M22 and millions of Milky Way stars

[strongmanmike]

This is a quicky shot I took while waiting for the Helix to rise the other night, I nearly forgot about it actually but I am glad I remembered I did it!

Remember to press F11 on your keyboard to view in Full Screen mode (windows PC's) really helps in seeing all the stars

Full frame small size (2meg):
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/115623322/original

Close up crop (1.6meg)
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/115623324/original

and for those with good broadband have a swim around in this full frame large size image (6.5meg) - there's a prize if you can count the stars (without software) too :P
well worth a look I think, if you have the time:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/115623325/original

enjoy :thumbsup:
Mike

[h0ughy]

glad you posted it, far too many to count

[renormalised]

Really nice piccies, Mike...especially when you bump it up to full screen.

BTW stars = 10 billion:D:D

[RB]

Mike there's 3 stars missing....any idea why?? :P

Crickey unbelievable amount of stars.

Terrific shot mate.

:clap: :cheers:

[citivolus]

There are some nice faint dark nebula overlaid on that too. It is very nice that your stars are not burnt out by processing.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Houghy, I posted it to the AP yahoo group and they seemed to enjoy it, mostly northern hemisphere guys on that list so stuff like this that passes only 12 deg from the Zenith always goes down well..I feel so sorry for them up there :lol: :)



Yes Carl, those with a big moniter > 21" should get a good eyefull of sand



Cheers Andy, stars missing?? where? :eyepop: I'm sure I got them all.....



Yes Ric there are two vague dark patches that flank M22, it almost gets lost in the Milky Way really huh?

[gregbradley]

Great image. Love that sandstone backdrop. Hard to tell if the glob is fully in front of all those background stars or merged in with them to some degree.

Greg.

[h0ughy]

lol i had a thought - maybe use registar or DSS to count the stars

[Liz]

"My God, it's full of stars!" ;)

That is absolutely gorgeous ..... hard to comprehend the size of our universe with a stunning image like that. Thanks Mike!!

[Tamtarn]

Wow !! That's a super image Mike everything about it is spot on. Well resolved and the star colours managed perfectly.

The full frame is stunning :thumbsup:

[BerrieK]

Mike that is an amazing capture and process, mind blowing. Beautiful.
(we are so small).


Kerrie

ps I thought that my broadband speed was reasonable until I downloaded the big beautiful wander-around-in version!! But as you say well worth it, just a pleasure to explore.

pps I've used your image as my desktop background, hope this is okay!!

[telecasterguru]

Mike,
I love your short images that are 2 hours.
Fantastic.

Frank

[DavidU]

WOW
Thats a lot of stars. Fantastic shot.
I read some where that there are more stars than grains of sand on all the worlds beaches.
Now I feel very small

[Robh]

It's a bit busy. Can you filter some of the stars out?
Just kidding. Amazing shot!
I knew there had to be a lot of stars in the region but that's mind-boggling.

Regards, Rob

[Hagar]

Magnificent Mike. The 6.5mb version really shows how well your scope resolves a big starfield.
No I didn't count the stars, too much like hard work.

Beautiful rich colour image.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Greg, there was a time where I played with sandstone on a weekly basis: http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/61611894/original
:lol:. This image was truly a "hmmm? what can I grab before the Helix hits 40deg elevation?" Yes I am not sure myself but I would hazard a guess that the bulk of the stars are closer than M22..?




You are most welcome Elizabeth, I am happy to make you feel insignificant :D I agree, 200 Billion Galaxies X 200 Billion stars each = ? :help:...a frigin big number of stars :eyepop:(4 X 10^22..?)



Thanks Barbave (:)) the large image is only a 66% size image too! :eyepop:This was deffinitely an image that surprised once I processed it!



Hey as long as you don't go around bashing us blokes, you can have anything of mine on your backdrop Kezza! ;) (talk about holding on to a thought :rolleyes:..sorry :P)That big image is still only a 66% size version of the raw image too.



Yes one of the draw backs of LRGB imaging Franko with a mono CCD = lots of exposure even for "quickies" :doh:



Yep! see above reply to Liz :)



Yes Rob. lots of stars and perhaps most with planets?...Hmmm? no other life in the Universe??? me thinks not! :shrug:



Thanks Doug simple shots can often end up the best. The Starfire is a fabulous scope and as I have said before, I genuinely feel very lucky to have one :)



Yes be interested in any results if anybody has the right software..?

[renormalised]

4 x 10^22 stars....that's right:)

[h0ughy]

ok did a first pass register of the image in registar - it counted # of stars identified = 43557 thats not really reflective of the glob either ;)

[strongmanmike]

Wow :eyepop:

[renormalised]

In order to count the number of stars there, properly, you have to work out what area, in terms of light years, the piccie covers, then multiply that by the distance to M22. That gives you the volume in cubic light years. You then multiply that by the average density of stars per cubic light year (for the galaxy as a whole). That'll give a reasonable estimate of how many stars there are there, including those you can't see, up to the distance M22 lies at:)

Then add 750000 for M22 itself:)

[Bassnut]

FAR too many stars Mike (I counted 435672.5 ((a few are cut at the borders)))........ plus M22 :P.

Its an increadible image, top work, specially the big one, but id really like to see this one processed starless, nice and clean :D.

[Lumen Miner]

WoW!! I have a head-ache now!

Nice work though. :)

[Peter Ward]

I like it. Great dynamic range & colour.

Skillfully done :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[BerrieK]

Oi!! :D :poke:

Kerrie

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Freddo

It really has a wide field feel though huh? sorrry :sadeyes:

Hmm?..a starless star field... or how bout a galaxy cluster and remove the galaxies or maybe a photo of the Horsehead in daylight and call it "The Blue Horse" :P



Cheers Peter :)



:whistle:

[marc4darkskies]

Very pretty Mike - rich star colours. Definitely one of the nicer glob images I've seen!

Cheers, Marcus

[mexhunter]

Hello Mike:
I believe that it is the best photo of M22 than I have seen.
Many greetings
Cesar

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Marcus, it was a nice surprise processing it actually.



Well thanks Cesar :eyepop: you think so..? Cheers :thumbsup:

Mike

[gman]

Hey Mike,

That is truly a stunning image of M22.

I cant count all the stars visible but it is about roughly the same amount of brain cells I destroyed when I turned 21.:thumbsup:

[StephenM]

That's a spectacular image Mike! It puts things in perspective doesn't it! Great job.

Cheers,
Stephen

[Ken]

Great image too many pesky background stars though, Fred can tell you how to get rid of them.:whistle:
Clear skies Ken

[strongmanmike]

Ah yes...how come you waited till 21? :D




Cheers Steve, yes it certainly does



Yes he can Ken and he already has :rolleyes: :lol:

[tornado33]

VERY impressive. You know whats just as impressive as the whole image? The fact that the tiny stars near the corners look EXACTLY the same as those near the centre, that is no coma or any other distortions.
Scott

[strongmanmike]

Yes the 6" Starfire with it's 4" FF has a massive corrected image circle much larger than the puny 35mm frame CCD chip in my camera, it was designed to correct for 6cm X 7cm film! I would love a 36mm square chip like the Kodak 16803 at some stage, of course then I will need 50mm square filters and a bigger filterwheel too :rolleyes:

Mike