M33 - Triangulum Galaxy

[jase]

Hi All,

A while between posts. Rather busy with work and have not been in the country much. That said, there's always been opportunities for imaging, whether it be with my own gear or on rental kit. Anyway, here is an image produced from the latter. I'm progressively getting into more mosaic work which I'm finding challenging and different. The ability to display a usual target in a different light continues to be the main catalyst for reinvention. Will be certain to produce a single panel image sometime soon to ensure I can still do it...:)

So with that in mind, I'm pleased to present;
M33 - Triangulum Galaxy (http://cosmicphotos.com/gallery/image.php?fld_image_id=214&fld_album_id=12)

Certainly had some fun with this, more so in the planning to find suitable guide stars. Hard to beat a mosaic providing a wide field and resolution to boot. This one is six panel with minimalistic data I should add. Just 20mins per RGB channel across each panel. So in total around 6hrs...which is basically ridiculous for this type of work. One could easily expect a far great quantity of data. I lend this to the sensitivity of the Apogee U42 camera coupled to 24" of aperture. With broadband filters, this set up will bloom quick so sucking down photons giving a good signal to noise isn't an issue. I wouldn't have tried this project on any other instrument given the cost of mega data on rental scopes. However, having not a lot of data to play with presented a few issues. Overall the data sets very good in quality. I set up the runs while the object crossed the meridian however atmospheric seeing between the panels differed. Not too much, but was noticeable. To compensate I applied varying intensities of deconvolution in an attempt to reduce the effect. I think it worked ok, but its still not ideal. Two other key items I should add that come to mind due to the lack of data. Firstly, I used a synthetic luminance (data reject and sum combine the r,g,b subs) to reduce the quantity of noise. In addition, to make the HII regions pop I stitched and stretch the red channel data to improve the contrast. No where near as good as collecting Ha data, but seems to have worked ok. No much else to add other than the usual softlight colour boost routine and selecting sharpening. Noise still present, but I'll consider the project complete for now. In fact, I have torn enough hair out for this image already trying to get the panels seamless in transition.

I've attached the mosaic plan utilised for reference (please note its upside down) when comparing it to the image. The present image at full size is has been reduced to make it web friendly.

All comments welcome.

Cheers :thumbsup:

[alexch]

WOW!!!

What a treat! Brings back fond memories of seeing it visually from Albury in 2009 in a moment of perfect seeing.

Thanks, Jase!

[Octane]

What a beautiful galaxy.

As always, Jase, sublime. Can't really say much more than that.

H

[TrevorW]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[jase]

Thanks Alex :) Can't say I've even attempt this one visually. Perhaps I should buy some eye pieces! (and leave the dark side for a while!)



Cheers H. Pleased you liked it my friend! Something different at least!



Thanks Trevor! :)

[Peter Ward]

Sorry....where are the clouds in this image??!! ....and the rain for that matter??

Another addition to the cool wall is just not acceptable at all.

Way too cool :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

Fantastic Jase - full res is magical! Noise appears under control to me! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Cheers, Marcus

[h0ughy]

well this is something to aspire to one day - love it

[strongmanmike]

Good to see you're up to your usual self too Jase ;) ... love the "pleased to present" bit ta da! tee he :)

Great image mate...but then again it "is" a 24" fully automated professional observatory scope ;) ...very nice processing job though, I must say, well done :thumbsup:

Round of applause for you :clap:

Mike

ED Just looked at the big version and man there is some detail in there :eyepop:...ok I'll concede.. that scope is better than my beloved Starfire :doh::lol:

[jase]

Cheers Peter. Only rains star photons in Rodeo, New Mexico. :) They got out of the monsoons a couple of months ago. Clear dark skies most nights now. Agree, the same can't be said for here though. I'm desperately trying to finish off another project.



Thanks Marcus. The full res is good to swim around. The noise is a fine line as there isn't a considerable dynamic range between the background and faint extensions of the spiral arms. A few masks assisted...bit rusty on photoshop I should add.



Thanks Houghy. Its all in the planning as opposed the execution with mosaics. The processing is rather methodical. What you do to one panel...make sure you do it to the others.



Darn right Mike - no point lowering the bar :)
Thats right. I just told the scope to point to M33, it took a photo in which I saved as a jpeg and uploaded to my site. The rest I just made up to fill in time. :lol:

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Thanks for the comments. :)

[John Hothersall]

Amazing resolution and a nightmare to process and match up but your efforts are appreciated as the result is just stunning - I can almost see the super massive black hole at the centre.

Stormy Brisbane, John.

[strongmanmike]

See? I knew it, I just knew it..while it did its thing you just... :gamer:..oh yeh then maybe a little bit of :computer: and hey presto..a staggeringly detailed image of a spiral galaxy :rofl:

[atalas]

Spectacular Jase! the Ha objects remind me of the ones in the LMC and a wonderful Lab color boost! wonderful work.

[Hagar]

Magnificent Jase, it just sparkles. This is something else. I have seen a lot of lovely renditions of this Galaxy but this just jumps off the page like Hubbles images do.

[Alchemy]

Nice to see you presenting some work, it's been a while by my reckoning. Some of the Ha detail is stunning, one of the areas looks like the Tarantula Neb only in a galaxy far far away
I've said it before and I will say it again, I think the dial up a scope idea is great, it gives everyone the chance to get some stunning data which otherwise is cost prohibitive..... I'd hate to think what a 24 inch kit would cost; and it's a leveler for all, not just those who have the ability to throw 15000 dollars at a new camera or scope.
Lets see more of it.

Clive

[jase]

Cheers John. :) I'm sure you've had a crack at this one while in the northern hemisphere. Difficult to get right from a focal length perspective. Wide field images take in the large expanse of the galaxy but lack resolution. A mosaic seems to be a good option. Thanks again.



:lol: You're a gullible one Mike. I forgot to mention it was "Made in China" too (assembled in Australia though). :lol:;)



Cheers Louie. Indeed the HII knots add an interesting twist. No lab colour boost, not this time anyway. Heavily colour saturated and DDP stretch image blended as softlight is my usual tactic in punch up the colour. Need to DDP stretch the data hard however as softlight is darkening blend mode. I experimented with warming filters in this image, but the difference were very subtle. Thanks for your comment. :)



Pleased you liked it Doug. The mosaic resolution gives it the spark, in particular with the blue star burst regions. Too some effort, but what you put in is what you get out. :)



Good to hear from you too Clive. Has been a while. I have a few other projects on the go, so you should see a little more in time (once the images are cooked). You're spot on - there is nothing stopping anyone else logging on to the 24" RC to produce an image of their choice. Money will stop a few (ironically money stops people buying their own high end gear). I acknowledge it isn't for everyone and it helps to know what you're doing in particular with mosaic work. I continue to use rental scopes as I find it provides me with the flexibility to select an instrument for a specific target to achieve the goal I'm after. Still enjoy using my own gear, which is also fully automated (like a rental scope). In both instances collecting data becomes a mundane activity due to the level of automation. Point being is this allows the imager to focus on other activities such as the planning and/or processing of data - this is where the fun and challenge is at! Thanks for your comment. Hope to see you pump out a few images soon too.:)

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Thanks again all - appreciated!

[multiweb]

:eyepop: Terrific shot. That looks like an ESO pic. Really well done. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Ah huh! it's a comunist telescope :scared:...is it red? :scared2: Automated by Rickshaw :D

Juuuust taking the pus...ar hem, who's gullible? :whistle: ;) :lol:

All's good ...your ESO scope is excellent :lol:

Wonderful image

Mike

[jjjnettie]

Stunning work Jase!

[Bolts_Tweed]

Absolutely phenomenal Jase.

Only 60min per panel - fantastic (oh for aperture and optics) and the processing is excellent.

It makes the spiral arm leading edge HII regions absolutely obvious - a good chance to explain galaxy structure and development to people - the leading edge of each arm smacking into the interstellar medium - it's there and obvious.

Now I understand you mosaic comment mate - outstanding.

Mark Bolton

[Paul Haese]

Nice processing Jase. Totally seamless image. Well done.

[CoolhandJo]

I really like the overall balance of this image! Its not too sharp and not too smooth. Having noticed that this target is very difficult to get right - I think you have done a superb job! Something to aspire too!

[Ric]

Lovely work Jase.

I don't think I've seen M33 up close before, so this was a treat for me.

Cheers

[jase]

Thank you kindly Marc. No where close to the same resolution as ESO. Would be a privileged to get hands on a data set from one of their instruments however. :D Will settle what instruments I've got access too for now. Cheers mate.



Thank you JJJ. Am very pleased you liked it! :)



Thanks Mark. The light gathering power of 24" coupled to the ultra high QE of the Apogee U42 is a dream to use. The Lightbuckets team have a winning combination there. The team has tested the mag limit quite extensively. To quote from their forum "On the best nights, I was able to get good astrometry on objects almost down to V22.0 with three or four 120s exposures stacked and tracked on a typical MBA motion (the faintest objects I reported was at V21.8 with SNR=3.2 a on really good February night.)" The instrument blooms very quick when using broadband filters so its relatively easy to get a good S/N ratio on extended objects with short exposures and careful reduction noise processing. You heard me with mosaics! The pinnacle of DSO imaging in my opinion - resolution and wide fields. Not much else one could ask for. Thanks for your comments - appreciated. :)



Cheers Paul. The stitching was hazardous at times. Required gradient removal prior to stitching on two panels. What remained I used the dodge tool to bring each panel into alignment. Seems to have worked out well. Thanks mate.



Thanks Paul. Much appreciated. :) Hard to judge at times how far is too far when it comes to sharpening and smoothing. I like to stretch the data as far is it will go simply to test it. I find if you don't do this, then you will not know what the data is capable of. You can always drop it back to more acceptable levels. Trying to find something different or a new way to express an traditional object is the challenge.



Cheers Ric. Good to hear from you again (though I've not be around often!). Mosaics offer a pleasing twist. I'm very pleased you enjoyed it. :)

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Thanks again all. Your support provides incentive to push the boundaries.

[gregbradley]

That is a marvellous image Jase. Stunning detail and you can easily make out the globs and large stars of that galaxy which is amazing in itself.

Fantastic.

Greg.

[jase]

Thank you Greg. I appreciate the kind feedback. Hope your CDK is humming along. Saw some of your output which looked on the money.

Cheers

[bert]

Whoa! Another stunner.

I never really liked shots of this galaxy, it always kinda looked..... 'messy' to my eyes. But with the detail in this shot it is simply magnificent, with the LMC like areas and fine detailed structure. Its inspiring me to have a shot at it.

Brett

[wysiwyg]

Fantastic piece of imaging there Jase.
Cant imagine the complexities involved in producing something like this, Great work!

[jase]

Cheers Brett! :) Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I concur with the galaxy structure looking rather messy. M33 is not a well defined spiral, but rather diffused making it difficult to extract structure in the arms. This presented a challenge. Regardless, the target is worth the time and would recommend you give it a go.



Thank you for your comment, Mark. As the saying goes - Nothing ventured, nothing gained! :)

[Martin Pugh]

Hi Jase - I know how difficult mosaics are having barely done about 4 or so myself. This is a super image - great colour, just the right amount of saturation, and seamlessly produced.

Great stuff.

cheers
Martin

[that_guy]

it pops out at you :eek: its sooo awesome!!!!!!! your a legend jase... :D

[jase]

Cheers Martin! :) Indeed, long focal length mosaics present a completely different challenge to wide field. I've often admired your Corona Australis mosaic that you work with Rob on. A clear stand out winner of the DMA's in 2008 if you ask me. You still came away a winner, but for the wrong image in my opinion. Anyway I digress. Thanks for your comments - appreciated.



A "legend" is taking it a bit far Tony! ;) Thanks for taking the time to check out the image and comment. Pleased you liked it.

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Thanks all.:)