Deep inside the Great Orion Nebula - now with Hubble comparison

[strongmanmike]

This was an unplanned image.

Last imaging session, before dawn, I grabbed a single 5min Ha frame and a single 5min Lum frame of the Sword of Orion just to test framing and visual appearence.

Well, I wasn't gioing to do anything with the two subs but I had some old colour data taken with my ED80 aaaand...hey presto, a brief LHaRGB we have!

This is only a small part of the full frame, which fits in the whole sword, unfortunately I didn't have the colour data to fill it all in.

Please enjoy an impromptu peer, deep inside the Orion Nebula :)

Main Nebula (800k):
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/119473608/original

Close up showing all 6 main stars in the Trapezium - plus a few others "within" the trapezium! (200k)
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/119497604/original

Here is a comparison with a Hubble shot so you can search out all the fine details:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/119521629/original

Sometimes an image can come from nowhere :P

I plan to grab the rest of the sword to go around this image....just as soon as I get a CLEAR NIGHT :prey:

Mike

[jjjnettie]

:eyepop:
amazing Mike.

[DavidU]

:jawdrop:Oh my goodness.
That's massive!
Mike, your a bit of a problem, producing such work. Uba awesomeness

[Hagar]

Lovely Mike and for such short exposures. I can't wait to see the full image when you get it done.
I have always found M42 a real challenge to image so I may even spend a bit more time on it seeing the last attempt went so well.
If I can work it out I may even mosaic M42 down to the horse.

[Paul Haese]

Nice going mate, I am really looking forward to the final image. It is bound to be very spectacular.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers guys

It's gunna be a bit of work I know but I can't wait to do the rest of the field either! :scared: :prey: :stargaze:

Doug - a mozaic down to the horse huh? wow, go for it!

Mike

[zipdrive]

wow it's great alright! haven't seen it so close before.

[StarGazing]

FANTASTIC....

Great one Mike, hope you have thoose clear nights soon cant wait to see the finished product.

Alex. :thumbsup:

[Davros]

That first image is absolutely fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dpastern]

Cool crop of the Six main central stars. I haven't visually spotted these yet, must try during Summer. Be cool to see more subs on this Mike.

Dave

[White Rabbit]

Wow, you can actually see protoplanetary disks around some of the stars at the top of the frame.

Amazing shot.

[multiweb]

Cool shot Mike. Certainly a lot of details in the trap. Just looks a bit over sharpened and green to me compared to the rest of the nebula. Other than that the details is beautiful. :thumbsup:

[Ric]

Wonderful image Mike, there is some amazing detail in that closeup.

[lacad01]

Not sure I've seen such clear detail in the core before, that's outstanding :thumbsup:

[Robbie]

The first shot is brilliant !!! how on earth did you manage to not burn out the core in that shot?

[Scorpius51]

Outstanding image. :thumbsup: Watch out David Malin!

[AlexN]

Looking good mate.. The field of view there is strangely familiar :) I posted a shot of M42 around this time last year from my QHY8 + C11 that looked vaguely similar (lacking most of the beautiful detail you've captured)

I'd love to see the single 5min Ha full field...

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Zip a surprise image really but it held a few surprises



Oh me too Alex, there is similar detail to be captured all through the Orion Sword cloud



Yeh?..well, I'm glad you think so Mick :)



To get detail inside the trapezium is difficult but if I could get some good seeing at some stage.. man it would make life a bit easier :rolleyes:

[strongmanmike]

Have a look at the Hubble comparison, it helps to identify fine details in my image :thumbsup: :

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/119521629/original



Ah perhaps ya right (green) Froggy :lol: but remember this was only a second thought image really, scrounged from various data sets so I wasn't exactly trying to make a perfectly balanced image. I wanted to extract as much detail as I could from the limited data, considering, I thought I did an ok job actually :shrug:. As for the colour..?..I think many Orion cores are too red, the green in there is indeed very strong from OIII so there should in fact be a green influence in my opinion..anyway as I said just having some Sidonio fun :lol:





Thanks boys, more in there than I first thought too actually :thumbsup:

[multiweb]

Here's the HST shot I always use as a reference. Side by side with yours it's almost the same framing. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

HI Rob Dog :P not burning out the core is easy - only 5min with Ha and a 16bit CCD leaves a lot that's able to be extracted. DDP is a useful tool too and Astroart, that I use, has an excellent version of this filter.



No need for David to watch out, his work with the AAT and UK Schmidt was incredibly impressive, this is only a low res version of one of Davids signature M42 shots but gives an idea of what the full res image would look like :eyepop::

http://seds.org/messier/Jpg/m42.jpg



Thanks Alex

Where's that image of yours be nice to see that (since you have already released it ;))

However...as for my full frame Sword shot...in this case you will just have to wait for the finished product :)

Heard about your new FW yet (I put in a good word for you - hope it helped ;))

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Man, that's amazing, I have seen this shot before but it never dawned on me to use it as a reference :doh:Having said that, I think my colour balance is pretty dam close to that version anyway :shrug: and there is clearly a green influence particularly in the inner regions just as I have come up with, so I am glad you posted it cause it kind vindicates my colour work really, although I am not sure how "true" that colour is in reality given it was composed from various filters if I recollect..?

Bah who makes the rules anyway :lol:

Cheers mate
:thumbsup:
Mike

Mike

[AlexN]

Heres my pic...

I sent you an email about the CFW :) Its all go for launch.. Just getting precise parts to make me up a pair of adapters, one from the CFW to female T-thread to attach the MPCC (with 16mm total length to ensure correct spacing) and the other is for attaching a Canon EF lens to the CFW (just 5mm deep) to allow full colour imaging through wide field lenses (My 135 F/2L might come out of the bag for some astro work!! :) )

Greg was very helpful indeed... :)

Cheers mate.

[SkyViking]

Awesome image Mike, I always enjoy your shots of the more unusual targets - or the old favorite targets with a new twist. I think it's great to capture such details at the very edge of what's possible.

I once did a Trapezium as well: http://www.titirangiobservatory.com/deepsky/trapezium.html
It's upside down compared to yours and a lot less exposure, but pretty much the same FOW. There is so much to look at in that area!

[avandonk]

Mike I remember when if you could 'see' the trapezium in your home made 8" telescope with a dodgy eyepiece (about thirty years ago) you would brag about how good your optics were. That lovely refractor is something else. Do not get upset because it is only 152mm. Remember it is not size but what you do with it!

Bert

[strongmanmike]

Yes I forgot to reply to that email :ashamed: :whistle: have done now :D

Nice to hear that you are getting the adapter for the lenses too, I would love that.

Ah yes, I remember that Orion of yours - top shot

Mike



That Trap area of yours is really good. taking short exposures is the way to go to get the really fine details, good seeing helps too, was that taken at the native 1250mmFL of the 10"?



Ah Bert, yes the starfire is in a class of its own, I know, and as I have said before I feel very lucky and privileged to have one :) I should barlow it and do some short exposure image capture ala planetary and provided the seeing is good the detail extractable then would be incredible I am sure.

Cheers

Mike

[marc4darkskies]

I dunno Mike. It's a very striking image for sure and it'll be a stunner when you finish it, but in this impromptu/premature version the trapezium looks distinctly overcooked relative the rest of the neb. Look forward to seeing it after you add some more high res data!!!



Yeah - almost as good as a Tak!! :D So don't bother comparing to the HST, just wait till I image it then you can compare to my version ;):P:D:lol:

Seriously though get it closer to the reference version Marc suggested and you'll have a killer shot!

Cheers, Marcus

[Hagar]

Mike, I just took a look at your Hubble comparison. If all things were equal, eg , Atmospheric extinction, Narrow Band filters and overall equipment. I have to admit your image is right up there with hubble.

Great stuff.

[DavidU]

...........and Mike's equipment is $2.1 billion cheaper.

[strongmanmike]

Well...that was my intention in this case actually. I wasn't after a soft image with the trap hidden (a more realistic look), I was, as you say, after more of the striking aspect and to reveal as much detail in the trap area as the data allowed, just my approach this time, that's all :thumbsup:



Yes 10min of Lum isn't much huh :rolleyes:

Hmm?..maybe but there are lots of interpretations I guess, which one is the right one, that is the question :confuse3:

[strongmanmike]

Yeh there is a bit of detail in there but I think I can do better, the trick is to get the high res close in detail AND the full 1.8 X 1.2 deg FOV - stay tuned ;). Thanks for you nice comments.

Mike

[AlexN]

Ooooooohhhh!! Thems fightn wordss!! :)

[strongmanmike]

Yeh and while it is mildly annoying travelling 50min out to my moderately dark observing spot...getting to the scope doesn't cost me a $Billion each time either :rolleyes:

[strongmanmike]

No Markus is quite right and if I ever lost my AP in a fire or something and claimed on insurance I would happily step down to a Tak ;) rather than wait 10 years for an AP :rolleyes:

:P

[AlexN]

I'd love to go up and salvage the ACS camera and filters off the back of the HST once the JWST is operational, and HST decommissioned.. Would make a lovely addition to my list of toys I reckon...

[AlexN]

OOOOOOHHHHH!!! More Fightn Words!! :D

Ps. I could help you "Lose" that AP152 should you ever feel the need to step down to a Tak.. :D :P

[strongmanmike]

:lol: just kidding, the Tak is every bit as good as an AP...maybe even better :rolleyes:, I think they are a bit heavy though and the colour trim is gastly...but it would at least match my gastly coloured mount :P

MIke

[AlexN]

Yea.. it all comes down to what you set your heart on... Me.... I want the AP140... Im sitting on the list for the 130 Starfire ED GT.... when im 30 I might have it, but probably more like when im 35~40.. You have to admit, there are advantages to the Tak/TEC/TMB scopes.. People wouldnt wait 6~10 years for a telescope if it wasn't worth the wait though would they..

[Hagar]

Ahhhhhh But is it worth the wait..... It is all in the eye of the beholder...... The best scope is the scope you use and to wait ten years is a long time for it not to work. Lots can change in ten years and does as AP state quite clearly. Lots opt out of the purchase when finally notified they are on the delivery/purchase final round.
There are a few pemium scope manufacturers in the world and I doubt most of us would struggle to notice much diference in their scopes at least from a visual/imaging point of view. Our eyes aren't that good.

Alex, the way you buy and sell gear, you better start a dedicated bank account now and not touch it until your scope is ready. LOL
10 years, you will already have tested every other scope so you can tell us if it is as good as they say.

Happy saving.

[AlexN]

Got the cash already Doug... its just a waiting game :) sitting in a bank account earning interest :D

[SkyViking]

Thanks Mike, yes thats a 1250mm prime focus shot. That area is so bright that short exposures really show lots of details, even with a ToUCam :)

[Octane]

Mike,

Bravo, bravo.

The core looks a little weird, but, that's as you mentioned, purely as this was a test for fun. Looking forward to what you can do later on with more data.

That 6" scope is sublime.

Regards,
Humayun

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Humi :P

Yes Marcus mentioned he was a bit iffy about the core too..funny I don't see it as looking that bad really :shrug:...but then I processed it and like your own children it is harder to see things in them that others do sometimes :question:

I am hanging to complete this project becasue I haven't imaged the sword region with the new 35mm chip FLI camera yet in fact I last imaged M42 back in 2006 with my 200mm lens. Perhaps another Helix type project..?...6 nights of pain in the R's :sadeyes: but the final job is worth it in the end :thumbsup:

Your scope is nothing sneeze at either :eyepop:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Nice shot Mike.

I've had both Tak (several) and now an AP140 as well as the TEC180.
AP is a step ahead I agree in both sensible quality engineering that works as well as superior optics. The TEC is quite similar to the AP
though (AP mechanics a bit better like rings, focuser, attachments).
AP is oriented towards sheer practicality and perfection,Tak is a close 2nd.

Someone just paid US$29,600 for a 10 inch AP Mak Cass on Astromart Auctions.
Greg.