very cool, Andy. Lovely shape/composition. Is there any Oiii as well?

[Andy01]

Cheers Furgle, the less trodden path sometimes can be very rewarding to us backyard imagers.
Don't misunderestimate this one, it's huge - and dim = very challenging!



Hey cheers Rick!
Seems there's no O3 although a paper suggests that there may be S2 present.

Thanks too for the feedback about composition, guess if you're going to spend 6 months on an image, you want to be sure to frame it well from the start!

[SimmoW]

Per my FB comments Andy, as Rick said, lovely shape and compo. or did he copy my FB comment?!:P

250 arcmins? Is that as big as 4 degrees?

[Placidus]

A truly superb effort Andy.

[astronobob]

Nice work Andy, wow, so much more pleasing in colour too

[strongmanmike]

Enjoyable image of a refreshingly rare Ha structure Andy and nicely executed too, very well done :thumbsup:

Mike

[Ross G]

What a great looking photo Andy.

Amazing work!

Ross.

[Andy01]

Cheers Simmo, yes I understand it's 4-5 degrees - probably a good one for your yellow Tak & Sony combo :thumbsup:



Thanks very much M&T :thumbsup:
Thought you'd have fun analysing and interpreting the various shapes present, I reckon the dark one at 2 o'clock looks a bit canine?



Cheers Bob, yes, might be even more interesting to capture the S2 and try for a bi-colour version :)



Thanks very much Mike, another one for your growing list of targets for the Tak/FLI combo perhaps?

Appreciate the positive comments :thumbsup:



Chees Ross - was nice to get a pleasing result after all the hard work! :D

[strongmanmike]

I just checked and yes I can juuust squeeze it all in one frame..but it's tight, be perfectly framed if I had the 0.72X Tak645 reducer..hmm? :question: they are just so expensive! :eyepop: :)

Anyway, again, great shot Andy :thumbsup:

Mike

[Bart]

Fantastic work, Andy. Looks lovely. :):thumbsup:

[rustigsmed]

great field! awesome work!

[Andy01]

G'wan Mike - it's only money & you can't take it with you! :D



Cheers Bart - thanks for dropping by :D



Thanks Russ, yes lots to see there - check it out in full res if you get a chance! :)

[beren]

Superb image, congrats :thumbsup: with a SV70T very nice scope

[Flugel88]

Interesting target Andy some good detail in there.
cant see any hints of gradient light pollution degradation.
how do you generally go about rendering out LP?

[Andy01]

Cheers Beren, Yes the SV70t punches well above it's weight - I'm delighted with it! :thumbsup:



Thanks Michael - Some procedures resulting from my experiences imaging RGB under LP as follows....

Capture:

- Don't use LP filter (as it messes too much with star colours)
- Take lots of subs to get better s/n and overcome skyglow.
- Use lots of very good flats
- Image as near to zenith as possible
- Don't even attempt it when the moon is up!

Processing:

- Gradient Xterminator is very useful
- Don't overstretch the data

Hope that's useful :D

[Flugel88]

Thanks Andy:thumbsup: I have been really struggling with my RGB of late it seems LP in my area is getting worse every year.
Will give Xterminator ago i have spent countless hours fidgeting in PS trying different methods they work eventually but lead to poor looking background.

[Andy01]

Honoured & thrilled to have today's APOD! (https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180111.html)

Could't have done it without all the help and motivation from all you good folks here on IIS. :thanx:

One for all of us backyard astronomers ;)

[strongmanmike]

Nice one Andy, good to see'em showing us some different fair :thumbsup:

Just out of interest, I didn't notice this image on the APOD Flickr group or the Starship Asterisk pages, how did you submit it..?

Mike

[Andy01]

Cheers Mike - I just followed the link at the top of this page (https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html)

When one considers that they can use images from Hubble, Cassini and all kinds of zillion dollar interspace probes and top observatories; it's a little humbling that an amateur guy using modest equipment in his backyard can catch their eye, albeit briefly :)

[Paul Haese]

Congratulations Andy on another APOD. You have provided an image not often seen of this part of the sky and I think this is what they sometimes look for in an image. Yet to get one of those myself, though I have pretty much given up trying. Once again congrats.

[rustigsmed]

congrats again Andy, APOD woohoo!!! :thumbsup:

[Martin Pugh]

APOD worthy that image Andrew.

well done.

Martin

[JA]

Congratulations Andy well done !!

Best
JA

[Peter Ward]

APOD’s are always a cool recognition of one’s efforts. Well done 👍

[Andy01]

Thank you Paul- I think you’re right, rarity/the path less trodden is probably a consideration in the Apod team’s deliberations- and Jerry did mention that sll the hard work paid off!

A lot - seriously & really - a lot of research went into this though. Many cloudy nights pouring over Ha survey maps of the milky way to maybe find something different that might be achievable with my gear and conditions, and dedication and perseverance to follow through with half a year’s data acquisition and then process a six panel mosaic, shot under LP!

Of course I’m very pleased with the outcome, and while I hoped for inclusion, I never really thought that it would get up, as like you I’ve submitted many fine images that didn’t make it across the line.

But I’ll take it!
You’re an amazing imager, well deserving of several Apods imo- perhaps this may inspire others here to find new targets as well :)




Onya Rusty! Woohoo indeed :D lol



Why thank you Martin- high praise indeed coming from your good self sir, cheers! :)



Onya Ja, thanks mate! :thumbsup:



Thanks Peter, it’s a nice feeling to get acclamation from the big boys- however briefly, and it certainly gives a nice feeling of closure to what was truly a marathon project last year.

Might try for something a little easier next time though :D

[gregbradley]

Congrats Andy - well deserved.

Greg.

[alistairsam]

Congrats Andy, nice work.

Alistair

[Ross G]

Congratulations on the APOD Andy....amazing work!....and more so when you see that it's from suburban Melbourne.

You inspire and give hope to people like me trapped under Sydney's light polluted skies.

Ross.

[joelshort]

Congrats on your APOD!

[Andy01]

Thanks Greg - and thanks for all your valuable critiques on the journey!



Cheers Al - one for us backyard boys :)



Thanks Ross, I originally purchased the camera to shoot Ha & NB as I have a young family and it's hard to get away.
Ha yields so much more nebulosity than my old one shot RGB camera too!

I also wanted to address the symbiotic relationship between the number of time the nights are clear and the moon is up! lol :)



Cheers Joel! :D

[diegocolonnello]

Things like this are the reason why i want to improve and learn, so much to do in astrophotography and people like you to learn from, thanks for showing what is there, you and others on this community are constantly showing me the path i want to follow.

[Andy01]

Cheers Diego, believe me when I tell you the folks here are incredibly helpful and I too am very grateful for all the input received over these past few years. :thumbsup: