The Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) in Dorado - Mk II

[Octane]

Hi all,

This was the only image I managed at Border Stargaze this year, due to weather and my own stupidity when it came to setting up my equipment. It was also first light for the you-beaut little ZSFD80 (thanks, Leon!).

I dedicate this image to the guys who assisted me throughout the stay at Border Stargaze. This one's for you, Chris, John, Doug and Dave. Thanks, guys!

Please try to ignore the eggs on the right-side of frame as I don't have a flattener/reducer just yet. This is a crop from centre to right. In hindsight, I should have rotated the camera 90 degrees and got the rest of the Large Magellanic Cloud in the frame. Next time.

Read and view here (http://users.tpg.com.au/octane2/Border_Stargaze_-_Wymah_Valley_20090822_Tarantula.ht ml).

Comments and critique are most welcome.

Regards,
Humayun

[leinad]

Beautiful! Did you use custom white balance, or adjust colors with processing ?

[Octane]

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for the compliment!

I never use custom white balance (unless I'm using the modified 40D for weddings as a backup to my 5D Mark II).

I kept the stock auto white balance, and set my black point and RGB colour balance whilst pre-processing in IRIS.

Regards,
Humayun

[Lester]

Hi Humayun, I like your image, and the colour is very appealing to me.

All the best.

[Omaroo]

Wow - Humayun, what a corker! :thumbsup: I think that the composition is great. NGC2070 is really well balanced in this crop with the NCG2074, 2077, 2048 and 2080 (Ghost Head Nebula), etc group. The colours are very nice and a flattener will likely correct the rest that you mentioned for next time. This result makes me want to stick my DSLR back on and see some colour! LOL!

Top effort mate. I'm having a look at IRIS too - looks like another steepish learning curve, but what the hey!

Apart from the comeraderie, this certainly makes it worthwhile staying up 'till dawn huh! :D

[jakob]

Very nice image H :eyepop::thumbsup:

Now I see where Leons ZSFD80 went! I can see its in good hands.

[spacezebra]

Hi there Humayan

I have been waiting for this and wow! it was worth the wait:thumbsup:. Spectacular H!

Cheers Petra d.

[gregbradley]

That is one beautiful image. Gorgeous result.

Greg.

[RB]

Very nice image H.
Good detail and colour definition.

Good work mate.

:thumbsup:

[Martin Pugh]

Impressive.

Even more so given that you rightly stuck to one target all night long, acquiring 48 x 5minute images to produce this result.

In fact, I think the DSLR work folk are doing is all very good indeed.

well done

Martin

[renormalised]

Mr H....damn nice piccie if I might say so:D:D

Great shot:D:D

[JohnG]

Hi Humayan

A really top effort, I am glad you overcame the difficulties that you faced and perservered with this one.

Great work :thumbsup:.

Cheers mate

[DavidU]

wow ! Nice job H. Nice 3D look to it.
Have you thought of getting into photography?
(LOL)
very nice indeed

[h0ughy]

nice work Humayun. I too imaged this with 3 hours data last week - all wasted as i left the focus switch on and bumped it framing the area with the 127triplet - live and learn, though wasnt as bad as someone shooting in mid range jpeg only ;).

I love the detail that you have captured

[marc4darkskies]

Very nice indeed! :thumbsup: It pays to spend the night (or two or three :))gathering data on one object. Great work Humayun!

Cheers, Marcus

[bokglob]

Beautiful image! thanks:thumbsup:

[lacad01]

Very impressive! Despite the obstacles, your hard work has paid off nicely :thumbsup:

[Hagar]

Well worth the wait H, a ripper image considering you had a couple of mount problems. The background shown next to no noise and the colour separation is great with detail to die for.

Beautiful image.

[atalas]

Beautiful result H !

[astroron]

Beautiful Image Humayun, very pleasing to the eye:thumbsup:

[Octane]

Lester,

Thanks, mate! How's your Titan coming along now? All good?



Chris,

Hee hee! I'm glad you like it! You probably remember the entire field that I shot with the Tarantula smack bang in the middle. This is about 25%-33% of the frame. I rotated the image by about 4 degrees clockwise, as my camera wasn't parallel to the plate and focuser, and cropped at 3:2 (as everything I do). I am really quite surprised at how good the focus was -- thanks for loaning me your Bahnitov mask (mine arrived today along with a 35mm extension tube, lol).

Haha, yes! Put that DSLR on and get some RGB. ;)

And, yes, it was great packing it in at 7 AM. :P



Jakob,

Thanks, mate! This was first light for the scope. I look forward to seeing what else it can do. :)



Petra,

I'm glad you like it! Was about time I captured some photons. ;)



Greg,

Thanks so much!



Andrew,

Thanks, matey! :D



Martin,

Getting encouragement and compliments from the likes of yourself is always a buzz!

I have always devoted my imaging time (the very little that I have of it) to just one target per night. I don't have access to sensitive CCDs that I can get away with a couple of hours of data per channel. Perhaps, one day. Until then, the DSLR will have to suffice on multi-night runs.

Thank you. :)



Carl,

Cheers, mate. Glad you like it!



John,

lol @ difficulties. What a pain-in-the-!

Thanks again for your help!



David,

LOL! Cheeky. :D I'm enjoying the 3D-like structure in the wisps, too. I can't wait to have a go at this again with larger aperture.



David,

Cheers!

D'oh! I'd love to see what this looks like through a ED127. I sent Gilman an email today and I'm scared I'm about to spend some money. :S



Marcus,

Thanks, sir! On future trips out to dark skies, I intend to do just that. In the past, I've perhaps spent between 2 and 4 hours on subjects, but, from now on, it's marathon time. :)



Darrell,

Thanks, glad you liked it!



Adam,

Thanks, mate. :)



Doug,

Woohoo! Cheers. :)

Thanks, also, for all the bits and pieces in putting my plates and rings together!



Louie,

Thanks, dude. The first time I shot this target, was done using your equipment at Zane's. It was the night my LX90 decided it didn't want to talk to the hand controller anymore. I used your G-11 and FLT-105, with the unmodified 350D. I was blown away at how oxygen rich this region is. Even in this image, there's that familiar cyan overpowering the magenta of hydrogen alpha.



Ron,

Glad you like it. :)



Thanks so much, everyone. :)

It was a great thrill watching this come together on screen. Took a lot of coaxing with gentle curves to slowly bring out the nebula. :thumbsup:

Regards,
Humayun

[strongmanmike]

A solid and enjoyable image Humi

MIke

[Big Dave]

Welldone Humayun. Shame we spent the rest of the nights watching Greg's DVD's or you would have had a whole collection of nice images to go with that one, once we got that rig of yours finely tuned.

Hope to see you at BSG next year,
Dave.

[dpastern]

That's a decently nice shot Humayun, matching your terrestial efforts, which are mighty fine I might add. Good stuff!

Dave

[Octane]

Mike,

Cheers, matey. :D



Dave,

I know, I know. It's a pity and a shame. Not to worry, we just have to keep telling ourselves that it was also a social event. Hang on a second, who am I kidding? I was there to image! :P

Thanks for your help. :)



Dave,

Thanks, heaps, dude. Appreciate the compliment. :)



Thanks, everyone.

Regards,
Humayun

[Deeno]

WOW!!!

What a great result.
Good to see your getting a handle on all that lovely gear

[bokglob]

very professional octane.love your work!

[Big Dave]

Right On, Like you, I didn't plan on traveling 5 hours with all the gear just to stay undercover. Its one of only a few chances each year to get out of the city lights with a group of like minded people.
Again, great effort in your image. Hope to see you next year.:)

[multiweb]

Oooh! That is very nice indeed! :eyepop: Great colors and contrast. Love it. :thumbsup:

[Inmykombi]

Stunning image there "H"
Beautiful colours and clarity.

Keep up the good work.

[bloodhound31]

Five star rating mate. Awesome work!

Baz

[RobF]

Yeah Baby! (with English accent)

Love the composition and colours Humayun. Was sure you were going to describe extra Ha frames in the data collection - the modded 40D is working very well for you.

[Octane]

Deeno,

Thanks, buddy. :)

I have some more gear on the way. Should be here in the next couple of weeks. :scared:



Darrell,

I have a looooong way to go before I'm classed as being professional. However, I do want to be the best at what I do. It's just a matter of being able to get out to dark skies and this !@#$%^& weather to cooperate for once!



Dave,

lol! Agree wholeheartedly!

Oh, I'll be there for certain next year. Once Petra and Dave have the dates all sorted out, I'll book annual leave in advance. ;)



Marc,

Thanks, mate, glad you like it! I know I can do better. Next time! :)



Geoff,

Thank you, kind sir. I appreciate it!



Barry,

Thanks, mate!



Rob,

Wow, well done!

I created a synthetic hydrogen alpha layer by taking the red channel, sharpening it, and then applying it very selectively using a carefully crafted layer mask. The mask was painted in such a way to apply sharpening to the core region and wispy legs of the spider.

Good on you for picking that up. :)



Thanks again, everyone.

Regards,
Humayun