A deep Eye of God

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Taking advantage of the uncharacteristic run of clear nights in the past two weeks, this image took me 6 nights of travelling back and forth with my imaging rig (and on work nights ) to my dark sky location outside Newcastle.

Hope you like it ...well...round one of the processing anyway

**It's good to press F11 on your keyboard to view in full unobstructed screen mode too

Close up view, traditional orientation (1meg)
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...63597/original

Wider field view, alternative orientation (850k)
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...61131/original

This version has been processed to enhance the subtle but awsome "starburst" OIII structures normally overpowered by the stronger more detailed Ha data
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...67607/original

and here is acomparison with an image by the 4m Blanco in Chile and Hubble space telescope with my image :

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...78031/original

Mike

[Comet Hunter]

Wow!

Looking forward to round two.

[Chillie (Henry)]

Does the Eye Of God have another name?

I can't seem to find it in Stellarium.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Chillie

Does the Eye Of God have another name?

I can't seem to find it in Stellarium.

Hi Henry

The other names it is known by are actually written under the image

"The Helix Nebula NGC 7293"

Cheers

Mike

[Chillie (Henry)]

Thanks Mike. But it's still not showing up in Stellarium. Stellarium is pointing in the right direction but no image. I am using version 0.10.2.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Chillie

Thanks Mike. But it's still not showing up in Stellarium. Stellarium is pointing in the right direction but no image. I am using version 0.10.2.

Hmm? that's strange it's a pretty famous DSO ...have you set the FOV close enough in so that it will actually display it? My Planetarium program does that sometimes..?

Mike

[sjastro]

Very fine image Mike.

Almost converts me (but not quite!) to non RGB imaging.

Steven

[Alchemy (Clive)]

the third one is unusual, feel like im going to warp speed.
the other two clearly show up the extensive loop/arc and associated Ha nebulosity, nice detail in the core too.

yeah not too shabby for an itty bittty 6 inch scope

hang on a minute ive only got a 5 inch one now

cheers clive

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Just lovely Mike Well done! While I'm still not partial to NB, I really like the OIII starburst version - that's something I haven't seen before - very cool indeed! How about showing the full res versions?

Cheers, Marcus

PS: Whoa!!! 6 nights travelling!!! ... that's stamina ... hat's off!!
PPS: Look forward to the repros!

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Tremendous. Thanks for the differnt views as well. A very pleasing array to be proud of. One day this century I hope to produce an image close to this quality. For now I am content to rely on the skills of the expert images. When does the word amatuer get removed. There is nothing amatuer about these images.

[Hagar (Doug)]

Although not my favorite colours I do have ta addmitt the OIII really lifts the core. The other narrow imaging bands seem to show up diferent detail. The outer area of the nebulosity is beautifully resolved right out to the fine misty areas. Lots of hours to put this one together.
I think I like the wider field view view the best as it seems to add some depth to the image.
Very nice Well done Mike.

[TrevorW]

Impressive Oh to have a permanent dark sky site

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by sjastro

Very fine image Mike.

Almost converts me (but not quite!) to non RGB imaging.

Steven

NEVER! Don't do it Steve, once there you will never return

Thanks Mate

Originally Posted by Alchemy

the third one is unusual, feel like im going to warp speed.
the other two clearly show up the extensive loop/arc and associated Ha nebulosity, nice detail in the core too.

yeah not too shabby for an itty bittty 6 inch scope

hang on a minute ive only got a 5 inch one now

cheers clive

Cheers Clive here's a comparison with Hubble/Blanco
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...78031/original

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Just lovely Mike Well done! While I'm still not partial to NB, I really like the OIII starburst version - that's something I haven't seen before - very cool indeed! How about showing the full res versions?

Cheers, Marcus

PS: Whoa!!! 6 nights travelling!!! ... that's stamina ... hat's off!!
PPS: Look forward to the repros!

I agree the OIII structure is beautiful, I wasn't able to showcase the starburst detail in the same image as the fine Ha structure without it looking over processed so this is why I did different views. The OIII starburst detail "is" in the Ha SII OIII version but is not noticable rather it just contributes to the overall look.

The close-up is pretty well full res really Marcus..

Why you no like NB? You no have NB filters? When you do then you like

Besides, the colours are good enough for Blanco and Hubble :
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...78031/original

Originally Posted by CoolhandJo

Tremendous. Thanks for the differnt views as well. A very pleasing array to be proud of. One day this century I hope to produce an image close to this quality. For now I am content to rely on the skills of the expert images. When does the word amatuer get removed. There is nothing amatuer about these images.

I always display different views because no one version captures everything really. Re being amateur, trust me, picture a tired 135kg blob packing the car and driving 45min to a dark sky outside his home "coal" town to set everything up, image for 5 hours or more with just cat naps in the back of the car during sub sets, then packing up and driving home for an hours sleep before work...then imagine doing this 6 nights out of 11 and....you most certainly have an amateur

Originally Posted by Hagar

Although not my favorite colours I do have ta addmitt the OIII really lifts the core. The other narrow imaging bands seem to show up diferent detail. The outer area of the nebulosity is beautifully resolved right out to the fine misty areas. Lots of hours to put this one together.
I think I like the wider field view view the best as it seems to add some depth to the image.
Very nice Well done Mike.

I agree Doug I too like the wider field for the same reasons you do but this is why I always post various versions to present the object in different lights, this is the luxury of not having too much FL but enough to get the detail AND the FOV - as I have mentioed before, this is very versitile.

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Impressive Oh to have a permanent dark sky site

.......

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Looks good Mike.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Nice shots, Mike. Very interesting structure in the neb....quite complex.

[leon]

That's a beauty Mike well worth the late nights and miles covered, well done indeed.

Leon

[Davros (Lauren)]

Absolutely fantastic, you should feel proud of that image. Well done.

[Tom Davis (Tom)]

Mike the Hubbleman!! Right on!

Tom

[multiweb (Marc)]

Very cool Mike. That's a beautiful picture. Really well done.

[gregbradley]

Fantastic image Mike.

You got the nice mustard colours that balance out the RGB of narrowband and which makes them look good when they do.

26 hours, tremendous effort. Is that your longest image ever?

Greg.