Rho Ophiuchus

[strongmanmike]

This field would have to be one of the most beautiful in the whole night sky and is the field I have wanted to do since getting the FSQ106 :love: .

Right in the heart of Scorpius, the majestic mix of colours, caused by various atomic and physical processes, produce a veritable Kaleidoscope view for the eye to feast on :)

Rho Ophiuchus complex (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/48138156711/in/dateposted-public/)(click on image and scroll around with your cursor)

To really see the superb field this scope and camera provide HERE (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/169413165) (choose Original size) is the unadulterated full frame full res image :D

Hope you enjoy :thumbsup:

Mike
PS. First time I have ever directly imaged this area, in 37 years of astrophotography and imaging...nice to have finally got there :)

[multiweb]

Very cool shot. :thumbsup: I wasn't aware of that little blue reflection on the edge of the dust at the middle bottom of the field. Colors are very nice. Quite a challenge to have a balanced picture with Antares in the fov.

[Retrograde]

Beautiful! :cool:
I've seen plenty of images of this popular area but few if any that show such detail whilst still including all the highlights.

[Atmos]

I’m with Marc, never seen that blue reflection. I’ll have to go and check my data and hope it’s not too close to the edge of one of my fields :)
I’m thinking this would make a great metallic print :thumbsup:

[Andy01]

That's a glorious image Mike - one of your best ever I'd say! :)

Since getting into Astro this field has long been on my bucket list too - alas, the absence of dark skies & the requirement to make it a mosaic with my FOV have conspired to leave me only able to enjoy it vicariously through others here such as your good self, and what a majestic view you have delivered us here. :eyepop:

Hat's off to you sir :bowdown:

[Bart]

Wow, you and that FSQ rock, Mike! Very swish!:cool::cool:

[Nikolas]

This is on my bucket list but my 183mc has a narrow field of view so it's gonna be done woth a prime camera lens instead, Beautiful stunning image!!!

[willik]

Very nice detail colour star cluster you got the loto Mike :thumbsup:
Martin

[JA]

Wonderful in every respect Mike.
Great image:thumbsup:

Best
JA

[DJT]

Oh my, that’s a stunner! I had a very happy few minutes scrolling around.Must get me a full frame one day.


Top Job!

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot everyone, so glad you like it :thumbsup: It's such a beautiful area and I've seen many mighty fine efforts from others on here for years, so to finally do my own version is very satisfying. I was the most excited about processing this data, of any image I think I have ever done :D :party:..some beer flowed during processing too :drink:. Hopefully it wont elicit a denigrating roll-over to point out some perceived rookie misgiving :question: :rolleyes:....:lol:

Thanks again all :hi:

Mike

[Atmos]

It’s here too (http://www.astrobin.com/full/393730/C/) so you’re safe ;)

[strongmanmike]

:prey: :prey2: :lol:

[gregbradley]

Absolutely superb Mike. Such fabulous resolution as well.

One of your best and well suited to the FSQ's strengths.

That blue reflection neb also shows up in my recent widefield version.

Greg.

[marc4darkskies]

Nice composition! Tak sharp and very pretty Mike! :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Greg, yes it is an intriguing feature, like a little Herschel's Ray :)



Cheers Marcus

Mike

[Slawomir]

A beautiful image Mike - eye candy for sure :thumbsup:

[Ryderscope]

Stunning!

[Joshua Bunn]

that is lovely, Mike. so clean, crisp and vivid colours!

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot gentleman, this is such a beautiful area, hard to take a bad shot of it really :thumbsup:

Mike

[Anth10]

Fairdinkum unreal Mike, always a treat looking at your work. The eyeballs were rolling every which way studying the immense detail in this capture. Inspirational Astro photograph. Love it.
Anth

[strongmanmike]

Gee, thanks Anthony :thumbsup: and glad you had a good look around too, the area is pretty magical, huh? :)

Mike

[codemonkey]

Goddamn, Mike, that is awesome!

[beren]

:thumbsup: Beautiful image , sensational, well done enjoyed scrolling around the flicker link :thumbsup:

[Stevec35]

Certainly one of your best I would think Mike

Steve

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Lee, really is a beautiful field to shoot, hard to find anything similar with so much subtle beauty going on in such a modest sized area...maybe some fields in and around the Vela SNR..?



Cheers Stuart, glad you thought it worth a good look :)



You recon?.. well cheers Steve :thumbsup:

[topheart]

Hi Mike,
Congratulations on producing one of the most beautiful astro-images !
Excellent framing.
Excellent colours and detail.
Excellent creation of balance between the strikingly different objects within the field of view.

Excellent!

Cheers,
Tim

[tornado33]

Incredible image there, all perfectly captured right down to the faintest details!

[markas]

Mike,


Simply Brilliant!


Mark

[Paul Haese]

It is a great area with so much contained within the field. Colour is nice, the Detail in M4 is excellent and the dark streaks are a real highlight. Always wanted to do this field too but never put the STXL on the FSQ when I owned it. Should have done that. Well done.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks so much Tim for your generous and encouraging comments, they mean a lot :cheers:



Thanks Scotty :thumbsup:




Thanks a lot Mark :)



Thanks Paul, it's a very photogenic region.

Mike.

[Placidus]

You're converting us to the wider field.

This one is exquisite.

Well done!

[strongmanmike]

Can I also convert you tooo.. staying with your observatory all night to turn the dome..? :question:...oh it's great fun!..hell from up at your observatory you could enjoy that panoramic view :astron: allnight, maybe do some :painting: or even some :camera: while you hang around :face:

Mike

[xelasnave]

Great image Mike I love it.
Couldnt you use your skill and just lift the dome off and put it aside and lift it back when done☺.
Alex

[strongmanmike]

:lol:...yer right ;) :thumbsup:

...something in that though....:question: :lol:

Mike

[Decimus]

An absolute cracker of an image, Mike. I think this even rivals the Rho Ophiuchi images of Rogelio Bernal Andreo. Congrats!

Cheers,
Richard

[SimmoW]

Ace Mike, superb field of view and so sharp. World class image!

[strongmanmike]

Gee thanks a lot Richard, Rogelio huh?...he has a unique style to his processing but hey, I'll take that complement any day :thumbsup:



Thanks so much Simon, sometimes things just come together well...helps when the subject matter is so photogenic too of course :)

Mike