NGC 6164 - An Egg in Ara (30hrs Incubation)

[Dave882]

Following on from my previous attempt (https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=204887), I've managed, thanks to some lovely clear nights this last month, to accumulate just over 30hrs on NGC6164.

On top of tripling my previous data - I've also made use of some new-found PI processing options to give a bit of a boost to the overall result. After stacking in APP (utilising the extract Ha/Oiii options to provide 2 separate channels), I've also used StarExterminator to allow me to process the stars and nebulosity separately. This was a HUGE advantage and I honestly think I'll struggle to go back to the old ways after this now. I used the FOREX panel for recombination - but in hindsight I'm not sure I like this colour palette over the natural look I'm used to - just at this point I couldn't work out how to do it manually in pixelmath. NoiseEx and a pass of BlurEx (stars & decon) was also used and seemed to be effective without introducing unwanted artefacts.

I usually don't like starless images - but here I thought it brought a surprisingly different overall feel - and since it was already there I just kept this as a second option prior to final recombination.

I'm happy with the increased depth to those shells - but can't help but think there's still more detail there if my processing was a bit better. The background Ha was intriguing and I made the decision to bring that forward a bit with GHS/CurvesTransform - lots and lots of time playing with different processing pathways, but really enjoyed the journey on this one...Keen to know your thoughts...worth a repro with different colour??

Bigger images:
Stars (https://1drv.ms/i/s!ArpSiLT3VkGHiPR_p7kWZYKaFU8DIg?e= iCtAqN)
Starless (https://1drv.ms/i/s!ArpSiLT3VkGHiPR-sAwT5k2_0ggKsA?e=gOTUfw)

Details:
30.3hrs @ 300sec subs
Celestron OAG
C14 non edge @f7 with the Starizona reducer LF
EQ8 pro
Asi2600mc pro gain 100 (L-ULtimate Fileter)
Asi290mm / celestron OAG
ZWO EAF
ASIAIR pro / APP / PI / GIMP
Binned (scaled) 80% in processing

Thanks for looking!

[gregbradley]

I really like this image. So much detail in 6164. You've got your C14 singing here.

Greg.

[marc4darkskies]

A great image David! Well done!

I always prefer images with stars. Starless images have much less gravity. :P

[TrevorW]

Yes really nice I will definitely have to get more data for mine :)

[strongmanmike]

That's a real beauty Dave!

The palette is different, almost sepia tone, maybe not everyone's cup of tea..?.. but it seems to give it an air of class, a certain je ne sais quoi, as it were, I like it :thumbsup:

The considerable effort has paid off IMO, nice job indeed :thumbsup:

Oh and yes, stars pleeease :D

Mike

[Retrograde]

Great stuff Dave!
Really nice to see this small object in so much depth and detail.

[Dave882]

Thanks guys much appreciated. Yeah I have to agree the stars really add something to the image- heaps more perceived contrast and clarity. But having them gone for processing was heavenly!!

[Startrek]

Beautiful image Dave
A huge effort which has reaped rewards
Sorry I’m not a fan of starless stuff
Well done indeed !!
Cheers
Martin
( From Riverbank , London UK )

[kosborn]

Great image! So much depth!

I agree regarding the stars. It only takes one or two extra hours (not much compared to your 30 hours of integration) to add nice RGB stars.

Well done!

[Dave882]

Thanks Martin - hope you’re having an awesome time away and glad you’re still checkin in from afar!!

Thanks Kevin- yes I think most are in agreement with the stars! I might see if I can work out how to add RGB stars later. Definitely not as easy as just screen & rescreening so have to extend my knowledge in PI first. Do you have a process that you like for this? Cheers

[kosborn]

I use Starnet in PI to remove stars from the rgb and narrowband images. The narrowband stars can be discarded. After processing stars and NB image, I add the rgb stars to the NB image using pixelmath with this equation, applied to the narrowband image:

~((~image) * (~star_mask))

Obviously, rename the image and star mask to whatever the labels are in your case.

[Dave882]

Ok thanks I’ll give it a go:)

[Addos]

lovely shot dave :)

[AstroJason]

Wow what an image. Love those blue wisps billowing out. Really gives it a 3D effect.

[Dave882]

Thanks Jason & Adam! Yeah I was really trying to pull out as much of the blue wispy shells as possible. It’s really faint- some only just perceivable after 30hrs integration.

[Nikolas]

The detail in this egg is astounding well done!

[Dave882]

Thanks Nik- yes I was really happy with the detail revealed. Cheers!