First (& possibly only) image from SPSP

[Retrograde]

SPSP was badly impacted by cloud (& rain) this year so this might be my only image. Unfortunately, being an inner-city dweller, SPSP is normally one of my major imaging opportunities for the year. Was good to catch up with quite a few people at least.

This is my first ever attempt at this object, The Blue Horsehead (IC 4592).
I dragged along my old Vixen SP mount for some wide-field to try and make the most of any clear sky we had and I was able to capture 27 x 90 sec sub-exposures on Saturday evening through the Samyang 135mm telephoto before the cloud rolled in.

Still struggling a bit with the colour balance on this (as usual :)).

* Updated the colour balance after Marc's suggestion. High-res now points to updated image *

Higher res - http://www.astrobin.com/full/405699/E/

[multiweb]

Pretty good Pete. :thumbsup: Imaging opportunities were scarce so good on you for sticking one in. :thumbsup: Played a bit with your colors. Don't know if I made it better or worse. It's probably less blue and more green now. ;)

[Retrograde]

Thanks Marc!

Your quick edit looks good I think.
I've updated mine too although I think there's still perhaps a little too much green (I already took a heap of green out - honest!) :thumbsup:

[BruceG]

Nice work Pete - a difficult object to image at the best of times, but with the limited window we had for imaging, a great outcome.
Bruce.

[Placidus]

Very well conceived and executed - it really looks like a blue horse.

The general starry background with no particular nebulosity is perhaps still too blue, but it is a lovely photo.


(Looking out our window, we see lots of black cattle and a brown horse, but no blue ones).

[Retrograde]

Thanks Bruce!

I cheated a bit by imaging at f2.8!
Was good to catch up at SPSP (and see the excellent cabling work you did on your rig :thumbsup: )



Thanks M&T - you definitely need a blue horse for your or your neighbour's paddock!


I did some further work on this. Latest version with improved (I hope) colour balance and some enhanced nebulosity:

[Andy01]

That's looking good Pete, well done! :thumbsup:

[Capella_Ben]

Very nice depth of nebula considering the exposure time! Your coloured updated version is a big improvement.



It would be nice to get a bit more colour out of the stars perhaps.

[Retrograde]

Thanks Andy!



Thanks Ben - yep it was looking a bit anaemic after removing so much blue.
Yet another revision here with some increased saturation which hopefully helps a bit in that regard. Appreciate the feedback.

[Rigel003]

Just saw this. Beautiful image. I really love this object.

[Retrograde]

Thanks Graeme!
Yeah I really love this object too - been on my list for quite a while.