The Dark Tower now with the Ha image linked

[gregbradley]

I have imaged this one before but I wasn't that happy with it.

I reimaged last weekend under good seeing conditions.

This one is HaRGB. 105 minutes of Ha and 60 minutes for each of RGB.

TEC180 fluorite, FLI ML8300 camera at -45C, Tak NJP mount, MMOAG and ST402 for guiding.

http://upload.pbase.com/image/134637762 large

http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/134637762/ regular

Greg.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Nice work there, Greg

[Alchemy (Clive)]

Well done with the amount of Ha you've brought up, stunning result.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by renormalised

Nice work there, Greg

Thanks Clive. I am happy with how it turned out.

Originally Posted by Alchemy

Well done with the amount of Ha you've brought up, stunning result.

Thanks. I actually have a couple of hours more Ha. Unfortunately I intended to bin it 2x2 but left the software set to focus mode of 4x4.
I also have a 3x3. So I found that out after it had alreay done about an hour or so. I reset it and found the 2x2 images were deep and clean enough by themselves. I could add the 3x3 and 4x4 but it might lower resolution.

Greg.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Excellent work Greg. Big stars are messy, but data is good for not a lot of exposure time.

[spearo (Frank)]

looks great!
frank

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Excellent work Greg. Big stars are messy, but data is good for not a lot of exposure time.

Yes the big stars don't turn out well with the KAF8300 chip. The wells are too small at 25,500. One of its weak points. So I could lower
exposure times to 5 minutes I suppose.

Originally Posted by spearo

looks great!
frank

Thanks Frank.

[allan gould]

Spectacular image Greg. Really love the blend of Ha and it makes the image.

[h0ughy (David)]

it is a dark structure indeed. you have been churning out the photons Greg

[Paul Haese]

A subject we don't get to see often. I like the reds and subtle hues, but there is some blue stuff that looks odd around the brighter blue stars. Still a lovely image though.

[ChrisM]

Greg, a great result, and your shot shows more detail than
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080508.html although the latter is slightly more expansive.

Chris M

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Thanks Clive. I am happy with how it turned out.

Greg.

That's Carl.....Greg

Not Clive

[multiweb (Marc)]

Good stuff Greg. I'm trying to do some Ha in the same area tonight. It's fairly dry so I'll keep shooting.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by allan gould

Spectacular image Greg. Really love the blend of Ha and it makes the image.

Thanks Allan. Its a lot better than my original attempt about 2 years ago.

Originally Posted by h0ughy

it is a dark structure indeed. you have been churning out the photons Greg

Yes I've had a good run lately. The weather seems to be gradually drying up making winter imaging look quite promising at the moment.

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

A subject we don't get to see often. I like the reds and subtle hues, but there is some blue stuff that looks odd around the brighter blue stars. Still a lovely image though.

Yes I saw that too. Perhaps a result of needing more exposure.

Originally Posted by ChrisM

Greg, a great result, and your shot shows more detail than
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080508.html although the latter is slightly more expansive.

Chris M

Thanks Chris. Seeing that APOD did inspire me to put it on the imaging list a bit higher up. I was planning to image it anway though as it is one of the interesting objects this time of year.

Originally Posted by renormalised

That's Carl.....Greg

Not Clive

Sorry Carl.

Originally Posted by multiweb

Good stuff Greg. I'm trying to do some Ha in the same area tonight. It's fairly dry so I'll keep shooting.

It looks spectacular in Ha if you get enough exposure.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

Here is the Ha image by itself.

I took a lot more Ha than this but I made a few admin errors and they were imaged at 4x4 binning rather than the intended 2x2. I probably would have imaged it at 1x1 usually but I only had one night left and I wanted to get the RGB as well.

http://upload.pbase.com/image/134655798

The peak of the tower would make a good imaging target for a longer focal length scope. Those ridges and sharp bits usually look good in long focal length images. Perhaps the CDK can get that area by itself.

Greg.

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Beautiful image there Greg! Must try this one myself!

Cheers, Marcus

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Very nice image! I havn't seen this target before.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Hey Greg, where is it in relation to the cluster (NGC6231) and those three bright stars in a triangle. Towards the prawn, up, down? I've been looking for a wide field of the area but I can't seem to find it. I'd like to give it a go.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

beautiful work

[atalas]

Nice work Greg...I think the composition is splendid!