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View Full Version here: : Sh2-301 Cosmic Bubble Redux


Andy01
14-08-2020, 06:29 PM
Inspired by Greg's recent image, I thought I'd have a go at reprocessing my data (https://www.astrobin.com/full/ut46fk/0/?nc=Andys_Astropix) from way back in 2015.

At the time, there were only a dozen or so images of this thing around, so I was inspired to have a red hot go at deep exposing an unusual object,
this was shot over 5 nights from my light polluted suburban backyard.
I realize now that it was not nearly enough data, so it was noisy as a school bus on breakup day! :lol:

I have used every trick in the book to minimise that this time around.
APP, Starnet++, Nik etc. the whole shebang.

A decent processing challenge during stage 4 Covid-19 lockdown restrictions here in Melbourne, Australia.

Darned if I understand how I got a Malin HM for the ORIGINAL (https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/news_events/astrofest/awards/2015images/deep/HM_DeepSky_Andrew_Campbell.jpg) version as I put far better images in this year that all missed out, but anyway, I'm not complaining! :D

Must have another decent crack at this beasty with my new gear next summer! :)

WO FLT 110
NEQ6
QSI 683 wsg8
5nm Astrodon HA, O3 & RGB

10 x 120sec RG&B
35x 900 sec O3
10x900 sec Ha

APOD DESCRIPTION: Blown by fast winds from a hot, massive star, this cosmic bubble is huge. Cataloged as Sharpless 2-308 it lies some 5,200 light-years away toward the constellation of the Big Dog (Canis Major) and covers slightly more of the sky than a Full Moon. That corresponds to a diameter of 60 light-years at its estimated distance.

The massive star that created the bubble, a Wolf-Rayet star, is the bright one near the center of the nebula. Wolf-Rayet stars have over 20 times the mass of the Sun and are thought to be in a brief, pre-supernova phase of massive star evolution. Fast winds from this Wolf-Rayet star create the bubble-shaped nebula as they sweep up slower moving material from an earlier phase of evolution.

The windblown nebula has an age of about 70,000 years. Relatively faint emission captured in the expansive image is dominated by the glow of ionized oxygen atoms mapped to a blue hue. SH2-308 is also known as The Dolphin Nebula.

Kuz
14-08-2020, 07:22 PM
Awesome image Andy love the splash of red in the image

Ryderscope
14-08-2020, 07:54 PM
The extra detail emerging from the reprocess is quite impressive Andy. Definitely worth the time to have another shot. Clearly this object benefits from lots of data and careful processing.

Benjamin
14-08-2020, 08:48 PM
Like the repro Andy. That Ha red is certainly a nice touch. Still love the bluer version. I saw a print of it up here in the QLD Museum :-) Gorgeous

Andy01
15-08-2020, 08:17 AM
Cheers Kuz, last time I didn't use the Ha as I thought it too weak - but this time with JP Metsavianio's tone mapping & Starnet++ it was possible to eek out some useable signal. Certainly made a big difference!
PS: How's life in my old hometown?
I was there for the first time in 40 years for the World Science Festival back in 2019 :D



Cheers Rodney, yes as Greg has remarked it's a challenging beast to process, the subtle signal in the background is easily lost in a sea of noise. Next time around though, I'm going even wider and much deeper to give it some context as it's such an unusual object, I fear that the closeups don't really do it justice. :)



Ha Ha, thanks Ben - even though it did well at AIPP/Malin awards etc. I wasn't completely happy with it at the time. I don't think I can get anything more from this data set now though! :D

gregbradley
15-08-2020, 08:57 AM
Good job Andy. Its a tough processing challenge and you've done well.

Greg.

Andy01
18-08-2020, 09:56 PM
Thanks Greg, the background O3 details are subtle and were difficult to reveal without it All becoming noisy.
Needed more Ha too- Seems that thing wants as much data as possible!
A good one to revisit next summer with all the new toys. :)

topheart
29-08-2020, 09:28 AM
Very good!
Covid has been good for something.
Well processed!
Cheers,
Tim

Andy01
29-08-2020, 02:19 PM
Thanks Tim, yes lots of time to learn processing techniques, fine tune optics and and slowly drag myself into automation. :D

Cheers
Andy