Snakes in the Dust

[Paul Haese]

Part of my new fascination with Dust is B72 or the Snake nebula. An interesting looking dust cloud located in Ophiuchus.

Click here for image (warning 1.5mb)

Feel free to comment.

[John Hothersall]

Those blacks are jet black, really good shape and strong structure to these. These dark objects are new to me so great you are commited to imaging them.

John.

[erick (Eric)]

Nice image Paul. Lots to look at in that frame.

[gregbradley]

Very good Paul. I don't know how Humi did it but those background stars can look very golden in some images. I did this one myself a little while ago and my stars look like yours. But it would be nice to be able to make them look more golden and then the image really comes alive.
See Humi's Malin HM version with a 5D.

Greg.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Nice area that Paul, nice work

Mike

[Paul Haese]

thanks guys.

Greg, I have given it a saturation boost, but that is about far as I can really go before the stars start going bright orange. Do you think this looks better? I sort of think the colour is better saturated.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

I understand what Greg is getting at but H's image was a much wider field and this assists with the glowing golden look, zoomed in like you have here it looks ok less golden

Mike

[Paul Haese]

I think it is ok now. I stretched the image a bit more and this enhanced the golden look a little, but tend to think like you Mike; that the stars in a larger field have that golden look. When I look at this data there are lots of golden stars but equally are there white and blue stars. About what I would expect really. Mike it might pay to take another look. I changed the image around the time of your post.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Oooh you may get hammered for it being a little too blue ...I like blue though

[Paul Haese]

Yep got that sorted. Did a quick adjustment. Thanks for the tip Mike.

[TrevorW]

Nice, leave something for the rest of us

[desler]

I must say Paul, no comments from here. Just sitting back and enjoying the view. Very well done and nicely presented.

Darren

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

thanks guys.

Greg, I have given it a saturation boost, but that is about far as I can really go before the stars start going bright orange. Do you think this looks better? I sort of think the colour is better saturated.

Personally I like it. Not saying its a processing error, its just that when you see widefield shots that area is all golden sand but when you take a longer focal length image it lacks the golden look. Your latest version is much closer to that golden look.

I am not sure how you get more of that golden look. I assume just more exposure like any other image to improve it. Like your 6589 image. It got quite a bit better with more exposure.

Long many hour exposures really is the key once you've achieved round stars. Or less hours but larger aperture faster F ratio or more sensitive cameras. 60% QE of the 8300 chip is no slouch though.

Greg.

[Tom Davis (Tom)]

I love this object! I never did get to image it when my scope was in Oz -- I regret that.

Great job!

Tom

[Stevec35 (Steve)]

Looks good Paul - a nice looking Snake.

Cheers

Steve

[Ross G]

Wow...amazing photo Paul.

Ross.