The Horsehead Region - in Technicolour (Sidonio'd) (again)

strongmanmike (Michael) · #1 14-12-2010, 12:15 AM

ED: Just reprosessed to fix a few shortcomings missed while processing at midnight with conjunctiveitis (no joke)

Well it's nearly 6 years since I last imaged this popular sucker and the first time I have done the traditional Horsehead-Flame-Alnitak group framing.

Once an image opens, it's a good idea to hit F11 on your keyboard for Full Screen mode too

Traditional rectangular framing 40% full res

The Horsehead only 70% full res

The Flame Nebula 80% full res

The whole Full Frame 40% full res

Super close up on the Horse 200% full res

Interestingly, I did no work on Alnitak at all, this is how it came together in the LHaRGB combine, so I am quite happy with the degree of halo/flaring from this bright sucker.

Mike

jase (Jason) · #2 14-12-2010, 01:37 AM

Excellent work Mike. Love the detail the Ha data has extracted. A suggestion on the full frame, a blue cast is reducing the vibrannce of the Ha reds from coming through along with muting the stars. Raise the black point on the blue channel. The image will then have a slight green tint, so drop the green slightly using curves (not levels). See what you reckon. All other aspects top class.

Cheers

strongmanmike (Michael) · #3 14-12-2010, 01:43 AM

Cheers Jase

I'll try tomorrow...I'm going to bed now

(it's 1.45am!)

Processing in the middle of the night (with the onset of conjunctiveitis - doh) is always dangerous, I 'll see what (mess) it looks like in the moring

Mike

jase (Jason) · #4 14-12-2010, 01:51 AM

Wouldn't say its a mess Mike! This is a difficult region to do right, especially with colours and star glare to contend with. You've done well. Am sure you'll come up with your Sidonio repro special in no time. Certainly helps to process with fresh eyes. I tend to leave an image for a day or two and come back to it. Thats the fun of processing!

Alchemy (Clive) · #5 14-12-2010, 06:01 AM

I think it's come up well, every image of this area has trouble with altinak, most have much more flaring than this, so the optics camera combo works a treat.

multiweb (Marc) · #6 14-12-2010, 07:05 AM

Very cool shot. Sharp as. Love the details.

iceman (Mike) · #7 14-12-2010, 07:09 AM

That's rather stunning! Beautiful work Mike.

h0ughy (David) · #8 14-12-2010, 08:10 AM

you have done well Mike - love the shot

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #9 14-12-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Cheers Jase

I'll try tomorrow...I'm going to bed now

(it's 1.45am!)

Processing in the middle of the night (with the onset of conjunctiveitis - doh) is always dangerous, I 'll see what (mess) it looks like in the moring

Mike

Not to be processing with tired eyes. You know that. LOL

It's a beaut pic Mike. Love it.

jakob · #10 14-12-2010, 09:09 AM

Beautyful image!

DavidU (Dave) · #11 14-12-2010, 09:19 AM

Sensational !

SkyViking (Rolf) · #12 14-12-2010, 09:53 AM

That's very nice and sharp Mike, love it! Thanks for sharing.

Peter Ward · #13 14-12-2010, 09:58 AM

As Borat would say: is nice is ...a good.

Hagar (Doug) · #14 14-12-2010, 10:25 AM

Lovely Mike, great the way you have broken it up int smaller bits. The resolution of the smaller pieces is great.

Nice one.

Chancellor (Jeff) · #15 14-12-2010, 11:58 AM

Another beautiful image Mike.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #16 14-12-2010, 12:20 PM

Hey thanks guys, nice comments

....quite a few of you have used the word LOVE too..awwww

I know it has some less than ideal qualities, some more obvious in the light of day... some not so ...here on my Work computer, which is rather highish contrast and in a well lit room, it actually looks pretty damb good

...I'll have another look at home this arvo, late afternoon light in my study seems to be the best time to process to get the best colour mix at least..?

There is no doubt more exposure...or a faster bigger aperture

would help with the very faint stuff in the lower half of the image, particularly some more colour data, maybe I will grab some more next time, just always so jealous of my sky time for all the reasons I've complained about before

...theeen again as Jase so suscinctly put it there is ALWAYS time for a Sidonio ...let me see what I can come up with - stay tuned

Thanks again dudes

Mike

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #17 14-12-2010, 02:29 PM

Nice work Mike ... a most excellent image as always! Detail looks great but I agree with Jase's comments re the blue cast. Amazed you didn't get more flaring from Alnitak!!! My version was riddled with them with Alnitak just off frame. And what's this? ... no full res version??

Cheers, Marcus

PS: My first imaging session in over 4 months completed

(albeit a short one just before 1st quarter)

strongmanmike (Michael) · #18 14-12-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Nice work Mike ... a most excellent image as always! Detail looks great but I agree with Jase's comments re the blue cast. Amazed you didn't get more flaring from Alnitak!!! My version was riddled with them with Alnitak just off frame. And what's this? ... no full res version??

Cheers, Marcus

PS: My first imaging session in over 4 months completed

(albeit a short one just before 1st quarter)

Yeh thanks Marcus, think its about time I just went deep with RGB and be done with it, sooo much easier to process then!...My RGB's nearly always look perfect, just dim and lacking extension, hopefully the new 12" fast astrograph will facilitate this..?

Short one hey..? Hmmm? lets see.... The Tarantula??

I take it you didn't sell your gear then...?

Mike

Ric · #19 14-12-2010, 03:12 PM

Wonderful work Mike.

The full frame is my favourite, that's a ripper.

Cheers

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #20 14-12-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Yeh thanks Marcus, think its about time I just went deep with RGB and be done with it, sooo much easier to process then!...My RGB's nearly always look perfect, just dim and lacking extension, hopefully the new 12" fast astrograph will facilitate this..?

Short one hey..? Hmmm? lets see.... The Tarantula??

I take it you didn't sell your gear then...?

Mike

Yeah, you'll be smokin' with that newt - look forward to seeing first light. Any idea when?

My latest effort? ... nope, it's not the spider ...

Haven't sold the mount yet - waiting to get a PME. Unless the aussie goes past parity, I win the lottery or someone else has a good 2nd hand one for sale, I'll just have to be patient.

Cheers, Marcus