The Flapping Chicken

[strongmanmike]

No explanation needed, it's that bloody Running Chicken so many can't see... Except watch out those with astigmatism, the millions of tiny points may look elongated, put ya glasses on or look closely....they aren't :thumbsup:

This is a true colour (quicky) image composed using narrowband emission line filter data

All capture details are under the image :)

The Running Chicken (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/26447487137/in/dateposted-public/) click on image to enlarge and pan.

and a BIGGER FILE (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/167273127/original) to surf around

Hope you like it :)

Mike

[JA]

BWARK Buck Buck Buck Buck BWARK - there be a nice chicken :thumbsup:

Best
JA

[Placidus]

Wow! That was worth waiting for! The stars are pinpoint right to the edge. That and the colour makes the two open clusters very beautiful.

We like beautifully coloured open clusters, and two of them in the one image is extra special.

:hi:

[Atmos]

Really lovely Mike! I love have you been able to hold the naturalness of the tones within the chicken.
I wonder if capturing some OIII would help fix that with my burning chicken :lol:

[h0ughy]

It's basting in its own sauce!!!
Very ordinary effort Mike, very ordinary :jawdrop: :innocent: :stargaze: :prey2:

[Geoff45]

Great wide field Mike. Much more interesting to get the full thing rather than the usual bits and pieces. Oh yes, the detail and colour are also pretty good, but I suppose that's a given with your posts.

[alocky]

This is gorgeous, Mike! I remember reading an article a while ago, I think it was by Tony Hallas about how to map narrowband colours into RGB, but this is easily the best execution of this process I’ve seen. Do you mind explaining a bit more about how you did it? Although I appreciate that good data helps!

Cheers
Andrew.

[markas]

Great image! Seeing the chook in context is a real bonus.

Mark

[RickS]

That's a very classy chook, Mike. Not so much running as swaggering :lol:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks for looking everyone and glad you liked it :thumbsup:

Andrew, while the process is a little more convoluted with a few other tweaking steps, I make separate Ha, OIII and SII processed stacks and an RGB stack, I then blend each NB file into the R, G or B in various proportions to try and get some influence from each, usually the ha into the Red, the OIII and SII into the blue and green..obviously most of the signal comes from Ha but that is how it basically is in a true colour image anyway. I also make a combined SIIHaOIII and blend it in as a partial luminance layer and also use the RGB again to improve star colours. I make several blends until I am happy with the appearance...it's lots of fun..I look like Linguini in Ratatouille (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfe2WlV1VKY) while I am going at it :D.

Mike

[LewisM]

The culinary world has Duck a l'Orange.

The astronomy world has Chicken en Rose :lol:

Certainly a nice rendition. Now boost contrast and pop those giblets! (Bok Globules)

[strongmanmike]

Ah huh! Oui Oui Monsieur

I did do a few contrastier versions but I didn't like the look, bringing out the globules at my image scale and FOV just didn't look right. I was trying to keep it as natural looking and balanced as possible by keeping it bright where it is meant to be bright :question:

Mike

[LewisM]

I trust ya comrade Sidonio.

[troypiggo]

Awesome field and treatment. The clusters really add to the nebulosity.

[Stevec35]

I don't know how many chickens you would have done in the past Mike but this one would be one of the best. A fine image.

Steve

[topheart]

Pollo saporito!!

:D

Tim

[gregbradley]

Is it just me or are your star colours and star processing improved? The stars look fabulous. A great widefield image, I like it.

Greg.

[topheart]

Hi Greg,
I agree!! That's why I asked Mike about his processing with regards to his recent image....what ever is his finger lickin' recipe currently works a treat!

Cheers,
Tim

[PKay]

Nice one Mike

All those years ago someone made a typo...
it should have read 'runover chicken' :lol:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers guys, thanks for the nice feedback :thumbsup: I agree Troy, love the three open clusters framing the chicken and as for my stars, dunno, I think it is just easier to get'em right and glowing with this amazing legendary scope :shrug:

Steve, this is only my 4th shot of this baby, I did one image of the chickens bum area with the 6" Starfire back in 2007, one of the whole Chicken with the 12" F3.8 and 16803 in 2011 and a close up of the giblets with the 12" F3.8 and H694 in 2015 :)

Mike

[Andy01]

Wow! That's sharp as a, well TAK I guess! :D
Great star colours & nicely framed.
Lovely job Mikey :thumbsup:

PS: I still reckon it looks more like Ja-Ja Binks than a chook!

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot Andy, this scope has a good reputation for good reason :thumbsup:

Mike

[atalas]

A great shot Mike...very wide :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:very attractive star clusters too.....now when are you going to stop playing with that camera lens and get back to your real telescope :)

[Paul Haese]

Nice colour Mike but to me this Meh really, no offence intended. I was hoping to see something like another big dust field as your next target with this scope. Say something like NGC5367. And; I agree with Louie, time for some nice planetary again.

[strongmanmike]

:lol: soon, soon.....t'was just a quicky to fill in time between other projects ;)



:lol: to be honest I don't really care what you were hoping for Paul, I do what I want, when I want, so go jump! :lol:...meant lightheartedly of course ....and if you don't get that :rolleyes: I also don't care :)

Mike

[Paul Haese]

:eyepop:Ok; don't get your panties in a twist ya big lug. :P Image those glossies all you like. ;) :)

[strongmanmike]

Aaaaah there ya go, see?...you got my humour yaaaay! :welcome: you're learning ;) :thumbsup: As I said to big Louie, it was just a fill in image in between more interesting fair :)

Mike