Tarantula Nebula region

[strongmanmike]

Well given it's raining and it's hard to get out these days anyway and since the LMC is perfectly placed this time of year to image, I thought I would go back and rework my data I gathered of the region from last year :P

I re-blended the data and changed the framing slightly. I did a new HaRGB blend shooting for a more natural look than before (pretty hard) and also an LHaRGB blend to add some more stars.

Not sure which I like best?

Posted at 40% size to fit perfectly on a 22" monitor (press F11 for full screen viewing)

New HaRGB blend with less stars and finer nebula detail (2meg):
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/92357472/original


New LHaRGB blend with more stars and more green in the Tarantula core (2meg) :
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/106247807/original

Was a bit of fun and helped to fill in my current imaging abyss :(

Which one do you like best?

Mike

[leon]

Nice one Mike a fine effort indeed, it is always good to get back to some of that data from long ago, and apply all the things we learnt over the past year, well done.

Leon

[Hagar]

Very Nice Mike. I think I like the LHaRGB image the best although I would be very happy capturing and processing with your skills. The LHaRGB is a little sharper and seems to add a little to the detail or at least the detail separation in this image.

Beautiful, Some wonderful data behind an image like this.

[wysiwyg]

Stunning Image Milke!

I have never seen such detail in the nebula before, absolutely stunning.

You have wet my appetite with tarantula again.

Cheers
Mark

[Garyh]

Now thats a hard call Mike! But the LHaRBG seems to show just that little more detail in the neblosity? The luminace must just boost it just a bit more than the Ha version. Stars look a little more natural colored as well?
Both beauties anyway you look at them!
cheers Gary

[Craig_L]

While the new LHaRGB has more detail, and more stars, I guess I prefer the first one as it emphasises more the eerie and ghostly feel of the Tarantula spreading its nebulous web out into the surrounding space. Wonderful images Mike.

[AlexN]

Oh. Yes. !!

That is all! :)

[strongmanmike]

Thanks for having a look guys, nice to share my doodling around on old data sets with you :)

I was never quite happy (and I'm still not 100%) with the degree to which I was able to hold on to the natural appearence of RGB while trying to incorporate what Craig L indetified and that's the wonderful fine wispy web like strands that the Ha brings out. The Tarantula often looks kind of fuzzy in straight RGB or LRGB only, the Ha gives it a real 3D fine detail structure which is also normally helped by having les stars visible too. Of course having less stars visible isn't all that natural either...so you see the delema? :screwy:

Leon - I agree I did a few different things to the image from last year - mostly blending but it has improved I think?

Doug - I think your processing skills are indeed quite fine mate but you are right, having good data is paramount for a quality image I guess? The AP on the NJP with the ProLine CCD does deliver in that respect.

Mark - There are a few highly detailed longer focal length images of the Tarantula out there from other amateurs but I guess this has turned out quite detailed for a lill'ol 6" operating at just 1140mm focal length..? :P

Gary - I "think" I agree with you, only because the LHaRGB does look more natural due to the increased number of stars and more colour in them. The detail is all there but the eye is fooled somehow I like the green in the main nebula too (this is real too) - you can test the detail differnece by opening the HaRG image, press F11 on your keyboard and centre it on your screen, then use the previous/next buttons on my web site located at the top right of the screen, toggle or blink between them.

Alex N - Glad you liked'em :)

[Octane]

Mike,

Both images are awesome, but, I prefer the second one as it appears 3-dimensional to my eyes; the mark of a good tarantula, I reckon. It has made it to my current desktop wallpaper.

Old data, new data, whatever: wonderful work. But, we couldn't expect less of you now, could we? :)

Regards,
Humayun

[Jen]

:clap::clap: once again very nice pic Mike, keep em comin :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Fantastic images Mike. I prefer the second one.

Ha as you mention blots out other detail and it is a hard task to get all the Ha detail into the final image without losing the RGB data. Ha can be quite dominating.

Greg.

[multiweb]

So cool... you're focus is unbelievable. so sharp - green with envy ... ;)

[strongmanmike]

Yes I think I agree with you I'm leaning toward the L(R+Ha)RGB too...

Old data is all I have at the moment unfortunately :(......but it is proving very rewarding improving on old efforts actually :thumbsup:



Sure will...if I can ever get out and do some new images... :sadeyes: until then maybe some more reprocesses..? :doh: :lol:



Yep but that's the fun of what we do huh? try and try again I say :thumbsup:

Mike



Focus is very important yes, may seen bluddy obvious but many people just don't recognise the importance of really good focus

Mike

[jase]

LHaRGB, purely from an aesthetics perspective. Ha data lacks stars or produces exceptionally tight ones - you need to blend or use lighten mode to get desirable results as per your exhibit. Nice work.

[h0ughy]

looks ok to me Mike - i like both, but then I am going blind with age ;)