Rho Ophiucus Complex in HDR at -10C

[avandonk]

Had a full clear night and managed to get some decent data with the fridge at -10C.

Canon5DH, Canon 300mm F2.8L at F2.8. Six sets of exposure from15s at an ISO of 200 sequentially doubled to 4min at an ISO of 400 ICNR on. Converted from raw to tiff and corrected for flats with ImagesPlus. Stacked and aligned with Registar. EasyHDR used to generate and LDR image from this data.

I have pushed everything to see what is there right down to the noise. I am sure it will get better with moe data as this region rises higher earlier.

Large Image 1.6MB
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~avandonk1/rho.jpg

As you can see this region has the lot.

Bert

[leon]

Minus ten Bert, gee I cant wait for those cold frosty nights again, your image looks quite spectacular with the different hues or red and blue, very impressive.

leon

[EzyStyles]

lovely shot bert, spectacular. yes same as leon, i like the blue/red hues around this image.

[jase]

Nice Bert. Really like the composition. The FOV covers the area exceptionally well. The colour balance you present needs more work (see first attachment). The image is heavily weighted in the red and blue channels which are suppressing the renowned delicate hues in this area of the sky. To circumvent this, simply push the green channel using curves (see second attachment). Once corrected, you'll bring out the magnificent hues you've captured. I’d be pleased with such a result. I suspect the full res image would be rather grand. Well done.

[avandonk]

Thanks Jase good advice as usual. Here is a version following your recommendations I hope.

Large Image 1.9MB
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~avandonk1/rho.jpg

I hope to get more data at longer exposures when this region at at the zenith.

Bert

[iceman]

Now that's brilliant. I can't wait to capture this area of sky.

Looks fantastic, Bert.

[h0ughy]

Awesome Bert that’s absolutely awesome!!! Its a kaleidoscope of colours

[theodog]

That is one very nice image Bert.
Well done.

[jase]

Looking good Bert. A marked improvement. Clusters have taken a more natural appearance. As you suggest, more data will assist. Perhaps some masked noise reduction to clean the dim areas would see this mission complete. Worthy of a AS&T publication IMHO.

[seeker372011]

that's a great shot..for some reason I have always felt that film did greater justice to the colour in this region than silicon-purely subjective opinion of course--but your fine shot has dispelled that illusion

[Tamtarn]

Bert the reprocessed version looks great, colours perfect and a lovely image overall.

[tornado33]

Yes such wonderful colours there, a big dynamic range covered.
Scott

[Garyh]

Excellent result Bert!
I agree that the reprocessed image looks fantastic!
Look forwards to the next one with even more data!
cheers Gary

[avandonk]

Yes thanks Scott I reckon it is close to 18 bits or 18 stops dynamic range! Bit better than 'standard' 16 hey?

Bert

[Alchemy]

lovely colors bert , a very nice image.

[multiweb]

WOW! :eyepop: Awesome shot bert. Love the colours and composition. Well done indeed. :thumbsup:

[Phil]

Love this part of the sky. Very nice photo.
Phil

[Ric]

A very lovely image Bert and congrats on having it up as image of the week.

Well done.

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi Bert

I had a close look at your image. I added some dark material to make the image square and resized it to 1024 x1024. Both these adjustments are required to display it in Stellarium. I then overlaid it onto Stellarium. It fits beautifully, accurately overlaying the stars with a 390 arc minute square texture.

Simply brilliant.

Barry

[avandonk]

Sounds good Barry to see it in context. Is it possible to show some screenshots? I am going to do a mosaic of the region starting with a two by two and then a two by three or more. It all depends on the weather!

Bert

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi Bert
Do you have Stellarium 0.9.1. If so I can send you the modified texture and the coords for the nebula_textures.fab. and a screen shot. I would love to see your mosaic when finished there is a lot of good detail in that area for good wide angle shots. Give me an email address and I will send you the texture and coords for Stellarium. I will attach a screen shot to show it overlayed but making the size of the shot of 10 degree FOV so as you can see the position loses a lot in resolution.

[avandonk]

Barry here is another you may like to put into Stellarium
2.3MB
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~fmlee/LMC_moshdr.jpg

Bert

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi Bert
That is a good picture of the LMC. At the moment I am using one from the AAT but I can't distribute it because I don't have the necessary permission. If that picture is yours and you give me permission to use it (acknowledged on the screen and in the file) I will adapt and use it and it will become part of the Stellarium suite. I would also like to use your picture of rho Ophiucus if possible.

I have done some preliminary fitting which looks perfect. I may need some small size and position adjustment at narrow FOV but the 6.5 degree FOV looks good. see attached screen shots. One is with stars turned on the other is stars turned off.

Barry

[avandonk]

Looks great Barry. You have my permission as does anyone to do with Stellarium on the same basis as you distribute Stellarium to use any of my current images. That is for free. As for the commercial users I give all rights for Stellarium to use my current images as they see fit with no caveats.

Bert

[Dietmar]

...what a gorgeous image!

[skwinty]

Hi Bert
Congratulations on these magnificent pictures!!
And well done for allowing Stellarium to use and distribute free and with no caveats.
Once again, stunning pictures.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumb sup: