Milky Way, SMC and 47Tuc

[alexch]

Hi All,

I managed to squeeze the image below before surrendering to dew at Cape Schanck yesterday.

SMC and 47Tuc turned out nicely, the globular is even discernable at 100% image scale.

I experimented by lighting the beach a little with a hand torch. I am not sure what is with that red glow, I took this image around 9pm and the glow was evident in the images of other directions as well.

The usual stuff: D700, 14mm f/2.8, ISO 3200, 30 sec on a fixed tripod

Cheers,
Alex

[gregbradley]

Wow, what a wonderfully aesthetic image.

Greg.

[mbaddah]

Absolutely stunning job well done :)

[multiweb]

That's awesome! :thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

That's a friggin' magical shot Alex! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Cheers,
Marcus

[Octane]

Superb work, my friend. Very good, indeed.

H

[MikeyB]

Unreal shot, Alex - it's magic! I'm wondering if that "red glow" you've captured could be a low-level Aurora Australis. If I remember correctly, Perth had one a couple of years back, where the whole sky was faintly coloured red. Unfortunately, I didn't see it myself - just read about it the next day.

[h0ughy]

what a pearler of a shot

[dugnsuz]

Inspiring stuff Alex - beautiful image.
Doug

[rogerg]

Very nice photograph :thumbsup:

I think the blackness of the area immediately around/through the milky way is a little distracting - too black, a little out of place compared to the rest which has the more "soft" toning, but perhaps that's personal taste :)

Overall a "wow" photo :)

[alexch]

Thanks everyone for inspiring comments.
Michael, it could well be the Aurora, it was not visible to the eye though, only on photographs.

Roger, I agree - a little softer curve looks better, thanks for pointing it out.

Cheers,
Alex

[bloodhound31]

Love it! WAAAAAAA.......I WANNA WIDE ANGLE LENS!!!!!

Baz.

[iceman]

Stunning!

[troypiggo]

Beautiful work. I really like that rock formation on the left. To me it kind of looks like a face looking up at the Milky Way. Wonderful addition to the shot.

[lesbehrens]

very nice. it's like a thought up image from a story book.

[TrevorW]

Worth sending to APOD

[JD2439975]

I reckon it's in with a chance, that's a stunning image Alex, top job.

[bartman]

Grrrrrr wish I had a wide angle lenssssss!!!!!

Go For APOD!

[Phil Hart]

hey Alex

that is another cracking image.. you've got the techniques working smooth and are clearly not afraid of putting in the hard yards to get the right scene when others are tucked up in bed. kudos.

but i am sorry you chose cape schanck instead of joining us at heathcote on the weekend! ;) i also wish i could be in two places at once!!

the red sky could just be airglow.. in my timelapse sequences with 'sunny' white balance, sky colour straight out of the camera is a pretty reddish/brown so that much is fairly natural. i think i am even seeing variation in the intensity of skyglow in timelapse sequences.. you may be able to see that in some of your work too?

Phil

[jjjnettie]

Beautiful!
The waters edge looks awesome.

[alexch]

Thanks Phil!

I did not choose to do it instead - the images are from Monday night and I went there to lift my mood of not being at Heathcote for the weekend.

I planned to go on Saturday but the forecast was not that favourable and I had a few things to do with the family so I thought maybe on Sunday, but then the forecast was cold and foggy and I don't have much dew protection for the telescope so I skipped it. Did I make a mistake - what was the weather like on Saturday and Sunday??

I am commited to go at the earliest opportunity and catch up with you guys and a new telescope with proper dew protection is due to arrive next month ;).

The white balance is set at my usual 3700K so I think the colour is real.

Cheers,
Alex

[JD2439975]

Congrats on an APOD Alex, knew it was a winner. :thumbsup:

[alexch]

Thanks! I am pleasantly shocked :)

[iceman]

Awesome!

Enjoy the ride!

[Octane]

Alex,

My friend, congratulations on your very well deserved APOD.

I know I've already commented, but, that is one sublime image. Print, frame, hang. : )

H

[strongmanmike]

Not sure how I missed this one Alex - wonderful scene.

Nice to see it on APOD too :thumbsup:

Mike

[marc4darkskies]

Congrats on the APOD Alex - very well deserved! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Cheers, Marcus

[SkyViking]

I really like your stunning images Alex and this one is just superb. It has a very otherworldly atmosphere, as if it was taken from the shores of an ocean on a distant planet, very inspiring.
Oh and congratulations on a well deserved APOD!

[gregbradley]

Very very beautiful and congrats on your APOD.

Greg.

[john_drummond]

Now that's a keeper!!!

[luigi]

This is ultra-super-duper cool. Amazing capture of the sky and the foreground is fantastic too. A killer combo!