I thought some of the objects I had imaged over the years presented more problems than others but this one takes the cake. This object for anyone who has never imaged it; this sucker is faint.
I have spent 5 or so sessions trying to capture data and now at 9.83 hours, just one 10 minute sub short of 10 hours, I have run short of time left for this season. If I am lucky I will pick up a few more subs early next lunar cycle (this new moon period is now going to be clouded out ), but I think I will need to wait until next apparition.
The image still has noise present and I have used about as much smoothing as I am comfortable with. What I like about this image is that there is lots of striations in the gas clouds. There are also a few small faint fuzzies to find in an around the clouds. If only I could collect another 10 hours soon.
Nice to see it finally posted, Paul. I've certainly seen you put the hours in over the last few months. Looking great but I'm interested in the colour balance. It usually appears a little more blue in images I've seen and yours seems to have more of a golden cast in the majority of stars and the nebula.
Mike, yep it is not a super fast scope, so you have me there despite the massive aperture difference.
Graeme. It looks more grey to me, but lots of images have a distinct blue to the entire image. I had the image looking like that but the blue cast did not look right. I welcome any thoughts about what is should look like. Rigel is close by and must illuminate it, it should be blue but maybe its not. It is classified as reflection. The star colours are there for sure I just saturated it that way. Interesting thoughts.
Mike, yep it is not a super fast scope, so you have me there despite the massive aperture difference.
Mate, you have a PME for munyi sake, using just a puny 4" APO on it is crazzzzy
Actually given your shorter FL but smaller chip you and I have a similar field of view to work with...I just get more and faster ...comon, you know you want too....
Mate, you have a PME for munyi sake, using just a puny 4" APO on it is crazzzzy
Actually given your shorter FL but smaller chip you and I have a similar field of view to work with...I just get more and faster ...comon, you know you want too....
Hey your gear is great, all good fun
Mike
I am with you. A mate some time ago asked me when I was going to remove the straw off the mount and put a real scope on it. I now have both "the straw" and the RC12 on the mount. I take turns on using each. It is high time I used the RC12 though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rigel003
Some discussion of the colour in the APOD description here.
Point taken and I have altered the blue channel a little more to get the colour a bit closer.
Nice image Paul. Better since you added a bit more blue but I can't help feeling just a bit more would be nice . Agree it shouldn't be awash with blue though - it should be subtle.
), but I think I will need to wait until next apparition.
...man, you just need a bigger faster scope 
I have the speed covered at f5.6 but I am severely hampered by only have 4" of aperture. I could go an 8" I suppose????
get real F3.8...now that's fast 
