Carina Encore

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by alpal

Hi Peter,
I still think it's the best picture ever posted on Ice in Space.

However - I am having trouble seeing the difference between this
& the original APOD:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160527.html

Maybe it's slightly more colourful & sharpened better?

cheers
Allan

Trumpler 14 contains hot, blue stars, and this was not shown in the earlier versions. Also, the 4K resolution image submitted to CWAS showed "speckle" around many of the stars, due a processing error on my part. I've still not completely fixed that aspect, which would require a serious amount of time to repair.

Apart from addressing the above, I masked the stars and added a smidge of USM to the nebulosity with photoshop. The changes are subtle, but I think worthwhile.

Originally Posted by DJScotty

Cliché alert - you have improved perfection.
So much sharper and richer in colour.
May i ask what you used to sharpen the image?

Ta...see above

Originally Posted by traveller

Wow, what a mesmerising view, loved the Finger of God!
Bo

Ah the fickle finger always a good yardstick

Originally Posted by Andy01

No exaggeration, that's the single best amateur deep sky image I've ever seen. Thoroughly and deservedly winning it's Malin Category.

I went looking unsuccessfully for your original version, to see what changes you made following Dr. Malins' input - would be an interesting comparison for us all to learn from.

So maybe we need a section here on the forum for "Benchmark images" of various subjects - this would surely be the definitive image for this one.

Again, as above and

Originally Posted by LightningNZ

That's incredible Peter. I feel like I could "swim" through that detail for days.

To quote Disney's Dory...just keep swimming

[Paul Haese]

The second I saw the original I knew it would win the DSO section of the Malins. It had everything that David likes and probably more. Congratulations on the win. I cannot really see much change and think both images are very good.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

congrats on the win Peter, that really is a superb image so much detail in there - i can't think of a better amateur eta carina - and there are plenty around!

just on a side note how do your raw light frames look after such long exposures? do they appear washed out due to sky glow / light pollution - then require a lot of black point level movement? most people opt for much shorter rgb subs.

cheers

russ

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

congrats on the win Peter, that really is a superb image so much detail in there - i can't think of a better amateur eta carina - and there are plenty around!

just on a side note how do your raw light frames look after such long exposures? do they appear washed out due to sky glow / light pollution - then require a lot of black point level movement? most people opt for much shorter rgb subs.

cheers

russ

I wouldn't go that far, but thanks

The STX16803 has excellent cooling and a very good dynamic range, hence 20 minute subs are no problem. Using a DSLR, anything more than about 2 minutes becomes a tragedy...as I've already discovered with my full spectrum Canon.

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

The second I saw the original I knew it would win the DSO section of the Malins. It had everything that David likes and probably more. Congratulations on the win. I cannot really see much change and think both images are very good.

Ta Paul, though you've got me, as I still don't know what David "likes" other than: if the colour isn't right your chances become very slim.

Indeed the changes are subtle....but Dr Malin still picked up on the errors ...he has a remarkably keen eye!

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

Good grief the resolution! If someone told me that was an image from a space telescope or something from Hawaii or South America I'd believe them.

A deserving winner indeed.