One of the great M45 images

[strongmanmike]

This beautiful image of the Pleiades by Karel Teuwen is a real testemant to the power of modern amateur imaging (and masterful processing technique).

Imaging equipment used: 16" F3.75 astrograph with FLI Microline 16803 and CFW-5-7

Clicking on the full res download botton at the top of the image is well worth the effort - in the huge image that downloads you will see not only amazing fine detail in the nebula and 100's of background galaxies through the dust but there are entire galaxy clusters visible!

http://www.karelteuwen.be/photo_page.php?img=282&album=15

Sheesh, I have a 12" F3.8 astrograph on its way and essentially the same imaging gear, so man!! the pressure will be on :eyepop: :prey:

Mike

[leon]

Yea Michael, dead right mate a simply beautiful image.

Leon

[tlgerdes]

It seems to me that you ONLY like images taken with an FLI 16803, is there some sort of bias going on here:poke:

[strongmanmike]

Noooo what makes you think that Trev? :whistle: :lol:

Seriously though mate there are cracker images out there by many different camera brands but these highly corrected astrographs are only pretty new eventuations on the amateur market, previously the great amateur images were mostly coming from RCOS or similar longer FL type OTA's. These new bread of wider field astrographs bring a whole new dimension to higher end astroimaging (good to have both). The other thing is that many of the top imagers have moved on from the previous head of the class, the STL11K, to the newer and bigger 16803 based cameras. The other unintentional bias factor is that FLI (and Apogee) have had the 16803 based cameras out for some years now so they are the units out there on these beasts.

Hope you liked the image non the less, I recon it's a cracker regardless of the camera brand - could easily have been taken with an Apogee U16 (not so easily with an STX16803 simply because there almost none out there) :thumbsup:

Mike

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Nope. Na-unh. Disagree!
Much too "spikey". Looks like a bad Christmas card. All that wonderful nebulosity is shunted into the background and faint yet fascinating detail is lost amid a sea of cheesy spikes. It also appears over-processed.
Don't go there duuude, as the Americans would say.
FWIW Mike, I'm a big fan of your images. They are truly world class and you need take a lesson from no-one.
Sorry but this image is just way over the top and leaves me wondering what the photographer was thinking.

[strongmanmike]

Well thanks for the compliment :ashamed: :thumbsup: and hey fair enough :screwy: :lol: but did you download the full size version? My initial thoughts were similar to yours until I downloaded the full size version and then the spikes lost impact and the amazing detail and subtlty shine IMO :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

I have to agree, the spikes are way over the top and to me detract from an otherwise stunning image.

Greg.

[RB]

Agreed, to "spiky"....although I've seen worse......

[strongmanmike]

OK..apart from the diffraction spikes, which are really an unavoidable side effect of the the optical system with sich bright stars, hello :rolleyes:...I haven't seen such clear and sharp transparency through this object over such a field before and that was what I thought was amazing

Mike

[RB]

:lol:

He could have used "anti-starspike pro" (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=664163&postcount=16) to tone them down a bit. :rofl:

[multiweb]

:lol: I feel better already. Although I don't use a 16" F3.75 astrograph with FLI Microline 16803 and CFW-5-7, my sh|tty 5" newt gets the same xmas decorat... err... diffraction spikes nearly as good. :P Unreal details in the neb though :thumbsup:

[RB]

Thought you'd appreciate that Marc ! :lol:

[Peter Ward]

:rolleyes: Simply not true.

Hey Mike, you forgot to mention Wild Turkey, Toyota, Telstra and Foxtel :D

[strongmanmike]

Your recent diffraction spiked Orion was a craker, watch you talkin'bout Willis :shrug:

Diffraction spikes are one of those things that will be either loved, indifferent or disliked by people. I recon in the end it is just a side effect of the easiest and cheapest way of getting the light grasp, speed and field of view :thumbsup:

Mike

[multiweb]

I don't mind them but too much is too much and you can't control them. The longer the subs the worse they get. The best shots I've seen on M45 were taken by refractors. Really deep shots also with refractors. All the pleiades shots I've seen taken with a spider secondary holder had overwhelming spikes. Don't get me wrong it's still a top shot but still :xmas: ;)

[strongmanmike]

Didn't mean to put any noses ouit'a joint Peter, I just haven't seen many, only yours and Martins - which was actually SBIG's and he doesn't have it anymore (does he?) even he uses an FLI now ;). Once they catch up and become more popular I am sure there will be plenty of STX images circulating and as good as Karels FLI based shot too :thumbsup:.



:question:...wha tha? I told you I like Scotch not Burbon :shrug:

[Peter Ward]

STX16803 numbers are well into three figures (i.e. more than 100 but less than 1000)...not bad for a +$10k CCD.
Differential guiding and the remote guide head will be introduced 1st quarter 2011: which I suspect will give them a further edge.

Just need a few more takers in Oz...Bit like Ferrari's really :D

[SkyViking]

I love it, wonderful image! There is so much to see in the background. Agreed, the spikes are massive but I don't think that detracts from the impressive view (especially the full res version).
Thanks Mike for finding this :)

[strongmanmike]

Ah huh!! Fiiiiiinally.... an enlightened, visionary individual with no irrational deffraction spike phobia :P :lol: :thumbsup:

[Octane]

I finally got around to seeing the high resolution image.

So many background galaxies, some beautiful looking ones.

Certainly shows what a bit of aperture can pull in.

H

[strongmanmike]

And clearly some good seeing there it would appear?

Seeing, oh to have consitently good seeing :rolleyes: :sadeyes:

[shelltree]

:eyepop::eyepop: Full reso is amazing! Maybe I'll turn it into a Christmas card... :P