Helix Nebula in lurid narrowband

[RickS (Rick)]

Here's the Helix, NGC 7293, in Ha/OIII bi-colour with RGB stars. The narrowband data was collected from home over several nights in August and September, and the RGB is from Glen Aplin on 6-7 September. Total data was 43 hours narrowband and 5 hours LRGB.

If you're a fan of traditional or muted colour schemes.... sorry

Scope: Ceravolo C300 @ f/9 = 2760mm FL, Atlas focuser
Mount: AP900
Camera: U16M
Filters: Astrodon E series Gen 2 LRGB
Guiding: Lodestar / MMOAG
Image scale: 0.67 arcsec/pixel
Exposures: 43x1800s Ha, 43x1800s O3, 5x900s R/G/B, 8x600s Lum (43 hours NB, 5 hours LRGB)

Processed to death in PixInsight using a bunch of new techniques developed on the fly.

Hope you find it interesting even if it's not to your taste...

High res version is available here: http://www.astrobin.com/68705/

Cheers,
Rick.

[Paul Haese]

Beautiful detail Rick, the cometary stuff is superbly sharp and processed.

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Originally Posted by RickS

Here's the Helix, NGC 7293, in Ha/OIII bi-colour with RGB stars. The narrowband data was collected from home over several nights in August and September, and the RGB is from Glen Aplin on 6-7 September. Total data was 43 hours narrowband and 5 hours LRGB.

If you're a fan of traditional or muted colour schemes.... sorry

Scope: Ceravolo C300 @ f/9 = 2760mm FL, Atlas focuser
Mount: AP900
Camera: U16M
Filters: Astrodon E series Gen 2 LRGB
Guiding: Lodestar / MMOAG
Image scale: 0.67 arcsec/pixel
Exposures: 43x1800s Ha, 43x1800s O3, 5x900s R/G/B, 8x600s Lum (43 hours NB, 5 hours LRGB)

Processed to death in PixInsight using a bunch of new techniques developed on the fly.

Hope you find it interesting even if it's not to your taste...

High res version is available here: http://www.astrobin.com/68705/

Cheers,
Rick.

Wow...what a result

[RickS (Rick)]

Thanks, Paul! I regret not starting this project with my 5nm Ha filter. I used a 3nm which doesn't pick up NII and the Helix is rich in this. I would have got a quicker result, or perhaps just a lot more data. Still, I'm happy with the result.

[RickS (Rick)]

Thanks, Hans!

[gregbradley]

That's a stunner Rick. Sets a very high standard indeed.

Greg.

[h0ughy (David)]

so this started life at astrofest? detail is amazing - very retro 80's eh , does it change colour when you touch it

brilliant Rick

[allan gould]

Magnificent image Rick with a total range of colour and detail.
Allan

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

That's a stunner Rick. Sets a very high standard indeed.

Greg.

Thanks, Greg!

Originally Posted by h0ughy

so this started life at astrofest? detail is amazing - very retro 80's eh , does it change colour when you touch it

brilliant Rick

Thank you, H0ughy The colour choice is loosely based on a Hubble image, but I reckon it's more of a 60's bad trip palette. Here's the original: http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/pr2004032d/

Originally Posted by allan gould

Magnificent image Rick with a total range of colour and detail.
Allan

Thanks very much, Allan.

[Stevec35 (Steve)]

Terrific image Rick! I think it's the best NB helix I've ever seen.

Cheers

Steve

[Leonardo70 (Leonardo Orazi)]

Wonderful result...congrats.

All the best,
Leo

[Davide_Coverta]

Absolutely amazing image!
Great details!

[John Hothersall]

I have been waiting for this since you mentioned it back in August, the outer material you have captured is superb. The cometary detail is so sharp inside the blue central soup. Amazing dedicated capture at that FL has produced a top result.

John.

[alexandre (Alexandre)]

Very nice Rick !!

[Alchemy (Clive)]

Amazing result with stunning detail in all aspects.

It's nice to see that you've produced these results using an F9 system, to me the trend seems to have gone away to the super fast scopes, and clearly this kind of image proves beyond doubt you don't have to go down that path to get exceptional results.

[Spookyer (Brett)]

Rick, looks very real to me, great details. I was looking at it waiting for it to blink at me It very much reminds me of an eye looking out on the universe.

Brett

[DJT (David)]

Fantastic Helix, Rick.

[Rigel003 (Graeme)]

Very sharp detail and beautifully processed. Lovely image!

[Ross G]

A beautiful photo Rick.

So sharp and the detail is amazing.

I have to agree, one of the best photos I have seen of this object.

Ross.

[WingnutR32 (Sam)]

Seriously stunning detail. Nice work, Rick.