Ngc2736

[kosborn]

Here be NGC 2736 (AKA Herschel's Ray or Pencil Nebula). It's an interesting target, well positioned at this time of year and well suited to the 1270mm focal length of the new Sidereal f/5 Newtonian I've been playing with. At the moment I'm limited to 3 minute exposures as I'm using the Orion 50mm guide scope from my SW Esprit but with an OAG soon to arrive I'm hoping for better tracking and longer exposures. This could certainly do with more data to improve the background noise! It was approximately 30x 60s bin 2x2 of R, G and B and around 40x 180s Ha and OIII. A larger (inverted) image is on Astrobin (https://www.astrobin.com/full/386119/0/).

Kevin

[Benjamin]

Very very nice, with lots of whispy detail coming through. Don’t mind the background either - too much nice other stuff to gawk at :-)

[multiweb]

Very fine details and beautifully processed. Well done indeed. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[kosborn]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the comments. I think I'd like to try again with the Esprit for a wider field of view. Those OIII elements disappearing out of frame are too tempting... :)

[Placidus]

The colour seems muted, but the sharpness, depth, and contrast are all excellent.

[kosborn]

Thank you. I try to be restrained with colour saturation but that usually means my images are underdone. I'll try to be less inhibited next time. :D

[gb44]

Kevin,
Great work there. So is the total exposure time about 5.5hours? With binning you saved some time. I have a long way to go...

I tried out 120s subs with modded 50D/12inMeade and got the attached pic from 17 stacked etc in IP. Not cropped. Just a hint of colour but the Pencil is there - 35mins - I suppose I need another another 5-10 nights. Or maybe the camera isnt that sensitive - old technology for sure.

Cheers
GlennB

[kosborn]

Thanks Glenn. Yes total exposure was 5.5hours. The RGB was mainly for the stars but I lost most of the star colour when I added the hydrogen and oxygen. I should have masked the stars first. The advantage I had was the camera I used which is sensitive and cooled. Even with your 50D modified I think you'll need a lot of subs to pull out detail. I'm looking forward to seeing your finished product!

[RickS]

Nice structure in the nebula, Kevin.

[kosborn]

Thanks Rick.

The last couple of targets I've attempted I've added Ha and OIII to an RGB image using the NRGBCombination script in PixInsight (adding OIII to both blue and green channels). I seem to get little of the Ha component even when varying the relative amount of Ha and OIII per channel. Do you have any suggestions about how to get a better balance?

Kevin

[gregbradley]

That's a stunner. The amount of detail is amazing.

One to be proud of.

Greg.

[kosborn]

Thanks Greg. I just look at it and see what I could have done better! :screwy:

[gregbradley]

Yes we all tend to do that but sometimes you need to stand back and take it in with a fresh look.

A critical viewpoint may help with identifying areas needing improvement but it can also block your appreciation on what you have done if overdone.

Greg.

[Geoff45]

Nice wispy detail in the nebula Kevin. Nice colours. However, I do suspect there may be some more detail lurking in the background
Geoff