The power of modern imaging

[strongmanmike]

Having cut my teeth in the dark ages of B&W film and manual guiding, the quality of data collected these days and the resulting images composed from this data never ceases to amaze me.

To this end I've put together a few Hubble, VLT and other large telescope comparisons with my images over the last couple of years, so I decided to put them all in to an album of their own. The exercise is useful not only to demonstrate the power of modern imaging techniques but mainly to be able to identify fine structures and details in my data that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Some of you may find the collection worth a look and I'd be interested in hearing which you like best :)

You can find them HERE (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/hubble_comparisons)

NB: by scrolling to the bottom of an image page and selecting original from the other sizes menu you will be able to view the largest version of each image.

ED: Just added one at the end of the list...for Houghy

Hope you enjoy'em :thumbsup:

Mike

[[1ponders]]

Sorry Mike but which ones are yours and which ones are Hubbles??? :shrug:



;)

:thumbsup:
Awesome.

[rogerg]

That's a very nice collection of comparisons to have to call your own Mike :) My favorite is Fornax A.

[dugnsuz]

Hi Mike - I think your NGC1365 image v's the 8m VLT illustrates the point of your thread very well - while not as 'tight', your image shows up heaps of Ha regions in the arms - amazing.
Doug

[glenc]

Mike I like your Helix nebula best, but they are all impressive.

[tlgerdes]

Imagine what you could do if you could launch your Starfire into space.:thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Yeh the VLT still looks through our atmosphere of course but I'd love to see the original VLT raw image though, it would be a duzzi :eyepop:

[h0ughy]

I didnt realise that you knocked up this many references Mike? probably you could mock up a starfire side by side the opposition telescope ;)

[multiweb]

you've :whistle:got :whistle: the :whistle: power!:whistle: :thumbsup:

[Hagar]

Nice comparisons Mike, I'm sorry Mr hubble.

[John Hothersall]

Fascinating comparison I am viewing whilst the wind howls outside. Like the Bok Spots the best also the Horsehead too, with the HiRes Hubble the stars aint that much smaller than yours in the HH image!

John.

[Bassnut]

most entertaining and interesting comparisons Mike. With the beer goggles on, im blowed if I can tell the difference in the pairs :thumbsup:.

[Alchemy]

Some mighty fine work there mr sidonio, brings back a few memories of work you've presented, I've always had a soft spot for m16 and the towers, although it's probably not the best piece there, the helix was an eye-grabber somewhat hard to go past, ...... Lots of good stuff there.

Hard work when you have to go on an expedition for each image.

[strongmanmike]

Glad you enjoyed the various views guys, I am sure more will come in due course.

Hard for me to pick a favourite too.. but at a pinch, I find it hard to go past the Up Yours Nebula, it was this effort that started the ball rolling with these comparisons, until this I didn't realise just how much detail my kit could reveal.

I have added one more timely comparison...just for Houghy :P :thumbsup:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/131269197/original

Cheers guys

Mike

[Bassnut]

And they look about the same size too, and the 1st is more firmly mounted IMO.

[strongmanmike]

Kinda both look a bit lonely though....:sadeyes:

[Bassnut]

This one isnt :D. You should get that pokey guide scope mounted properly Mike :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

:lol:....ah yes, those were the days......

[h0ughy]

classic, love your work mike

[scopemankit]

Brilliant work Mike,

Would you allow me to include some of these comparisons in my outreach lectures from the Cederberg observatory? The telescopes would naturally be one of the comparisons.

If you agree, May I have your surname and the location of your telescope.

Thank you
Chris