[jase (Jason)]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

Sure is tough at the top end of the imaging game, you know everyone is having a look with the fine toothed comb, but once again you have produced an image that is enjoyable to look at, i dont understand the fine details of the processing being a one shot color user, but the stars look good to me (not sure why you dont like them).

Cheers Clive. Yes, but as you indicate when you use top end gear, you expect top end results. My goal is to be limited by the equipment, not my own skill in processing - simple. I wasn't too happy with the way I managed the stars. I use two options to manage the stellar profiles, DDP and/or Curves. DDP is great providing you don't sharpen in the process. The preferred is to use curves. In this case I used curves only and didn't feel comfortable that I maintained their profile. I try ensure there is a radial gradient to them so color integration is soft. Doesn't always work that way. Thanks again for your comments.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

....amazing close up that! Very nice work with that lill'ol 24" Jase

That was a nice short exposure and probably fairly affordable huh? Can't you please tell use the cost of taking it? Pleeeease? Would be very useful info

Mike

Cheers Mike. Yes, I enjoy the balance of working on both wide and narrow fields. The Cocoon suits both. I really like the vista of a wide field short of the region with the dust sweeping its way star field to the Cocoon. The up close and personal rendition presented here provides an interesting insight in this fascinating target. Certainly the first object I've acquired that has emission, reflective and absorption characteristics. Kind of cool to process too.

This image was well under $500. While more data would bring out the reflection nebulosity and cut down noise, its a good indication that when you've got aperture and serious sensitivity on your side, you don't need mega data (at high cost) to produce a pleasing result...just careful processing and some noise control techniques.

Originally Posted by Babalyon 5

Great image and excellent processing. So, the average cost of the image is $400ish just for the 2.5 hrs? Wow!!

Thanks Babalyon. Pleased you liked it. I'm interested to know what people would expect to pay to access a 24" F/8 RC with premium CCD camera and dark skies to boot. When you put this cost into perspective. I've probably saved money instead of the fuel costs travelling to a dark sky site and food etc. Interesting perspective... Thanks again.

Originally Posted by rally

Thanks for the G2V reference info Jase,

I was hoping it was going to be easier than that !

I'll store that away for later use !

Cheers

Rally

G2V is easy Rally. I've provided instructions on how I achieve the task a few times on these forums before - click here. Its not a difficult process, no different to learning how to drift align, auto guide or taking flats. Once you've done it a few times, you'll laugh at yourself when you realise how simple it is.

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Thanks All.