Sarah's Nebula

strongmanmike (Michael) · #1 30-05-2009, 06:45 AM

This is 9hrs of data collected over two nights last new moon period.

This is just a part of the huge FSQ mozaic that Jason posted the other day.

I have dedicated this image to my precious niece and God Daughter Sarah who passed away in March aged just 18 after a horseriding accident and is now dust just like this herself.

As Jason eluded to, I did an image of this dusty region some years ago with the ED80 and little Starlightxpress and a print of it went in the casket with Sarah when she went. I made her a promise that I would do a better version just for her (she loved astronomy but hadn't got around to coming out with me yet, we were about to do it but fate got in the way

)...so, I hope she and you guys like it.

Small size to take it all in:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...13109010/large

Medium size:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...09010/original

Dramatic Negative:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...13073/original

Large size 4meg:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...09180/original

Had a tear in my eye writing the blurb under the image

Here is a picture of Sarah
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...16557/original

Mike

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #2 30-05-2009, 07:30 AM

What a wonderful tribute to Sarah!

A beautiful image.

troypiggo (Troy) · #3 30-05-2009, 07:33 AM

Beautiful image and story to go with it. Very touching.

jase (Jason) · #4 30-05-2009, 07:54 AM

Mike,
My condolences to you, family and friends who knew Sarah. At a young and tender age it is a great misfortune. This image is indeed a fitting tribute. Such a fascinating region of the sky in which has been portrayed in all its beauty. Pleased you refreshed your older version. Marked improvement. Well done.

xstream (John) · #5 30-05-2009, 08:25 AM

Mike,
A beautiful tribute to a beautiful looking young girl.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #6 30-05-2009, 08:31 AM

Pictures say a thousand words Mike. Both are beautiful. I'm so sorry for her loss.

Tamtarn · #7 30-05-2009, 09:27 AM

Mike a beautiful tribute to your lovely niece Sarah.

The image itself has a very delicate feel to it. Thanks for sharing your story

Hagar (Doug) · #8 30-05-2009, 09:27 AM

A very beautiful Nebula Mike. My thoughts go out to you and Sarah's Family. A loss of any family is difficult but one so young is always harder to bare.
This truely is a fitting tribute to one so young.

TrevorW · #9 30-05-2009, 09:31 AM

Very fitting tribute Mike

She will live on in eternity amongst the stars from whence we all came never to be forgotten.

All the best

spacezebra (Petra) · #10 30-05-2009, 09:36 AM

Beautiful Nebula Mike, you are indeed a gentle-man. Our thoughts go out to you and Sarah's family.

I echo the words of those already posted "a fitting tribute'.

Cheers Petra d.

astroron (Ron) · #11 30-05-2009, 09:49 AM

Mike a beautiful image dedicated to a beautiful girl,who was taken to early.
My best wishes for you and your whole family.
Thankyou for posting this tribute.

Alchemy (Clive) · #12 30-05-2009, 10:51 AM

Always a sad event to see someone so young go tragically. Nice that you dedicate this to her.

respectfully

clive

RB (Andrew) · #13 30-05-2009, 11:14 AM

A beautiful young girl, a tragic loss !!

Wonderful tribute to her Mike.

My family's thoughts are with you and your families.
I can think of nothing more tragic than to loose a child..........

RIP Sarah.

BerrieK · #14 30-05-2009, 11:55 AM

A beautiful way to honour a lost friend. Your words bought a tear to my eye too.

Regards, Kerrie

avandonk · #15 30-05-2009, 12:29 PM

A fine tribute to Sarah's memory Mike. After all, our memories is what defines us as humans. To remember others we have all lost, somehow keeps them alive in our minds and hearts.

Bert

bluescope · #16 30-05-2009, 01:02 PM

Touching tribute Mike and a nice image to dedicate to Sarah.

Horse riding is indeed a dangerous thing ... my daughter was thrown into a fence post when she was around 15 years old and I feared for her life as she lay motionless for a long time as I ran to her aid. Luckily she is still around and has 2 children of her own whom I hope will never be put into a saddle.

Cheers mate !

TheDecepticon · #17 30-05-2009, 01:12 PM

Wow, awesome tribute! I'm very touched by your loss. It always hurts when we loose someone, but none more so than a child!!

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #18 30-05-2009, 02:22 PM

sorry to hear of your loss Mike.

a great tribute in the form of this fine image

strongmanmike (Michael) · #19 30-05-2009, 05:31 PM

Thanks all so much for your kind words, private messages and emails, it has indeed been a hard time for my family, Sarah was such a beautiful person, evidenced no better than by her complete affinity with animals and deep desire to become a vet. She is missed.

This imaging project was actually quite challenging, besides being faint the weather and seeing plus some field rotation (I don't have registar)were a bastad to deal with too, so processing was quite difficult. I am happy with it in the end, it's not perfect and it took all my processing skills just to come up with this result but I was on a mission and was determined to see it through. More RGB would have been good as so much lum is needed to bring out the faint dust. I probably should have binned the RGB too

In the end it doesn't really matter but I am glad it touched a few hearts

Mike

multiweb (Marc) · #20 30-05-2009, 05:40 PM

As all the other said top pic Mike and a fitting tribute. Sorry to hear about your loss. All the best to the family.