Dorado Cloud (LMC)

jase (Jason) · #1 14-12-2010, 01:04 PM

Hi All,

Difficult to collect much data these days due to the weather. However I'm not limited to clear sky weekends operating gear remotely so I'll take clear skies when ever I get them - as scarce as they are of late. It seems I'm not alone reading other posts here on IIS. I managed to complete the project over the course of Oct/Nov collecting the final data sets needed. I've been eager to image this target for sometime given the first mosaic attempt was of its smaller relation, the Small Magellanic Cloud.

So here's my rendition of the Large Magellanic Cloud
Warning: larger resolutions may take time to load.

LRGB composite, four panel mosaic, one too many hours processing, t'was a processing challenge. Gradients due to an error on my part, left the computer monitor on in the obs and its one of the only items not remote power switched so couldn't turn it off. Doh!

I reshot much of the green filtered data, but still attempted to work with what I had. I'm not one to waste photons where possible.

The objective of this image was to display the scene in as true colour as possible (G2V referenced). Its extremely tempting to go all out with Ha data and try to bring back the colour shift, but I settled for luminance data alone and even then I only used it to reduce aspects of noise in the dim faint regions. Really the RGB data is what shined through in this data set. With no contrasty Ha, the delicate teal OIII in various regions of the image can be seen. Also rich star colours express the star burst regions with subtle dust across the galaxy's irrgular bar shape. I found it interesting that at first glance the tarantula looks highlight clipped.

Panel stitching is rough in part due to the colour gradients. I think I could have spent more time on it along with time on planning a little better as panel rotation did hinder the alignment. Though not enough to to make a considerable impact on the end result - just lost some sky real-estate but with the big chip of the Apogee U16M it matters not. Full size image has been reduced by to make it web friendly. 1:1 image I expect will make a good print. Moving on to other projects so this will do for now.

Hope you enjoy the swim around the scene.

All comments welcome.

Octane (Humayun) · #2 14-12-2010, 01:10 PM

Jase,

You've done it again. Without doubt, the finest Large Magellanic Cloud rendition I've ever seen.

Nothing further to add.

H

multiweb (Marc) · #3 14-12-2010, 01:12 PM

Superb vista. All the bits are there. Very sharp. Looks very natural.

I know what you mean. Ha is very abundant in this region. Some all Ha shots of the LMC are amazing.

Martin Pugh · #4 14-12-2010, 01:30 PM

Excellent job Jase - superb result in every way.

The ED does not suffer from those pesky clip reflections; and that is a real negative for FSQ (N) images.

Martin

Peter Ward · #5 14-12-2010, 01:34 PM

A masterful result Jase. Without doubt one the the best LMC images I have seen to date.

iceman (Mike) · #6 14-12-2010, 01:35 PM

Wow, that's a beauty. Thanks Jase, incredible.

Hagar (Doug) · #7 14-12-2010, 01:51 PM

What a ripper Jase. Swim around is an understatement. The highest res image is a real treat with little globs and nebulous regions which are beautifully resolved. Makes me want to target some of these with some focal length and see what I end up with.
Thanks for posting such a comprehensive street map of the LMC.

jase (Jason) · #8 14-12-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

Jase,

You've done it again. Without doubt, the finest Large Magellanic Cloud rendition I've ever seen.

Nothing further to add.

H

Cheers Humayun! Thanks for checking it out and making comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Superb vista. All the bits are there. Very sharp. Looks very natural.

I know what you mean. Ha is very abundant in this region. Some all Ha shots of the LMC are amazing.

Indeed Marc, the area is very rich in Ha. I was also tempted to solely create a luminance out of the red filtered data. Would have made a good fit to match to the green and blue. I was pleased to pick up the fainter structure of the galaxy. Thanks for your comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Pugh

Excellent job Jase - superb result in every way.

The ED does not suffer from those pesky clip reflections; and that is a real negative for FSQ (N) images.

Martin

Thanks Martin.

When a plan comes together, its pleasing to pull it off. Mosaics in particular test ones patience. Yeah, the ED produces pleasing stars compared to the earlier N model, but its a minor point in my opinion. The scene doesn't suffer overall. Am envious of your clement focuser solution. I don't have camera tilt issues, but the robofocus with its 1:75 gear ratio couldn't accurately pull the weight of the Apogee U16M with D9 cooling + filter wheel. I ordered a couple of steppers from Hurst in the US that have a 1:300 ratio (same step size), now focusmax v-curve slopes are text book perfect. Live and learn I guess. Thanks for checking out the image and making comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

A masterful result Jase. Without doubt one the the best LMC images I have seen to date.

Cheers Peter. Pleased you liked it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

Wow, that's a beauty. Thanks Jase, incredible.

Thank you kindly Mike.

Strive for a memorable image, but not easy to achieve.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hagar

What a ripper Jase. Swim around is an understatement. The highest res image is a real treat with little globs and nebulous regions which are beautifully resolved. Makes me want to target some of these with some focal length and see what I end up with.
Thanks for posting such a comprehensive street map of the LMC.

Cheers Doug. Yes, plenty of targets on display. Its images like this that urge me to get a longer FL scope and go hunting too. Long focal length mosaics are sensational, alas I just can't get enough of wide field work so the FSQ is here to stay for a while. As you indicate, it makes a rather cool street map of the area. Thanks for your comments.

troypiggo (Troy) · #9 14-12-2010, 02:12 PM

Oh. My. Really enjoyed swimming around in the largest version. Fantastic!

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #10 14-12-2010, 02:36 PM

Even on my crappy work monitor this looks like a ripper Jase! I'll definitely be browsing around the high res when I get home! You are the king of mosaics!

Cheers, Marcus

strongmanmike (Michael) · #11 14-12-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Even on my crappy work monitor this looks like a ripper Jase! I'll definitely be browsing around the high res when I get home! You are the king of mosaics!

Cheers, Marcus

Ditto and yeh me too!

Mike

Stevec35 (Steve) · #12 14-12-2010, 03:01 PM

Pretty amazing image Jase. Well done!

Steve

h0ughy (David) · #13 14-12-2010, 03:16 PM

well thats an eyefull! Fantastic vista

Ric · #14 14-12-2010, 03:26 PM

Blimey that's awesome Jase, like Troy I enjoyed drifting through the large version.

The little Bubble nebula really jumps out at you.

A lovely work of art

Cheers

jase (Jason) · #15 14-12-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troypiggo

Oh. My. Really enjoyed swimming around in the largest version. Fantastic!

Thanks Troy. Pleased you enjoyed it. Plenty of objects on display to keep on occupied!

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Even on my crappy work monitor this looks like a ripper Jase! I'll definitely be browsing around the high res when I get home! You are the king of mosaics!

Cheers, Marcus

Far from the mosaic king Marcus -still have my training wheels on to be honest. There's more work that goes into the processing of mosaics, I can testify that! Thanks for checking it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Ditto and yeh me too!

Mike

Thanks Mike!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevec35

Pretty amazing image Jase. Well done!

Steve

Thank you Steve. Pleased you enjoyed it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

well thats an eyefull! Fantastic vista

Cheers Houghy. An eyefull eh? I think of it as "scroll-worthiness"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

Blimey that's awesome Jase, like Troy I enjoyed drifting through the large version.

The little Bubble nebula really jumps out at you.

A lovely work of art

Cheers

Thanks Ric. Indeed, plenty of features on display. The largest size has been reduced quite heavily to make it web friendly - around 65%. Will keep the 1:1 for prints. My favourite OIII object in the scene is NGC2020. Looks pretty cool. Thanks for checking it out and making comment.

John Hothersall · #16 14-12-2010, 04:08 PM

What a result, looked at this through binocs - a very rich region. Great to scroll around this stellar monument.

John.

Garyh · #17 14-12-2010, 04:13 PM

Awesome work Jase! Now we know what you have been up too!

The main bar looks beautiful like the finest star dust! surrounded by all those Ha OIII objects.......
eye candy stuff!
cheers Gary

Alchemy (Clive) · #18 14-12-2010, 05:43 PM

Top shelf stuff..... And well done on finding some holes in the endless clouds to complete the project.

marco (Marco Lorenzi) · #19 14-12-2010, 05:43 PM

This is indeed a great shot Jase! I am working as well on a large mosaic of the area with my lens, so far I have gathered several hours of light but unfortunately not enough to complete the pictures. Very bad weather and some problems on the equipment are delaying this project quite a bit, so it is refreshing to see your great rendition of this charming area!
Bravo, really well done

Clear Skies
Marco

gregbradley · #20 14-12-2010, 06:01 PM

Great image Jase. Especially getting the data with so much rainy weather around. Whereabouts is your remote observatory?

Greg.