Eta Carina

[Peter Ward]

Not exactly a re-pro, as I have added new data.

This image proved to be quite a challenge, not just due to the vast focal length involved (hence the trashing of a fair bit of data) but also trying to preserve the colours over such a large dynamic range without resorting to a bland high-key like lighting.

Most of the data was captured with CCDops, then the usual reduction steps (darks, flats, stacking and scaling) in MaxIm. PS4 was used
for the final layering and colour balance.

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/gallery41.html

[desler]

I really don't know what to say Peter. Almost gave me whiplash when the page loaded, absolutely stunning!

Darren

[Liz]

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!
That is one of the most beautiful pictures I have seen of Eta Carina.
Thank you Peter :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

Amazing image Peter.

[jase]

Looks good Peter. Trashing data is all part of the activity when imaging at these long focal lengths. This is probably the time where I say "A most excellent image, blah, blah" and it is, however Eta's, Eta. Its getting long in the tooth IMO. How about pushing your rig to other targets instead of the same or bright ones.

[Hagar]

Lovely Peter. The detail is something else. Looks to be well worth the effort.

[TrevorW]

Superb as usual :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[scopemankit]

What an image!!!

[RobF]

Wow. Beautiful pic and stunning detail. That really is serious FL work to see the homonculus like that.
What was the focal length BTW Peter?

[AlexN]

Insanely good quality image Peter. The resolution looks stunning, with detail popping out everywhere, great colours and depth..

I'm with Jase a bit though... For an imager such as yourself, tackling some of the rarely seen targets may be more of a challenge than something like Eta Carine, which every hack like myself takes on every time it comes around.. This is not taking anything away from your fantastic image.. Just that with 14.25" of aperture and focal length like whats been used here, there are some very interesting, extremely distant galaxies that might be a real challenge!

[Peter Ward]

Thanks one and all for your feedback. FYI the focal length was around 5 metres



Too true Jase, but I'd been working on it for a while, with the aim of capturing the homonculus which is so often depicted as a burnt out blob.....more the pity as it is a really interesting object through the eyepiece.

[RB]

Just when you think - "it can't get any better......."

Beautiful work Peter. !!!

:)

[Screwdriverone]

Oh my!

That is sensational Peter, certainly not, "just another Eta Carinae" The amount of detail and the framing is astonishingly good.


I have seen pics of the Homonculus before, but not like that!

Wow.

Cheers

Chris

[ejcruz]

Stunning image of ETA lots of details, looks great on both my LCD and CRT.

Cheers
Eddie

[multiweb]

Never get tired of the keyhole. Great stuff. I already had the previous shot you did on my desktop. I'm trying to image the same thing and I use it as reference to check what my blurry bits look like in real life :). The bar was high enough. I'm gonna have to start running harder with this one now :lol: Great shot :thumbsup: Getting better and better.

[Peter Ward]

What? You guys actually keep this stuff?? :)

The KAF 11002 chip has its limitations, hence I'm rather looking forward to getting a higher QE camera...say based on a KAF 16803? :whistle:

[gregbradley]

Wow, Peter, that is stunningly good. Superb.

Greg.

[RobF]

What's really scarey is comparing this shot to the Hubble, and how much of the detail, dark nebulosity, and "blobs" are visible in Mr Ward's :scared:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Eta_Carinae_Nebula_1.jpg

[Peter Ward]

Now that's a very risky practice! :whistle:

Suffice to say the Hubble data is in a totally different league, and different palette/filter set.

Thanks to Marc, Greg, Eddie, Chris. I'm glad you enjoy seeing this stuff.

[telecasterguru]

Wonderful image Peter. I may have missed it but how much data is there in the image?

Thanks
Frank

[seeker372011]

awesome image...and as for imaging at that sort of focal length..scary!

[PeterM]

Wow Peter!
I'm running out of desktops.
Thanks indeed for sharing your fine work.
PeterM.

[Peter Ward]

Thanks Frank, Narayan, Pete :)

The total exposure time was about 4 hours...(sorry, "about" is a little slack, but quite a bit of data was rejected by MaxIm 5.0 on FWHM grounds.

[marc4darkskies]

Hooly dooly!!! That's probably the best amateur ... errr ... I mean semi professional homunculus I've ever seen - definitely better with the extra data. Way to go Peter!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Cheers, Marcus

[Peter Ward]

:lol: Ah yes, it is CWAS time again! ;)

[Octane]

Peter,

That's just sensational. The subtle colour throughout really does it for me. Not to mention all the exquisite detail.

13 Internets to you.

Regards,
Humayun

[pgc hunter]

stuff me!!!! That's bloody amazing :eek:That's probably the clearest middle finger salute I've ever seen in an amatuer image :D

[atalas]

Beautiful Peter!

[Lester]

Fantastic image Peter.

Can't say much more than the rest. Obviously its not just the gear you use, but also the ability to process such data to get this pleasing result.

[wysiwyg]

Stunning Image Peter,

The amount of detail is amazing and the processing job you did on this is also very pleasing to the eye, well done!

[Peter Ward]

Thanks Mark, Lester, Atlas, Octane, Hunter and Humayun

This one really seems to have struck a chord with a few people...even my wife (my best critic as "astronomy is *so* boring :) ) commented on the 16x20 print...."that's pretty dear...which object is that? " ....which makes me think it really was a new trick for an old dog :)

[AlexN]

mmmm an A3 print would be nice!! Would go well on my wall I reckon! PM me if you feel like running off another print! :)

[RobF]

I'm usually too much of a PC purist to waste memory on desktop pics - but this stunning pic is staying quite a while I reckon
(umm - assuming that isn't too naughty....:whistle:)

[Bassnut]

Very detailed Peter, excellent work. Makes you wonder how an A0 device would have improved it, given this kind of FL was designed for it.

[Peter Ward]

If you are asking what would the data look like if I didn't use an AOL then the answer lies in the frames I threw away.

The FWHM's were at least 30% larger. In short I don't think I could have got the same resolution without it....either that or move the rig to Mona Kea :)

BTW I'm driving up to Santa Barbara today....checking out a few new toys ;)

[Bassnut]

Oh, OK, sorry, you DID use an AOL, sweet.:thumbsup:

Yes, if you mean new SBIG toys, report back on what you think after a play :D

[Peter Ward]

Happy to oblige Fred :)

Well the first thing I can say is I'm totally shagged after having risen at 1.30am Sydney time, then faced 3 hours up, then 3 back of LA freeways to get to/from Santa Barbara....

The first STX series cameras are all KAF16803 based, there are several units in production now, with the first commercial units expected to ship in August. There is now a good deal of information on the net about these CCD's so I'll keep it down to my personal impressions.

These suckers are *BIG*, and will prove to be a challenge to mount as even AP 2.7" fittings will be barely adequate. The CCD focal plane position is not common with STL units, and will require custom adapters for some (eg AP) field flateners

2" fittings are simply too small (!!) as they severely vignette the guide sensor. They are fast, full res downloads in about 4 seconds. Other features I thought to be very cool were the low profile "equi-illumination" shutter (no iris shaped flats!) plus being able to assign an IP address to the camera and download images via a web browser.

Alan Holmes (SBIG's CEO) showed me some sample data taken with a TeleVue 127is. Images were *very* clean. The KAF16803 looked to have excellent sensitivity and the field was amazingly wide, with hints of galactic cirrus visible even with 5 minute exposures.

There will be two types of filter wheel, the standard 5 position unit will be nearly 1kg lighter than a similarly sized Optec unit. Development options for an 8 filter unit are still being looked at...I can say no more other than the filter positioning will likely be the most accurate on the market, bar none, with less back focus required than the 5 position wheel. The AO will be as fast as current units, just a little larger

Initial SG-4 production was quite limited, the package is a tad larger than I expected, with size being on a par with a ST402 casing. Initial setup is with a PC, but once completed, no PC required for plug and play guiding.

Needing a beer now.....

[strongmanmike]

Hmmm? all sounds pretty utopic...?...maybe I could be tempted by the dark (get more APOD's) side? :scared:

Nice Eta by the way but with your amazing setup (I want one too) I'd expect nothing less, sure you didn't layer Hubble data in there..? :whistle:

Mike

[Bassnut]

Interesting Peter, thanks. Yet another set of different filters, and I bet they wont be cheap. Did you see the artificial guidestar feature powered up?

[Peter Ward]

Forgot to ask! However I do know the SG4 will be also compatible with the new RGH port (SG4, Remote Guide Head, and self guide sensors are all now KA340 based).

[Paul Haese]

Lovely image and work to the data.

[EddieT]

Bit slow on the uptake there Peter, but wow. That is an incredible image. Really well done!

[Peter Ward]

Thanks Eddie (& Paul, Mike and Fred). I'm back in Oz, but see the weather hasn't improved much!