NGC 3247 and Westerlund 2

[sjastro]

Rarely imaged but still interesting is the nebula NGC 3247 and the intense cluster of red stars Westerlund 2 which ionizes the gas which forms the emission nebula.

120m R, 60m R, 60m G, 60m B. BRC-250.

http://users.westconnect.com.au/~sjastro/ngc3247c.html

Clear skies

Steven

[TrevorW]

Nice Steve when did you take this one and how was the seeing on the night as focus looks a bit soft IMO but may be my eyesight

Cheers

[jase]

Excellent Steven! What an interesting cluster it is with the ionization process occurring. I've not heard of this one before. Great colour balance providing an aesthetic result with subtle definition in the enveloping nebulosity. You've always been an advocate for a natural style of processing in which this image portrays. Really nice work. Thanks for sharing.

[sjastro]

Thanks Jase and congratulations on the APOD.

Steven



Thanks Trevor. Your eyesight is good enough to pick up the gaussian blur I applied to the stars. I have never been a fan of hard edged "tight" stars.

Regards

Steven

[multiweb]

That's very nice.As Jase said before your processing is always very smooth and natural. That's one thing I like about it too. It's your trademark. Well done. :thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

Oh thanks Steve that expalins it

Cheers

[marc4darkskies]

Very nice Steven! :thumbsup::thumbsup: A pleasing image with good colour balance in the neb and stars. I confess I'm not a big fan of the soft look & bright background though :shrug:.

I notice is some blue blotching throughout the image too (jpeg compression or stretched & smoothed blue channel noise?) There are also a few black spots (dust?) - do you dither your subs? There's also a subtle green tint in the bottom left corner. Sorry :ashamed: I only look really closely at images I really like!! :D Feel free to nit-pick my next image!

Cheers, Marcus

[seeker372011]

ah, the "whirling dervish" nebula. nice shot

indeed its hardly ever imaged

[strongmanmike]

Marcus, you sound like a mother-in-law :scared: Steve you need to get yourself some Spray and Wipe before Marcus comes over next time :lol:

Nice image Steve and just as your mother-in-law notes, whan I rub my finger over your architraves there is a bit of dust on them but overall the kitchen looks quite clean :D

Mike

[Alchemy]

one i dont recognize instantly, and thats what i like about your imaging, off into the wild black yonder - going boldly where no man one has gone before.

as for the blurring, it is pretty much your trademark, i have noticed it before (diffraction spikes are the giveaway), if you like it its fine by me.


clive

[sjastro]

Thanks Mike
But what about the mice droppings?:lol:



Thanks Narayan. I recall your fine wide field image of this region a while back.



No offense taken Marcus. Yes there is a severe blotching issue. Usually it's caused by hot pixels due to temperature control issues but since this isn't evident in the individual B frames I'm not sure what is going on here.



Thanks Marc.

[Hagar]

Very nice Steve, The little red cluster is quite unusual and the nebula seems to come up and grab the cluster.

Nice work, good to see something diferent.