Lambda Centaurus to Carina - Widefield Mosaic

[Ryderscope]

Presenting a two panel mosaic of an area spanning from the Carina Nebula (NGC3372) to the Lambda Centaurus nebula (IC2944 aka "The Running Chicken Nebula". Image data captured with a ZWO ASI6200 full frame CMOS camera and a Canon EF200mm f2.8 prime lens with a resulting image scale of 4” / px. As well as the two main nebula in the image, we can see the "Statue of Liberty" nebula (NGC3586) just left of centre and elsewhere we find many well known clusters including IC2602 (the Southern Pleiades), at the bottom of the field.

The two panel mosaic is a narrowband image with RGB stars fully processed in Pixinsight. The Foraxx script was used to blend the narrowband panels with specific attention paid to the intensity of the signal level in the narrowband masters with a view to getting a colour palette that I was happy to work with. Colour pallets can be quite subjective for narrowband images so it will be interesting to see what others think of where we have landed here. Personally, I do like the way that the SII has combined with the Hydrogen to bring out the more gold and orange hues and how the OIII has been brought forward to show up as the more teal/green/blue colouring.

Link here for full details in the Astrobin post. (https://astrob.in/full/xyp3p5/D/)
Click on the "Technical Card" icon for full acquisition details.

Clear skies,
Rodney

[Bodon]

Really nice wide detailed photo mate! Great to look at.

[strongmanmike]

I can't help thinking a different palette might look even more spectacular :confuse3: ...but Wow!, that's tight as a fish's R's and what a field of view! :eyepop: When you want to image several A list targets at once and with decent resolution, MAN, very cool :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Wow, that is a big effort. Lovely to see the super widefields, they are often more immersive than highly magnified image.
I agree wiht Mike about the colour palette but as you say it's somewhat subjective.

Greg.

[Ryderscope]

Thanks for the kind words and comments. As we all know, the choice of colours is endless with these images and for this I found myself wanting to move away from the classic blue/gold combinations. They can make for a much more dramatic appeal but in looking for a point of difference I felt the need to move away from this. And, also, the area is highly dominated with Ha emissions as well with the main concentrations of OIII being within the main nebulae in the image which does come through. So in lieu of a dramatic punchy colours this image strives for a touch of realism (as realistic as these things can ever be!!). No doubt I'm opening myself up for challenges here, but hey - that all part of the fun, yes? :D

[strongmanmike]

Nooo, not at aaaall :fight: :bashcomp: :face:

Regardless of the colour palette possibilities, it's a great image, sharp as! :)

Mike

[Retrograde]

Very Cool Rodney!
It really shows what a rich region of the sky it is. :thumbsup:

[Ryderscope]

Many thanks Pete.

[Dave882]

Wow that's spectacular. So much to take in - not just the big-ticket targets but everything in-between. Very cool

[RobF]

Nice one Rodney!

[Ryderscope]

Thanks Dave/Rob. The wide field captures are great for bringing a lot of classic objects together in the same field, particularly when combining a couple of panels into a mosaic. Does make for VERY large data sets though when imaging with a full frame small pixel sensor :)