SMC and 47 Tuc

[strongmanmike]

I shot this field as my short first light test image with the FSQ106 and PL16803 setup two years ago and although I was very happy with the performance of the brand new rig, I didn't take enough care with the framing and it needed more exposure plus some Ha and OIII to add some colour and more features.

So, two clear nights during the week allowed me to revisit this little galaxy with the blazing 47 Tuc in tow (and the often overlooked smaller but beautiful GC NGC 362) and gather 13hrs total exposure through 6 filters with a better framing... by fiddling with camera rotation, I have managed to squeeze in about 95% of the SMC plus 47 Tuc and NGC362 and I am much happier with this result :)

SMC and 47 Tuc (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/48808387317/) (click on image and pan around with your cursor)

For a search of the huge collection of star clusters and nebulae in the galaxy why not go for a surf around the Full Res image (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/169823424/original) :thumbsup:

Hope you enjoy

Mike

[Slawomir]

Wow, that's what I call a proper FOV :eyepop:

I don't recall ever seeing both globulars and the entire SMC in one image. Great colours and pinpoint stars - another winner from Mike :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

A marvellous image. Very striking and great Ha blending.

Greg.

[h0ughy]

wow what a field of view!!

[Placidus]

The NB RGB worked brilliantly. All our favourite emission nebulae in the LMC stand out. A rich and beautiful image.

[glenc]

An amazing image

[RyanJones]

Beautiful image Michael

[Andy01]

Love it! :D
You've nailed the composition & colours beautifully - another crackerjack image Mike. :thumbsup:

[ozstronomer]

Great image Mike, really like the Ha blending

Well done

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Sous-vide :thumbsup: There are quite a few shots out there showing both globs, just google Small Magellanic Cloud ;) :). Had I had the 645 reducer it would have fitted 100% of the SMC in, both globs and a little space around....this was close though :thumbsup:



Thanks Greg, there is OIII in there too, you can see the turquoise-blue in places but as is often the case the OIII is in the same spot as the Ha so the blend of the two in those areas tends to just result in a lighter pink.



Thanks Dave, nice to be able to squeeze this baby in :thumbsup:



Thanks M&T :thumbsup:



Thanks Glen :thumbsup:



Thanks Ryan :thumbsup:



Glad you think so Andy...actually, when I am composing images I do usually think of you, I have always tried to consider composition but like the presence of decon worms and spots is mine :nerd: composition has definitely become your trademark feedback :)



Thanks Geoff, there's OIII in there too :thumbsup:

Mike

[Atmos]

I've gone and compared this to my 15 panel mosaic and you're right, with the rotation of the camera you've managed to capture nearly the entire thing in one shot! That alone is pretty impressive :thumbsup:

Mine was a pure RGB and the nebulosity increase that you've managed with the addition of Ha and OIII REALLY make it pop :)
Really well handed Mike.

[peter_4059]

That's turned out well Mike. Really like the colours and composition.

[marc4darkskies]

Superb image Mike! One of the best I've seen of this region.

[Paul Haese]

The field of view is epic. I too don't think I have seen an image with both globular clusters. In fact there are quite a few clusters in the field of view. The amount of hydrogen is huge across the field. Not sure if I have ever seen all these gas clouds before. There are bubbles every where. The Ha and OIII data inclusion is a great idea. The only thing I think I would change would be dropping the saturation on the Ha just a little. It's looks a bit fluro to me. Other than that it is a great image. Resolution is nice also. I particularly like the large image. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Col :) As I said my first light shot at it (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/37872786976/in/dateposted-public/) two years ago was a little lack lustre and not framed well enough, so I was keen to have another go and do it properly :thumbsup:



Thanks Peter, glad to hear it, I went rather colourful compared to many other SMC shots :scared3: :thumbsup:



Wow thanks Marcus :thumbsup:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Paul, yeah there are a few shots out there showing both globs at a similar image scale, the 645 reducer would have done it perfectly...but not quite as much resolution then either of course. Yes I did go "colourful" and I certainly ummed and ahhed but seemed ok with the higher level of saturation in the end :confuse3: and think (hope?) I managed to teeter on the edge without falling off the saturation cliff :question: :D

Mike

[gregbradley]

The SMC is a very odd shape. Is that a hint of a leftover spiral structure I see in it?

I can't imagine it formed into that irregular shape without the MWay distorting it big time.

Also all the blue stars. Is that because it has lots of new hot stars?

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Regarding the shape of the SMC, this article (https://news.umich.edu/u-m-astronomers-confirm-collision-between-two-milky-way-satellite-galaxies/) may explain it? :) namely:

"In looking at this data, the team also observed that all the stars within the Wing—that southeast part of the SMC—are moving in a similar direction and speed. This demonstrates the SMC and LMC likely had a collision a few hundred million years ago."

There are several reasons for the prominent blue/teal/cyan in my image..

1) There are a lot of blue giants and plenty of star birth going on!(Great article here (https://slate.com/technology/2016/06/the-smc-is-a-nearby-galaxy-loaded-with-beautiful-gas-clouds.html))
2) I added OIII to the mix which imparts a slight teal-cyan hue
3) I just like the look with the blue/cyan/teal turned up a little :)

While I have certainly favoured the blue for my own aesthetic preferences, there is no doubt the SMC is indeed rather blue see:

Gendler (http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/SMC.html) and Gendler et al (multiple scopes, including DSS data) (http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/SMC-Gendler-Ignacio-S.html) and Lorenzi (https://www.glitteringlights.com/Images/Galaxies/i-xBK3NbH/A)

Hope that was helpful Greg :question: :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Thanks for that Mike. Most interesting.

Greg.

[LostInSp_ce]

There's so much happening I don't even know where to start, kinda like being in a candy store where you just want everything. The amount of detail you've captured is astonishing. We're very fortunate to have members of your calibre in here share their work. Thanks for posting! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Retrograde]

Beautiful Mike.
The gorgeous Ha blend combined with the great resolution & huge FOV is everything you could ask for. :thumbsup:

[codemonkey]

Stunning, Mike! This one's begging for an APOD.

[strongmanmike]

That's very nice of you to say ..?.. Will Robinson? :question: :hi:..I'd address you by your real name but a quick search of IIS threads and posts shows, while you address others by their first name, nobody seems to know your first name :shrug:..:question:



Thanks a lot Pete :thumbsup:



Thanks Lee :thumbsup:

Meah APOD is a lucky dip, they select all sorts of images to feature, from really good or interesting ones, to pretty shocking ones of the imaged to death favourites :shrug:...so who knows, I guess this image is somewhere in that range..? :lol: :thumbsup:

[topheart]

Wow!!!
An awesome image Mike!! I really love it.
Cheers,
Tim

[beren]

:thumbsup: Amazing image well done

[DJT]

Wow, that’s a bit special. The processing has delivered a drop dead gorgeous image.

I have just finished reading Lisa Harvey-Smiths “when Galaxies collide” and the SMC and LMC feature along with how the Magellanic stream was formed and what influences the shape of the galaxies. It’s a good read as is the paper you linked to.


Top job

[DavidU]

Superb Mike !

[John K]

That's great Mike,

Very nice colour and composition!

Clear skies.

John K.

[Decimus]

Simply stunning, Mike. A superb example of astro-imaging!:eyepop:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Tim and Beren :thumbsup:



Gee, cheers heaps Dave :thumbsup: and sounds like an interesting read.



Thanks John :)





Wow, glad you think so David and Richard :thumbsup:

Mike

[Slawomir]

That relatively speaking inexpensive 645 reducer would be a great fun :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

I agree...but the more than AU$4000 delivered price tag is 1/2 the cost of the whole scope :eyepop:...so kinda off the table :sadeyes:...with a smaller chip than the 16803 I could have gone with a cheaper reducer....

Mike

[Slawomir]

Totally understand, was teasing you only. I also have no spare kidney left :lol:

[strongmanmike]

Sakib Rasool has labelled this image so you can find lots of objects within the SMC, thought some might find it useful :thumbsup:

SMC Labelled (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/169897868/original)

Cheers

Mike

[multiweb]

Top shot and nice reference. Super sharp. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Marc, hope it influences some to hit a few of the less imaged bits of the SMC with some FL :thumbsup: