3 views of IC4628

[iceman]

Hi all

On the 4th March I captured the lovely pairing of IC4628 (emission nebula) and NGC6231 (open cluster). Almost a week later (10th March), I was looking for an object to image, and realised that I could also capture the lovely pairing of IC4628 and NGC6242 (open cluster). I tried to compose the 2nd shot so I could hopefully make a mosaic from the two images, and with a bit of massaging, it worked.

So there's 3 images here:
1. IC4628 + NGC6231: 4th March, 7x 240s exposures @ ISO800
2. IC4628 + NGC6242: 10th March, 15x 240s exposures @ ISO800
3. Mosaic of the whole area: NGC6242, IC4628 and NGC6231

I can see there's a lot of faint stuff around IC4628 that was barely captured - a modified camera and a lot more exposures would really do this area more justice.
The mosaic wasn't easy to fit together due to field rotation and field curvature in the corners due. You'll probably find the join but it's the best I could do with an unplanned mosaic :)

All taken with the unmodded Canon 350D + ED80 + WO 0.8x reducer/flattener. Guided on an EQ6 using DMK + PHD. Darks were ICNR and flats calibrated in ImagesPlus.

Please see the images below (be sure to click on the image to see the larger size)

* IC4628 + NGC6231 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/mygallery/displayimage.php?pos=-657)
* IC4628 + NGC6242 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/mygallery/displayimage.php?pos=-656)
* NGC6242, IC4628 and NGC6231 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/mygallery/displayimage.php?pos=-658)

I'm quite happy with how they turned out. It's a lovely area of the sky.

Thanks for looking.

[Alchemy]

pretty good, the mosaic looks seamless to me, big swathe of sky there with lots of detail

clive:thumbsup:

[Tamtarn]

Nice set of widefields Mike. Well composed.

[leon]

Nice going Mike, you are certainly getting imaging down very well, IMHO Eta is a little off colour, but that is only my personal view, other than that great stuff.

Leon

[peter_4059]

Great images Mike. The mosaic is nicely put together.

What scope are you guiding with?

Peter

[iceman]

Thanks guys.

Leon, it's not Eta :)

Peter, I'm guiding with an unknown brand 80mm f/5 (400mm FL) refractor. It's in side by side configuration with the ED80.

[Garyh]

Very nice Mike! the mosaic looks great!.
Actually don`t think I have imaged this before?
I have to make sure I don`t miss it this year!
:thumbsup:

[glenc]

I like the last one best Mike. IC4628 is easy to see with a UHC filter and an 8" scope.

[Ric]

A very nice image Mike, very spectacular.

The nebulosity looks fantastic.

Cheers

[Peter Ward]

Like the mosaic! Even said so elsewhere :)

[[1ponders]]

Lovely Mike. :thumbsup:

What did you use to put the mosaic together? PS & Registar?

[iceman]

Thanks guys.

I'd love to capture this area again with a modded camera.

Paul I just used Photoshop. Registar would've done a better job.