Finally a new image from me. It has been largely cloudy since I finished my marathon on Centaurus A, but I have enjoyed the odd clear night every now and then so here is a quickie (just over 10 hours ) of a lovely little corner in Sagittarius. This image was largely processed in PixInsight.
About the image:
This image shows a rarely imaged area of complex nebulousity in Sagittarius, north of the more familiar M8/M20 region. The view is packed with a number of emission nebulae and intricate patterns of obscuring dust as well as two bright blue reflection nebulae at the top, known as vdB118 and vdB119, or NGC 6589 and NGC 6590 respectively. The bright blue stars that light up these reflection nebulae are members of NGC 6595 (Sharpless 37) which is a loose open cluster of stars lying at a distance of about 5,900 light years.
The bright magenta nebula in the centre is IC 1283, and the somewhat fainter extension toward the bottom left is known separately as IC 1284. Visible to the left are some of the outermost extensions of nearby Messier 24, The Sagittarius Star Cloud, enveloped in the soft diffuse reddish glow of ionised Hydrogen.
The entire scene appears particularly colourful due to the nebulae overlaying and obscuring each other to various degrees, all while embedded in the densely packed star fields that dominate views towards the Milky Way centre.
Image details:
Date: 28th and 29th June, 1st and 4th July 2013
Exposure: LRGB: 410:70:65:65mins, total 10hrs 10mins @ -30C
Telescope: 10" Serrurier Truss Newtonian f/5
Camera: QSI 683wsg with Lodestar guider
Filters: Astrodon LRGB E-Series Gen 2
Taken from my observatory in Auckland, New Zealand
Hope you like it, and comments/critique is of course welcome as always.
Such a majestic area of the sky. You've captured and portrayed it very well, Rolf. There aren't too many images of this celestial scene which is rather surprising. The complex mix of emission and reflection nebulosity really make it a visual feast.
I enjoyed your composition with the fainter extensions of reflection nebulosity being present. Equally, the twists of dark nebulosity running through the image add a nice dimension. The golden stars mixed with the pink nebulae make for an eye catching image.
Target framing is superior to my rendition taken a couple of years ago. Having seen your rendition, I think I would have planned the scene differently to what I did back then. I really struggled processing this scene myself. Granted, the image I collaboratively produced was an eight panel mosaic at 4760mm FL (20" Keller Classical Cassegrain) so it came with its own set of challenges!
Oh my, well I have to say with great aplomb that this sir is a magically majestic scene, I quite simply salivate over the pinks, oh and the exquisite rivulets of dusty matter permeating the cosmic gases are utterly sublime.... err? nice image?
Great work Rolf, the stars look a little wonky but apart from that, overall it's one of the better looking versions of this area I have seen Funnily enough my version of this area (taken way back in 05) appears in the latest issue (August) of US Astronomy mag...if you have the issue I challenge you to find it though still got my $26 and two copies of the mag though
Great image, intresting subject and beautiful composition
Thank you Elio, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jase
Such a majestic area of the sky. You've captured and portrayed it very well, Rolf. There aren't too many images of this celestial scene which is rather surprising. The complex mix of emission and reflection nebulosity really make it a visual feast.
I enjoyed your composition with the fainter extensions of reflection nebulosity being present. Equally, the twists of dark nebulosity running through the image add a nice dimension. The golden stars mixed with the pink nebulae make for an eye catching image.
Target framing is superior to my rendition taken a couple of years ago. Having seen your rendition, I think I would have planned the scene differently to what I did back then. I really struggled processing this scene myself. Granted, the image I collaboratively produced was an eight panel mosaic at 4760mm FL (20" Keller Classical Cassegrain) so it came with its own set of challenges!
Well done! More please...
Thanks very much for your kind words Jase. I did consider the composition quite a bit and actually only discovered the dark filaments after playing around a bit, so in the end I decided to shift the bright nebulae towards the upper right in order to also include these interesting features. Worked well I think
I had a look at your version now, it's really awesome and the resolution is impressive!
I did struggle a bit with the RGB data for this one since there are so many hues in there and it turns out the entire area is more or less permeated by a diffuse emission glow which gives a delicate warm touch throughout.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rustigsmed
Awesome stuff Rolf,
I've been hanging to see how much exposure you were looking to put into your next project! 10 hours must have felt quick haha.
I don't recall having seen this part of the sky at this scale, thanks for sharing, so many interesting things going on up there!
Cheers,
Rusty
Thanks Rusty Yeah I didn't quite feel ready for another 100+ hours. I also didn't have that many clear nights lately.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larryp
Lovely image, Rolf
Thank you Larry
Quote:
Originally Posted by multiweb
Superb work Rolf. The original is stunning. I'll echo Jase's comments. The reflection bits are not unlike the blue streams in the pleiades.
Thanks very much Marc, yes I thought of the Pleiades as well when I saw that. It's a fascinating piece of sky really.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Oh my, well I have to say with great aplomb that this sir is a magically majestic scene, I quite simply salivate over the pinks, oh and the exquisite rivulets of dusty matter permeating the cosmic gases are utterly sublime.... err? nice image?
Great work Rolf, the stars look a little wonky but apart from that, overall it's one of the better looking versions of this area I have seen Funnily enough my version of this area (taken way back in 05) appears in the latest issue (August) of US Astronomy mag...if you have the issue I challenge you to find it though still got my $26 and two copies of the mag though
Mike
Oh Mike, I should have known better than to subject you to such a visual feast without prior warning, please do accept my humble apologies
Nah glad you liked it! I know about the stars, it's mostly guiding related. Rest assured I'll give my G11 a well deserved tune-up once the 12.5" gets into action
Quote:
Originally Posted by tilbrook@rbe.ne
Superb work Rolf!!
Great write up too!
Cheers,
Justin.
Thank you Justin!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ross G
Great looking capture Rolf.
A new object for me.
The colours and detail are amazing.
Nice composition as well.
Ross.
Thanks Ross, this one was new to me as well. It's always nice to come across some little gems like that to add to one's repertoire.
Almost missed this one Rolf, a very beautiful image of this part of the sky, in my wishing list too. Color balance is very nice and love the details you got
Thank you Roger, yeah I was pleased with how the colours came out in this one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by prokyon
Great work, a real stunner!
Thanks Werner, I'm glad you enjoyed it
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickS
Really nice, Rolf. The colours are fantastic and there's so much going on.
Thanks Rick, it sure is a busy field. I'm surprised there aren't many images of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by marc4darkskies
That's a stunning image Rolf! Gorgeous! The composition is spot on and the colours are rich and natural looking.
Cheers, Marcus
Thanks very much Marcus, it's certainly a photogenic area in itself and I also think my processing has improved after I switched to PixInsight
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Haese
Very cool colours. So much cool detail. Nice work Rolf.
Thank you Paul, it was great fun cruising around this area, planning a shot and settling on this scene. There are so many relatively unexplored objects out there, just like your Wolf
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobF
Really enjoyed this one Rolf. Pleasing composition and colours. Just feels "right". Top stuff.
Thank you Rob, as mentioned earlier I did spend some time on the composition for this one, and I'm glad I did
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leonardo70
Very nice image ...
All the best,
Leo
Thanks Leo
Quote:
Originally Posted by marco
Almost missed this one Rolf, a very beautiful image of this part of the sky, in my wishing list too. Color balance is very nice and love the details you got
Marco
Thanks a lot Marco, I would love to see your version of this area!
IC1283 and vdB118/vdB119
) of a lovely little corner in Sagittarius. This image was largely processed in PixInsight.
err? nice image? 
but apart from that, overall it's one of the better looking versions of this area I have seen 
still got my $26 and two copies of the mag though 
