The Dragon's Egg

[DiscoDuck]

This was an experiment at a dark sky site last weekend. I've never done narrowband under a dark sky before, and was curious to see how much better it was (theoretically, it should get the same proportional benefit as RGB (in my case 5xfewer exposures), though things like read noise start to spoil that boost, as the background light levels are so low and you're well short of sky limited in the dark site).

Took some OIII of NGC 6164/6165 in Ara to try to get the faint OIII shell around the bipolar nebula. It does seem to benefit greatly from the dark sky - I have got a worse image from considerably more data in the 'burbs. Of course that would happen - but it was good to put theory to test :)

The weird red bit on the left tip of the bipolar nebular is real I think - the OIII suddenly stops (at almost a sharp line!) and just the red Ha continues, so you get this sudden transition from a sort of pinky colour to pure red in the HOO rendition. Kind of ugly, but not too sure what to do with it! :help: Tips appreciated.

Obviously needs more data - as clouds/short time of stay limited what I could do.

Astrobin version here (https://www.astrobin.com/full/qygr45/0/).

[gregbradley]

Beautifully done Paul.

Terrific detail in the neb as well.

Greg.

[DiscoDuck]

Thank you, Greg.

[Ryderscope]

That outer shell is extremely intricate and draws the attention. Nicely processed to bringing out the subtle details :thumbsup:

[Kuz]

Nicely done Paul ,I haven't personally seen this one before. I am going to put this one on my list to do

[DiscoDuck]

Thank you, Rodney.



Thanks. Yes, it is a fun little object.

[strongmanmike]

Are you referring to that very red kind of lip on the left edge of the inner PN in your image? If so then yes it is real, it is in my image (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/150841745/original) (all be it at a coarser image scale of 1.6"/pix) from a few years back :)

Lovely HaOIIIOIII image BTW, your image scale is very fine indeed, what are you imaging at 0.4"/pix?

Mike

[DiscoDuck]

Thanks Mike. Good to know that red bit is real. Tempted to try to reduce its severity though as it is ugly!

I'm imaging at 0.65" per pixel (1200mm with a focal reduced RC8 (f8->f6)). Seems to be a sweetish spot on nights of good seeing. But oversampled on others of course. You can't have your cake and eat it ... so I'm told! :confused:

[strongmanmike]

Hmmm?..I think you are worrying about Cindy Crawford mole (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d2/7c/0e/d27c0e5ff84ec35674ae09b9ff3e26b1.pn g) :eyepop:....:lol:



Ah, you are using a reducer. 0.65"/pix is pretty fine, can't imagine needing to go any finer than that in Oz..?

Mike

[Robert_T]

this is amazing... moving from art into science but still looking great!

[DiscoDuck]

Thanks. I know little about art :shrug: .... much more about science :atom:

[rustigsmed]

Nice egg Paul you got some good detail in the O3

cheers

russ

[Nikolas]

Great work the egg really stands out a treat!

[jahnpahwa]

Good job keeping that outer shell fine while bringing it out from the background nebulosity, Paul.

I did this one a month or two back, too, and can appreciate the balance here.

[Geoff45]

Nicely done Paul. The intricate swirls at the top of the outer shell look really good when zoomed in closely

[DiscoDuck]

Thanks Russell.



Thanks Nik.



Thanks JP. Yes, it is a delicate structure and hard to bring out and yet keep it natural.



Thank you, Geoff.

[ChrisV]

That's a gem!

[DiscoDuck]

Thanks Chris.

[marc4darkskies]

An impressive field Paul! Very nicely done! :thumbsup:

[DiscoDuck]

Thanks Marcus.