First Rosette of the season?

[RickS]

I'm sure it won't be the last :lol:

Imaged from Glen Aplin over two nights last new moon. Not as much data as I would have liked since it is still rising late. LRGB only. I didn't want to waste dark sky on narrowband. I will try to get some Ha and OIII from home.

Mount: Astro-Physics AP900
Scope: Tak FSQ-106ED
Camera: Sbig STL11K, Astrodon Gen 2 filters
Guiding: Tak FS-60C and Lodestar
Focuser: Atlas
Exposures: 18x300s Lum, 6x300s each R, G & B + some 30s subs
Processing: PixInsight

The small attached version suffers badly from compression artifacts. Larger version (with suggested improvements to contrast) here: http://rickstevenson.smugmug.com/Astro-Photography/2012-10/i-FMTKd39/0/X3/Rosettefinalv2cropmed-X3.jpg

Creative criticism welcomed as always. Thanks...

Cheers,
Rick.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

What a ripper Rick!!

The large version is stunning and vibrant.

Question, will O3 get you much more?

Cheers,

Justin.

[Larryp]

That's a great image!

[jjjnettie]

Stunning!!

[TrevorW]

Very well done

[naskies]

Beautiful! :)

The background seems bright, i.e. it looks there's plenty of room for boosting contrast. Was this an intentional creative choice on your part?

[ozstronomer]

Lovely work Rick, plenty of colour in the stars. Love those Glen Aplin skies :)

[Stevec35]

Very nice image Rick. My only adverse comment would be that it looks slightly flat. Tuning the contrast would make it even better I think.

Cheers

Steve

[Ross G]

A great looking photo Rick.

Love the colours and detail.

Your telescope gives a great FOV.


Ross.

[RickS]

Thanks, Justin. I have seen some nice Rosette images with both Ha and OIII blended so I assume it is worth trying!



Thanks, Laurie!



Thanks, JJJ!



Thanks also, Trevor!



Thanks, Dave. I did try a quick S curve and wasn't that fussed on the result but perhaps I'll experiment a bit more.



Thanks, Geoff. Yep, some nice skies down there. It was pretty frosty too!



Thanks for the suggestion, Steve. I'll give it a try.



Thanks, Ross. It's a great FOV for big game! Not much use for galaxies though, apart from M31 and the Magellanic Clouds.

[alpal]

That's looking great Rick,
I think you could get even more out of that data with a bit more processing.
I would play with contrast ( in curves ) & selective sharpening. :)

[atalas]

Very nice Rick.

[gregbradley]

Great image Rick. FSQ/ST11 is a match made in heaven.
One point though is the image seems a tad washed out, a bit of lack of contrast. Perhaps a bit of light pollution? Are you able to try out a bit more contrast or levels/curves not so pushed? Adding Ha will help, in fact your neb areas are quite saturated for LRGB only.

Greg.

[multiweb]

Great capture Rick. Very deep shot. :thumbsup:

[David Fitz-Henr]

That's a great image Rick! Probably as per other comments a tad more contrast would make it even more stunning!

[RickS]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Updated version with higher contrast is here: http://rickstevenson.smugmug.com/Astro-Photography/2012-10/i-FMTKd39/0/X3/Rosettefinalv2cropmed-X3.jpg



Thanks Allan. Hope you like the new version.



Thanks, Louie!



Thanks, Greg. I thought it looked OK at the time but increasing the contrast has made a big improvement.



Thanks, Marc!



Thanks, David!

[Stevec35]

Much better! Now looks superb.

Steve

[adman]

That new version is the business rick! Just spectacular!

Adam

[strongmanmike]

Great start to the 2012/13 Rosette show Rick :clap:

Solid result :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Yeah there it is. Superb.

I personally wouldn't add Ha to it - it'll only spoil your lovely neb colours and stars. Its perfect as-is. Nice magenta H beta areas, nice reddish pink Ha colour yet beautiful star colours and a nice dark background.

Ha Rosettes are usually way too red and most unattractive as a result.

I am still surprised you got so much of the Ha colours without shooting Ha. Must've been nice dark skies. You've got a good rock n roll setup now. Its all working beautifully - don't change anything! Lock it all down. Its easy to change something now and it gets worse.

Greg.

[naskies]

Yep, the contrast boost did the trick! I think this may well one of the best renditions of the Rosette that I've seen on IIS :thumbsup:

[bartman]

Wicked Rick!!!!!
Gonna try this season to capture myself....
Thanks
Bartman

[Paul Haese]

Very nice image Rick. I would continue with the Ha and OIII collection. I am planning on doing this myself this year to add to what I did last year. Mikes image from last year had narrow band gave a new look to the object. I would use that as a reference image.

[Rigel003]

Have to add my accolades. What a stunning image! Congratulations Rick.

[RickS]

Thanks for the suggestion, Steve!



Thank you, Adam.



Thanks, Mike. Will have to give it a go with the AG12 some time too.



Thanks, Greg! Locking things down will be difficult. I have a new camera that I'm itching to try ;) I bought the Apogee U16M with D09 body that was listed here a couple of months back. It's back in California hopefully having a sensor transplant...



Thanks, Dave.



Good luck with it, Bart.



Thanks, Paul. I've seen a few very nice Rosette narrowband/RGB images including Mike's and I'm keen to have a try. I'm sure I'll learn a few things on the way even if I don't get a better result than this one.



Thanks, Graeme!

[iceman]

Wonderful image - the newest version is great.
You should update the image in the first post too.

[RickS]

Thanks, Mike. I have updated the attached image in the first post.

[issdaol]

:eyepop: Brilliant !!. Images like this really inspire people to get into AP

[RickS]

Thanks, Phil!