M20, more detail, different colour.

Bassnut (Fred) · #1 04-09-2013, 06:47 PM

Hi All.

M20 Nebula in Colour mapped Narrowband. (click for big)
Taken on an RCOS 10" RC Scope at f9, SBIG STXL6303E Camera and PME mount at itelescopes Siding Spring Observatory.
13hrs of 3nm Ha, 40 min subs bin1, 4 hrs , 20min each of 3 nm SII and OIII 20min subs bin2.
Processed with CCDstack, Star Tools and Photoshop.

Ive had a go before, but I got way more detail this time, and left the colour a bit more subdued. The odd hue works I think.

Ive left the background up a bit, theres a bit of extended dust cloud there thats oft clipped.

Star tools, now that ive fiddled for a while with it, has proved very handy with its noise tracking feature , makes finishing in PS a pleasure without worrying about noise or loosing detail.

Dark Skys rock too

RickS (Rick) · #2 04-09-2013, 09:14 PM

Nice detail and an interesting new look, Fred!

strongmanmike (Michael) · #3 05-09-2013, 09:43 AM

That's alright Fred huh? Some nice details showing thorough

... although if I am honest, the processing seems to have given it a slightly pasty paint by numbers look and I have never thought The Trifid lends itself well to narrowband, it looks much better in RGB type colours IMO. A great Vanderhaven effort none the less of course, well done

Mike

Bassnut (Fred) · #4 05-09-2013, 10:49 AM

Thanks Rick, Mike

Yes damb it, I think your right. I have never found it an "attractive" object in NB (compared to others), a bit raggady.

No matter what I do, it has that paint by numbers look, there are slabs of smooth areas in seperate features that do that.

jase (Jason) · #5 05-09-2013, 11:02 AM

Awesome, Fred! Indeed more detail. I think you may have baked this one a touch too long, but hey you're cooking, not me. Doesn't have a crisp or snap-focus feel to it. Perhaps tone back the smoothing a notch. Despite the feedback of others, I enjoyed the colour palette presented, especially the area around 3 to 4 o'clock where the OIII overlaps the distant SII presenting a depth of field perspective. Not often seen in traditional RGB images. The dark rift though the nebula if sharper would emphasise the depth further giving the appearance of being closer to the viewer.

h0ughy (David) · #6 05-09-2013, 12:30 PM

I like it - complete with stars, yeah it seems over cooked or really the icing is a tad thick

it shows me what is possible, plausable and potentially horrible if left for too long on simmer. either way its way over my pay grade

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #7 05-09-2013, 12:44 PM

I agree with the above comment.
It's a cracker of an image though. Really really nice.

IanP · #8 05-09-2013, 01:40 PM

Well, it’s an interesting and nice image, but I prefer the RGBs.
The narrow-bands are like looking at the universe with a bee-like view..see example below..

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #9 05-09-2013, 01:43 PM

I can't see the higher res at work (smugmug is blocked as is PBase

) but notwithstanding other comments, there's no denying the detail, beauty and sheer impact of that image! Nice one!

Cheers, Marcus

Bassnut (Fred) · #10 05-09-2013, 04:54 PM

Thanks Guys

mm, over cooked, could that be due Guiness inflicted processing

So, too saturated, contrasty,smooth or just everything is over cooked ?

h0ughy (David) · #11 05-09-2013, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Thanks Guys

mm, over cooked, could that be due Guiness inflicted processing

So, too saturated, contrasty,smooth or just everything is over cooked ?

try less salt, some less sugar and no added flavours and see what you get

multiweb (Marc) · #12 05-09-2013, 06:19 PM

Great image scale. I like it. It's in your face.

Little plasticish in parts but awesome details coming through still.

gregbradley · #13 05-09-2013, 06:40 PM

Great detail Fred. You've got a nice setup here.

Greg.

naskies (Dave) · #14 05-09-2013, 07:02 PM

Hi Fred, I really like this

Lots of interesting detail in the nebulosity.

RobF (Rob) · #15 05-09-2013, 08:41 PM

I like it too, I think, definitely, I think.
What are all those white things sprinkled around the outside though

Shiraz (Ray) · #16 06-09-2013, 06:42 PM

that is an interesting new perspective Fred - quite a different way of looking at it - fine detail is exceptional. regards ray

SkyViking (Rolf) · #17 06-09-2013, 09:55 PM

I like it Fred, great details all around. I'd agree though the NB colour palette is not ideal for the Trifid for some reason, don't really know why. Perhaps because it just packs so much punch in RGB that anything else seems to have less impact?
Interestingly, I tried the Trifid in IR recently but was disappointed with the resulting colours - maybe it just wants to be imaged in RGB