Pillars of creation (M16 Eagle nebula)

[cometcatcher]

Ever since I've imaged M16 I've always wanted to get the Star Queen, as we used to call it, before Hubble came along and now it's famous as the pillars of creation. I think this the first image with my new LRGB filter set, though there is a rogue YG filter in there added to the green layer. :P

Red - 172 x 60 secs, Green - 165 x 60 secs, Blue - 146 x 60 secs. Just over 8 hours. ZWO ASI 183mm Pro, de-forked Meade LX90 ACF 8" F10 SCT, HEQ5 Pro guided with PHD2.

Bigger at Astrobin ---> https://astrob.in/369439/0/

[Atmos]

This is probably the most colourful and dynamic RGB I’ve seen! It’s usually just red in RGB :lol:

[cometcatcher]

Yeah I've seen a lot of red M16's. There's quite a bit of OIII in there too which is why I like to show both.

[Placidus]

Well done! Good work emphasising the normally overlooked non-red components.

[Andy01]

Nicely done Kevin, love the colour palette :thumbsup:

[cometcatcher]

Thanks M&T!



Thanks Andy. I'm glad you like it. It's a bit different than the usual.

[Nortilus]

you've done more with this scope in a few months than i was able to get a chance to do in 5 years...this is truly amazing Kevin...

[markas]

Great image, Kevin. Gotta love the colours:thumbsup::thumbsup:


Mark

[willik]

Very nice image Kevin the colours look great.
Martin

[Octane]

Your finest image to date. :)

H

[LewisM]

That's a cracker

[multiweb]

Love the colour saturation and dynamic range. Really well done. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[RickS]

Very classy image, Kevin. Great work with the new gear :thumbsup:

[cometcatcher]

I wasn't sure how the camera would go at F10. It needs a lot of time but it goes well with the SCT.













Thanks all. Glad my new source of lack of sleep is taking good pictures. :lol: At present I'm just really curious what it can do. It's all new and exciting.

[Mickoid]

That's really one to impress your friends Kevin, a real winner. I'd be printing and framing that one to hang in the Pool Room! Lovely colours. So I guess you don't miss your DSLR? :lol:

[raymo]

By Jove, that's nearly as good as the image my 1100D delivered.:D:D
raymo

[strongmanmike]

A good pillars that Kevin, with all the cool bits visible and I like the framing :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

A very good image Kevin. I am quite a fan of your work.

Greg.

[doppler]

That's a ripper Kevin, the longer focal length does get it in nice and close and those star spikes add a bit of sparkle.


Rick

[cometcatcher]

What's a DSLR? ;) My wife wants a framed print of it on the wall.



An unmodified one at that! :P Actually I have great respect for the 1100D, especially when modified. It's still a very capable camera.



Thanks Mike. Parts of it are a bit infested with worms, so don't look at those bits. :P



Thanks Greg, much appreciated. You will have seen me progress over the months/years. Hopefully forwards most of the time.



Thanks Rick! Yeah the pillars need lots of focal length which is why I chose the SCT with 2000mm. I tried a frame of this with the DSLR and was a bit disappointed. It could still do with even more FL. Aperture too, like everything. The star spikes hide the butt ugly star bloat. And would you believe the ones at 45 degrees are actually real. Not sure what makes them but I've seen them on other Meade SCT's as well.

[Stevec35]

That's a nice Pillars Kevin

Cheers

Steve

[ChrisV]

Nice Kevin. That mono cooled camera was a good investment

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Steve!



Yeah Chris, it keeps me off the streets. I'm having a lot of fun exploring it's potential.

[strongmanmike]

I see no worms, you have done well Jedi :)

Mike

[PeterSEllis]

Hi Kevin,

It is a lovely shot of that region. I can see why they renamed it the pillars of creation, it is almost a religious experience looking at it.

Cheers
Peter

[Ross G]

A great looking closeup photo Kevin.


Love the colours.


Keep them coming!


Ross.

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Peter and Ross. I'd love to do more, but the nights are cloudy. Only just enough time for a quick comet or planet at the moment.

[Anth10]

Kudos your way Kevin, striking space shot, best I’ve seen of the subject (no doubt there are ones out there to rival it).
I’m always inspired by your Astro photography.

Anthony

[topheart]

Well done!
Cheers,
Tim

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Anthony and Tim!

There's a couple of really nice ones of the pillars on Astrobin, but they are narrow band. I don't have the filters for that yet.