Messier 4 - Bathed in the light of a supergiant

[RobF]

Another one from Wiruna. I've always loved this glob, but missed seeing it through any of the big dobs at the SPSP, so on the last night thought I'd see what the QHY9 could do with a limited number of exposures.

Purists may point out the glare from Antares is showing up weaknesses in my budget imaging train, but I like the effect from the rays that's come out as I processed this one. Suspect I've ended up with more colour and less noise than I deserved for so few frames, but then again, it is a bright one. This exercise creates a new problem though - the majority of my old Messier pics are looking a bit obsolete now. Have posted an earlier effort with the 450D for comparison (taken 6/6/09 with 4 x 2.5 mins subs) ISO 800). Guess I'll have to revisit many of those in my collection until I'm happy.

Thanks for looking...

QHY9/MPCC on the 8" Newt
LRGB 10:10:10:10 (all 5mins subs, no binning)

[dugnsuz]

I agree Rob - I like the drama/power of the image.
Cool as!
Doug

[Peter Ward]

I like it.

All technical aspects (focus/guiding/noise/colour) well handled...and the edge diffraction makes the image interesting.:thumbsup:

[Octane]

Rob,

Magnificent colour in the stars of the cluster.

Well done, mate.

H

[davewaldo]

Nice! I like the rays too, makes it obvious that there is more going on outside the frame. I want to pan to the right and take a look :)

[Bender]

Rob,

Another great shot from you,
keep up the good work!

Martin

[RobF]

Gee that was quick - lots of people online.
Thanks for the comments guys :D

Have also added in an earlier effort for comparison.

Rob

[suma126]

i think it looks perfect the way it is. nice work :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

You got some lovely star colours going there. The rays from Antares is a nice effect.

Out of interest Antares is an unbelievably large star. There are a few you-tube videos about star and planet sizes. Our sun is something like 93 million miles in diameter. As I recall Antares is 3.2 billion.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Great image of M4 Rob, lovely colours and sharpness.

Sure t'would be better if the ray pattern wasn't there as it covers the subject but it does look quite quirky and interesting all the same.

Mike

[RobF]

Thanks Shane :)



Heck - I knew it was big, buts that's outrageous. Must read up more. Thanks Greg.



Wasn't something I was aiming for Mike - its actually right across the image to the left when you stretch it hard too . I've never encountered this before - something to be on the lookout for in the future I guess.

[Enrique]

I like it. It adds something. I wish I could have a look to the right to find out. Could you help?

Enrique

[astroron]

The Sun is aprox 1000.000kms in Diameter and 150 000.000kms(93million miles from Earth
Antares is three hundred million kilometers in Diameter.
No Billions involved;)
Nice pic's Rob.

[DavidU]

I find your #1 image very effective. Great stuff.

[JD2439975]

Massive improvement on your earlier image, looks like you'll have to go back through the catalog & do them all again. :lol:
But that's part of the process of improving our abilities I guess, revisiting old friends.

I too like the stray rays, they converge some way off the field giving a sense of just how huge a fireball Antares is.

[luigi]

I think I'm not a purist it's a wonderful photo! I'd even want more light filtering!

[h0ughy]

i agree adds to the mood of the image. great star colours

[Alchemy]

A tactic that can often work, (individual stringettes) if you're not a John cleese /Monty python fan that wont make much sense :)
Looks fine to me, most scopes have some artifacts around bright stars.... Even the expensive ones.

Clive

[troypiggo]

Agree - the effect really adds to an already great image.

[multiweb]

Nice one Rob. Great star colors and sharp as. The side streaks makes it interesting. Otherwise clusters are boring. :scared3: ;)

[SkyViking]

Great image Rob, it is very dramatic with that stray light.
And good to see M4 being imaged, I think this is an overlooked globular.

[Hagar]

Very nice Rob, Colour etc is very nice and the big star burst doesn't detract to much. Looks like a Messier run comming along soon.

[TrevorW]

Nice effort Rob, I did this just last night with the 8" RC but no Antares showing in the subs, so I'll be posting a comparison shortly

[RobF]

Thanks Enrique - unfortunately I didn't collect any extra data for mosaics. I didn't really expect the diffraction effect, and I suspect having Antares in the field will create some tricky imaging issues. I might be able to have a try from home, but city lights and pollution filter will compound collection and processing I expect



Whew - thought Antares was expanding to get us there for a while Ron!



Thanks David - I was surprised at the difference, and actually very happy with my earlier glob shots at the time. Hopefully shows I'm learning something along the way (and having fun too...;))



I might just do that Justin, but there's always so much to explore. I wish the skies didn't move so quick sometimes.....



Thanks Luis - I'm not sure if its the edge of the scope or edge of a mirror that has done this to be honest - still learning - certainly wasn't planned :lol:



Thanks David - really happy with this one. Yet again a quick "secondary target" has given lots of unexpected pleasure. Nice to have a Plan B sometimes. :)

[jjjnettie]

M4 is a cracker Rob. :thumbsup: :)

[RobF]

I've just been educated Clive - missed most of Python, but I can see you could achieve almost *ANYTHING* with Simpon's Individual Stringettes - sounds like amazing stuff.....! Just what every Astrophotographer needs in his kit bag. :lol:



Thanks Troy - like most of my half decent pics - luck over skill :whistle:



Chicken - come out from behind that couch I say....!
Certainly a lot quicker to collect data from a bright glob than a faint emission neb though Marc - might become a fad....:D



Thanks Rolf - love your toUcam shots - reminds me that a camera is often just a tool to help us explore further. Having a nice pic to keep is a bonus.



Thanks Doug - I've had a ball chasing down Messier objects over the last 2 years - all the objects I could never quite enjoy with my 4.5" Newt and 1980 Norton's....:)



Ta Trevor - must check it out

Rob