Omega Centaurus (NGC 5139)

[RobF]

This was a quickie while I waited for M17 to drift into my sights tonight.
LRGB unbinned (L=7x200s, R=3x180s, G=3x200s, B=3x220s) for a total of about 53 mins data.

I'm embarassed to say I set it up to run without turning on cooling, noise is at 11 degrees, not usual -25 :doh:

Still, leaves earlier attempts in years gone by with the 450 in the dust. Only stretches and colour saturation and a bit of shadows/highlights in PS at the end. Haven't bothered trying to sharpen or use the 100sec L subs I took. Pretty happy how its been guiding tonight too.

Bit bigger version available here (https://picasaweb.google.com/UserRobF/RecentWork#5622139713252380386)
Sure beats gazing at this one wistfully for a long periods in the old Tasco 4.5" reflector too, trying to figure just how far in I could resolve :)

[ozstronomer]

Rob

That looks great, well done!The stars look sharp and with the shorter subs the centre core is nicely defined and not blown out. Maybe the background would be less noisy with the temp down to normal but I would be happy with that one :thumbsup:

[RobF]

Thanks Jeff, I'd been meaning to get back to this one for ages. Bit shabby, but they can't all be marathons.
The clouds have come back in over Bris that last hour or so. Are you imaging up in the mountains tonight?

[jjjnettie]

I reckon those highlights could be toned down a wee bit. But otherwise it's a lovely capture.

[gregbradley]

Thats as good as the recent NASA APOD of the same object.

Greg.

[Aris Greece]

Stuning Image!

[peter_4059]

Rob,

Despite forgetting the cooling that is a really nice shot. The stars are resolved right into the core and great colours. You guiding looks great (wish I could say the same for mine last night!).

Peter

[RobF]

I did try a little bit of half hearted reduction of dynamic range in the centre JJJ, but it just seemed a bit unnatural. I might try a repro some time, perhaps even a tad of masked sharpening or deconvolution or something.



Hmmm - wasn't aware of those Greg - not sure I can challenge the latest June one, but its interesting sometimes when you accidentally call up old ones from years ago and think "I just about might be able to match that". Always easy to be original with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight mind you ;)



Cheers Aris - thanks for that. A wonderful sight if you ever get "down under".



Thanks Peter - these things sometimes look better on the monitor in the daylight with some of the nasties hidden by all the ambient light too I find...:D
I thought in the end it gives a bit of a hint of a realistic sky background too rather than a fake processed look.
I wish the mount could talk sometimes and tell me when its happy (or maybe some well placed super duper weight sensors). I suspect it comes down to minute balance shifts a lot of the time and ultimately the direction you have it all pointed anyway. Guess we'll have to live with it until lotto comes in though....:lol:

Brendan keeps telling me how nice OAG'ing is on stars, but I'm addicted to the convenience of an "eFinder" now and the potential price of OAG'ers and all the adaptors (even if they did all fit in the light train) is frightening.

[multiweb]

Great shot Rob. Very well resolved. :thumbsup:

[RobF]

Thank you Sir! :cheers:

[Ross G]

Loooks great Rob.

The stars are so sharp.

Ross.