The Great Comet in Pyxis

[strongmanmike]

Why the name?..well, when the raw Ha subs started coming down on this baby, they immediately made me think of all those fabulous B&W photos (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/171423483/original) of great comets last century, so....

Also known as, SH2-312, it is a small part of the faint outer area of an enormous bubble of H-alpha that includes the more famous and brighter Vela SNR/Gum nebula complex (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/171424838/original), in Vela.

There was almost zero OIII detectable in a gaussian stretched 15min bin 2X2 sub...so, I didn't bother with collecting any.

I haven't seen an image of this feature before and yes, I went with strong colour...just how I felt :shrug: :)

The Great Comet in Pyxis (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/50956550311/in/dateposted/) (click on image and pan around with your cursor)

As usual HERE (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/171432473/original) is the full frame full size image :)

There are certainly some cool objects up there...:)

Mike

[TrevorW]

Superb, great depth and clarity, a true artist at work :)

[PKay]

My first thought was 'very cool Mike'.

Then thought about the vibrancy.

So changed it to 'very HOT Mike' :)

How about the great 'Ribbon' in Pyxis...

[Andy01]

Beautiful composition and stunning colour palette Mike! :thumbsup:
Why do the stars have haloes around them though?

That said, the balance between the blue stars below and the single isolated yellow star at the top right is wonderfully seen!

Excellent detective work to present something new - well done! :D

[strongmanmike]

Cheers gentleman, hot and spicy perhaps :evil2:...actually, it does look like a red chilli..:question:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Andy, there are some weird shapes and forms out there and certainly plenty of extended targets to suit a 4deg X 4deg FOV too :)

Not totally sure but I think the halo's are from somewhere within filters>last glass element>chip chamber glass>chip cover slip? They don't bother me, actually they can create more depth in some scenes, by accentuating some of the brighter stars, bit like those famous wide field Akira Fuji photos :D

Mike

[Placidus]

A beautiful, enchanting image of something very rarely photographed.

:bowdown:

I see the skull of a bird, complete with sharp beak and nostrils.

I'm trying to match the stars in the image with stars in the atlas, with the thought of one day having a peek myself. Not having my usual success. Simbad unhelpfully shows only blackness. What's the J2K RA/Dec of your image, and which edge is north?

Best,
MBJ

[strongmanmike]

Thanks guys :)



RA: 09hr 19' 37"
DEC: -28 01' 32"

North is (roughly) to the left (I think..? :question:)

Mike

[Placidus]

Coordinates exactly as you said. North is indeed top left. Thanks Mike. But of course we'd have to do an 8x8 mosaic, so not for this year!

[strongmanmike]

You could do just the point end of the comet...? :)

Mike

[petershah]

Another special image Mike .....fine work

[gregbradley]

That is really something Mike. You have a great knack for presenting objects in their best view.

Greg.

[cometcatcher]

Blimey, that's a stunner.

[Doogs20]

Wow

[DavidTrap]

Above average, even for yourself ;)

DT

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot gentlemen, I am sure some will find it a tad bold :eyepop: and too saturated :painting: :lol:...but hey, I'm glad you 5 liked it at least :P

Mike

[Ryderscope]

A brilliant piece of work Mike :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Yeah? Cool :) thanks mate :thumbsup:

Mike

[Paul Haese]

This is a cool looking area, there are so many interesting parts to this region. Pity I don't have a wide field setup anymore.

The colour is probably a bit fluro for me but seems to work ok in this instance. Mainly because it sort of enhances the detailing. In any event it is certainly striking.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Paul, I agree with your assessment :) I'm aware I do tend to run the saturated/fluro gauntlet (and I imagine this would'a looked extra fluro to your eyes, after your last processing effort - which was good BTW), but hey, what can I say, clearly I like colour :whistle: (Gabany, Gendler, Rogelio and the king of colour Hallas, just to name a few, all do/did the same ;))... but hopefully at least most of the time :question:, I am able to keep it, even if teetering somewhat, on the right side :question: :)...I think I reconcile it through the idea that the atomic process in a HII cloud, kinda reminds me of florescence and given this particular cloud appeared to be almost 100% Ha and that the colour of such excited Hydrogen is indeed a a deep red, with always a little Hb (= blue/cyan) well, you get where my mind set influences sit...:question:

Mike

[topheart]

Bold Brave and Spectacular there Mike!!
Cheers,
Tim

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot Tim :thumbsup:

Sounds like a motto for a coat of arms :lol:

Mike

[tornado33]

Wow! never seen that area presented like that before!

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Scotty:thumbsup:...I'd never seen it at all before :shrug: :lol:

Mike

[ChrisV]

That's an amazing bit of sky. Beautifully done

[rustigsmed]

fantastic as usual Mike - cracking shot!

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Chris and Russel, it looks like so many things, a comet, a birds beak, a geyser, an ant eater, my sister reckoned it looked like an angels wing...and the list goes on...:rolleyes: :lol:

Mike