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strongmanmike
06-03-2012, 11:47 PM
I decided to redo the data.... :driving:

Anyway, my RGB data was just 2min exposures so I went through them and picked out the best ones, I hadn't thought of doing this initially. The red particularly was taken higher in the sky and several of these subs were indeed sharper than the others but hardly a hint of the homunculus even with heavy DDP :sadeyes:. The Eureka moment was realising I had also taken a few 20 sec Ha framing subs before starting on the longer subs and I had actually saved them by mistake :eyepop: So after combining all 5 of them :rolleyes:, upsizing then ddp and sharpening I could see hints of the little man in what was the glare of Eta - what a stroke of luck:clap:.

I then went through all the the 5min Ha and OIII subs and removed the worst ones, recombining just the best ones produced a slight improvement too.

Because of the greater image density and given the reduced data, I worked mostly on the central 2/3 of the FOV and more heavily on keyhole vicinity.

No amount of careful processing replaces good seeing which I didn't have :rolleyes:... but doing all this has helped a bit and the biggest improvements were achieved in the bright areas, the actual Keyhole itself and of course hello Homunculus...he's hard to see but he's there :hi:

Central area at 100% res (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/141738547/original)

Close up of the Keyhole and Eta Carina (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/141823459/original) complete with faint homunculous:

All combined into the full frame image HERE (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/141738539/original)

Until I get some good seeing, that might do for this set I think.....:question: :P

Mike

ballaratdragons
06-03-2012, 11:58 PM
FWOAHHH!

Niiiiiice fine detail in the final image and the colours are spectacular :clap:

jjjnettie
07-03-2012, 01:03 AM
:) Beautiful Mike.

Rodstar
07-03-2012, 06:02 AM
One or two stars in there..... and I love the contrasting light and darkness. Thanks Mike - stupendous work.

gregbradley
07-03-2012, 07:39 AM
Awesome Mike.

Greg.

Stevec35
07-03-2012, 07:46 AM
Very nice Mike. You really nailed it this time.

Cheers

Steve

SkyViking
07-03-2012, 08:51 AM
Beautiful, nice to see it all together like this, with the Homunculus and all. Great work as usual mike.

strongmanmike
07-03-2012, 09:14 AM
Thanks for looking guys, another repro I know :rolleyes: (give that man a New - not)...so I appreciate the feedback :thumbsup:

Mike

allan gould
07-03-2012, 09:23 AM
We'll done Mike. You surely are pushing all the boundaries at the moment and I wonder when IIS is going to create a new playground for you guys with your top of the line scopes and abilities.
Well done as usual.

h0ughy
07-03-2012, 01:10 PM
bugger i am at work and cant see this - site is on the naughty list for some reason. cant put up a teaser in this mike can you?

ballaratdragons
07-03-2012, 02:37 PM
Here you go David, a bit of a teaser from Mikes image, a crop of the Fickle Finger of Fate to show the stunning detail :thumbsup:

strongmanmike
07-03-2012, 05:05 PM
Glad you found it worth looking at...repros can become a little oooo-kaaay :rolleyes: :lol:



Cheers Ken

The AG12 data is pretty good but the seeing was just not on my side, this was taken in much better seeing with my Starfire, the Fickle Finger and Homunculus (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/132090922/original) are much more pronounced in this image, heck there is detail INSIDE the Homunculus and the outer ejecta is visible too :eyepop: - good seeing is sooo important for high res work and not just for planetary imagers :thumbsup:

Mike

Lester
07-03-2012, 06:40 PM
Outstanding view Mike. You must be a Very patient man.

All the best.

strongmanmike
07-03-2012, 08:15 PM
Patient, how so?

...a little mad?...probably? :nerd:

Mike

Lester
07-03-2012, 09:06 PM
IMO patient, as to the lack of new images you have got from your new set-up. All the best.

h0ughy
07-03-2012, 09:17 PM
thanks for the emails Mike. they were a sight to behold

strongmanmike
07-03-2012, 09:37 PM
Actually, I have two for this year...if you count the two very different Rosettes then I have three :D or if you count all teh different crops etc it's quite afew :lol:.. so, so far so good :thumbsup:

Mike

strongmanmike
07-03-2012, 09:38 PM
Glad you liked them Houghy :thumbsup:

Mike

Ross G
08-03-2012, 09:31 PM
An amazing looking photo Mike.

You have a talent far beyond mere scopes, mounts and cameras.

It's a pleasure to view your creations.



Thanks.

Ross.

strongmanmike
09-03-2012, 07:20 AM
Hey thanks Ross :)...I try, my repro's may cause some eyes to roll at times :lol: but meeah all good fun :thumbsup:

Mike

marc4darkskies
09-03-2012, 07:56 AM
I'm not going to say whether I rolled my eyes ;) ... but it's a very cool image Mike! :thumbsup: Eta is so full of features and detail there may be other areas that would benefit from some special treatment too. Whadayathink?

strongmanmike
09-03-2012, 08:03 AM
I don't imagine you rolled your eyes...I recon you probably rather bellowed with laughter :lol:

You are right about other areas being worthy of some special treatment but given the keyhole area is so bright it lends itself the best to hard but careful treatment (I guess that's stating the obvious :question:) plus its fame makes it more relevant I guess and easier for comparitive purposes.

The Gabriel Mistrel (?) neb area woudl be a good bit to hammer but it's out of my field.

Mike

atalas
15-03-2012, 06:20 PM
Wow!that's just plain excellent Michael.

alpal
15-03-2012, 08:04 PM
That's perfect - one of the best I've seen.

strongmanmike
15-03-2012, 08:20 PM
Well there's been a few good Eta's lately (and I think another one or two to come yet ;)). In this age of amazing equipment and processing skill, mundane objects can take on a new umph, so it is the viewer who wins in the end :thumbsup:

Mike

alpal
15-03-2012, 08:51 PM
Mike,


Eta Carinae is not mundane to me.
It's the biggest, brightest & best nebula that amateurs can image.
I love the way you've dug out that colour detail especially
in the key hole nebula.
That pic has to framed & put on your wall!

stardust steve
15-03-2012, 10:11 PM
glad i was sitting down when i saw this:thumbsup:
Spectacular!

Stevec35
15-03-2012, 10:19 PM
Great stuff Mike. I'm sure my colour FSQ version which I'm now preparing will pale into absolute insignificance beside it.

Cheers

Steve

strongmanmike
15-03-2012, 10:33 PM
Cheers Steve's :thumbsup: and Steve C stop foxing ;)



I agree with you, when imaged carefully it is quite an interesting and intricate nebula

Might do that Allan :question: thanks

Mike