Ic2177

Paul Haese · #1 24-01-2012, 10:21 PM

It was a busy time this last new moon period. Over the course of a couple of nights I gathered this data for IC2177 commonly known as the Seagull Nebula.

The nebula is located on the border of Monoceros and Canis Major at a distance of 3600 light years. It is mainly an emission nebula but does contain some reflection nebula which makes the whole area contain some really cool colours.

Click here for image.

I might get some more data in the next cycle if I can, but for now I am pretty happy with this image.

Peter Ward · #2 24-01-2012, 10:54 PM

Really excellent Paul

Superb star colour variation, Perfect guiding, natural looking colour with great shadow and highlight detail.

BTW good one on Feb 2012 Sky & Tel gallery

cventer · #3 25-01-2012, 12:57 AM

Just gorgeous. Well done. How dark is the site you took this from Paul ?

I love the color.

allan gould · #4 25-01-2012, 01:06 AM

Great camera, mount, scope and operator makes a great photo.

Rigel003 (Graeme) · #5 25-01-2012, 02:17 AM

You should be very happy with it. It's fantastic. Love the contrast of the purples, reds and blues against the few golden stars.

Paul Haese · #6 25-01-2012, 08:53 AM

Thanks guys for the compliments.

Chris, the site is pretty dark. I have SQM measurements of 21.5 and 21.4 and 21.6. I need to measure it again some time soon, but the place is pretty dark. Not too bad in summer as it is often not quite as dark as winter, but in winter with cloud cover you need a torch or else you will get hurt.

atalas · #7 25-01-2012, 03:20 PM

Beautiful work Paul! lovely color,wonderful contrast,great detail and I love the way you brought the reflection out....can you tell I like It?

Ken Crawford (KenC) · #8 25-01-2012, 03:23 PM

Very nice with excellent framing. I always wanted to image this when I had equipment at Moorook. To much bad weather then to fit it in . . .

mill (Martin) · #9 25-01-2012, 06:44 PM

Nice colors and sharpness without black rings around the stars.

Ross G · #10 25-01-2012, 09:16 PM

A beautiful photo Paul.

Great composition and I love the contrast of colours.

Thanks.

Ross.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #11 25-01-2012, 11:02 PM

This is excellent Paul and definitely the best from your last crop of 5 images, nice colours and good resolution in the fine nebulosity.

You been getting a few photons lately huh?

Mike

Paul Haese · #12 25-01-2012, 11:24 PM

Thanks a lot to all that have commented. Each is appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by atalas

Beautiful work Paul! lovely color,wonderful contrast,great detail and I love the way you brought the reflection out....can you tell I like It?

Sometimes I get it right.

I have figured out a technique for dealing with the dark rings via luminence layering into the final image. The reflection nebula is just the depth of the subs. I can't take credit for doing that other than a curves adjustment of two. I am very glad you like it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Crawford

Very nice with excellent framing. I always wanted to image this when I had equipment at Moorook. To much bad weather then to fit it in . . .

This framing is just from the straight pointing Ken. I have this mount pointing really well at present. You know the mount and now so do I.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

This is excellent Paul and definitely the best from your last crop of 5 images, nice colours and good resolution in the fine nebulosity.

You been getting a few photons lately huh?

Mike

Exhaustion and work prevented me from gathering more in the last few days. Make hay and all that theory. Thought this one might appeal to you most.

You having an APOD on this very object and all.

gregbradley · #13 26-01-2012, 08:30 AM

A fabulous image Paul. Your images are just getting better and better. You've got a good formula there.

Greg.

Paul Haese · #14 26-01-2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

A fabulous image Paul. Your images are just getting better and better. You've got a good formula there.

Greg.

Thanks Greg, always trying to produce a better image each time. For anyone who are wanting to get better images; data collection is the key. Get tight round stars with long subs and that will give you the potential for nice images.

No formula here, just processing as I think it ought to look.

. People sometimes ask me to describe my work flow. The answer is that I don't really have one. I do some standard things in CCDstack for calibration and combining, but photoshop is about using a variety of techniques to achieve any given result. Most times it works for me, but sometimes it doesn't.

TrevorW · #15 26-01-2012, 11:33 AM

Good detail and colour, your work flow sounds exactly like mine, I agree nothing beats having plenty of good data thats the problem with most of my images, although IMO not having a permanent setup somewhat limits the amount of consistent data you can acquire although in saying that Mike seems to do a damn good job

strongmanmike (Michael) · #16 26-01-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

in saying that Mike seems to do a damn good job

Yeh, occasionally I get possessed...

For me now it's only 5min subs too

...so that helps

Craig_L · #17 26-01-2012, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

the site is pretty dark. I have SQM measurements of 21.5 and 21.4 and 21.6. I need to measure it again some time soon, but the place is pretty dark. Not too bad in summer as it is often not quite as dark as winter, but in winter with cloud cover you need a torch or else you will get hurt.

Very nice image again Paul - lovely detail and colours particlularly the colour detail in the head NGC 2327. Just as a matter of interest, do you think the Clayton site is darker than Stockport? Craig

Paul Haese · #18 26-01-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Good detail and colour, your work flow sounds exactly like mine, I agree nothing beats having plenty of good data thats the problem with most of my images, although IMO not having a permanent setup somewhat limits the amount of consistent data you can acquire although in saying that Mike seems to do a damn good job

Trev, I think with having a portable setup you really need everything mounted in a position that does not move (screw fittings gets you there). That will mean you only need to put the scope onto the mount and polar align and get it pointing to the same spot to get repeatable results. If you can get that down pat then you can travel anywhere and get data on the night for an image you have worked on for months. No doubt Mike does this in his own way.

Craig, Stockport is badly degraded by light pollution and that will continue to get worse in the coming decade. Just from personal assessment and some SQM readings Stockport is now around 20 on a good night. Added to this is that there is a significant light dome to the south at Stockport. Clayton has a small dome toward Adelaide which is in the North West. As I don't have a automatic rotator on my scopes (yet) I tend to image to the meridian and then go onto another target and do this night after night. Plus Clayton is a dark sky township; about the only place I have heard of that the residents love the night sky despite not being into astronomy. That means only 5 street lights and that is great.

alpal · #19 26-01-2012, 08:26 PM

That's a nice picture - plenty of detail.
I think I'll add that to my list of targets.

multiweb (Marc) · #20 27-01-2012, 01:00 PM

Great colors. Love it.

That would be pretty low in the sky for you southerners no?