Flood Lights on Corona Australis

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Jase did a beautiful wide field of this amazing region a little while ago and it was so beautiful I just had to have a go myself.

Surprisingly the Newcastle weather cooperated for the first half of last night then the wind picked up sinificantly aaand the seeing went AWOL too

Never the less I managed to get a small amount of data before the conditions put and end to serious imaging . I did do another 60min of Lum after the change of conditions but it was all very soft and I discarded it ....

A difficult region to process, particularly with such little data and I had two stars just out of field that shone beautiful search lights from out side the frame right towards the central reflection nebula. I left them in as I think they look rather spectacular actually..? and becasue I couldn't remove them properly anyway.

Because I had so little data there is a little more noise than I'd like in some of the dusty areas after pushing the data in order to reveal it all and I didn't use any noise reduction in order to preserve the fine structures, particularly around the reflection nebula area. I did do several versions using noise reduction and layer blending etc but in the end I went for the fine detail over the smoothness and decided that becasue it was dust the slight grainyness kinda fits anyhoo..? The grainy ness has been accentuated by jpeg compression of course, the original fits/Tiffs look a bit smoother.

Small size image for whole image on the screen:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...83370896/large

Large size for panning

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...70896/original

Hope you enjoy it

The other thing I did different for this image was use flats for the first time in my life. I recently acquired a great flat field device from AstroHandy Acccessories called the LightRing and it works a charm see:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...andy_lightring

After the conditions went to crap I took the opportunity with the scope already setup to do flats and flat darks for every filter LRG&B and I have them stored for possible future use.



Mike

[rogerg (Roger)]

Nice shot.

The "spotlights" add something different to it, and are aimed perfectly at the focal point of the image, so I think they are good to keep (if you could successfully remove them).

I see the grain/noise you mention but it's not overwhelming. I think the ideal size for the JPG version is about 2/3 of the large version, just because of the slight noise, the level of sharpness, and the fact that the image is quite big to start with.

Interesting coloured rings caused by the "spotlight" on the left (lower), almost looks like a planetary nebula.

You've managed to get pretty good range of brightness - the glob not being overexposed and the faint nebulosity being present without significant noise. That's not easy.

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I had two stars just out of field that shone beautiful search lights from out side the frame right towards the central reflection nebula. I left them in as I think they look rather spectacular actually..?

They make the image unique, I like them Mike.

[iceman (Mike)]

Great images Mike, glad you got some fine weather to do what strongmen do best.

[gbeal]

A very nice shot Mike, and of a notoriously difficult target too. Well done.

[2020BC (Bill Christie)]

Nice one.

[jase (Jason)]

Hey Mike,
I’m pleased you delivered on your promise to image this fascinating area… and a job well done too. You’ve captured some magnificent detail in the small arc surrounding R Coronae Australis. Shame about the two flood light flares as they detract from what is a great image. As you indicate (and it shows), you need more data before you can stretch out the faint wisps of dusty nebulosity – 30min lum is too lean for this area. It is a complex region to process. I know I used quite a few PS layers to manage intensity levels when I processed the region. Your image takes on a natural look which is pleasing to the eye.

So does this mark the first for the Astronomik 50mm LRGB filter set?

I can’t believe this is the first time you’ve taken flats There’s a first time for everything I guess.

[Ric]

Hi Mike, what a fantastic image.

The searchlight effect looks wonderful and certainly makes it a very unique image.

Top stuff.

[Tamtarn]

Something a bit different Mike. Particularly the first one........Like it a lot.

Nice nebulosity and the cluster is still well resolved

[Dr Nick (Nick)]

Great work!

[little col]

very nice indeed , love the detail in that image mike and the glob looks really nice in the frame , gives it a really good depth of view

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Nice image Mike, the noise is not obvious, the spot light adds an interestng aspect, this pic deserves a wide field view, well done.