Spent a couple of months collecting the data on this object. The first lot of data was collected on the 19 of October last year and the last lot was last night. Lots of nights imaging and several nights of data rejected based on rotation issues or FWHM cut off points. I have imaged it a few times over the years but never really thought I had done justice to the object. Perhaps this time I can settle that.
The image contains 33.5 hours of data. 17.5 hours on Ha alone and each colour containing 5.3333 hours. I had contemplated doing Lum on this object and may yet still take the data for a later reprocess.
The whole area contains really cool looking knots of gas and emission as well as reflection nebula.
Ah the looooong awaited mega dataaaaaa Heasehead Nebula ta da!...not bad, not bad at all, nice colour balance with the dust looking dusty, a huge flame there and an attractive framing too ...for me though the neb is a maybeee a tad too red and the highlights are a bit blown around the Horsey and along the ridge - easy fix though . Overall..? kinda reminds me of a good Malin emulsion plate shot from SSO in the 80's, top work
Thanks guys. I did a slight colour adjustment tonight as I thought the first image was a little too orange/brown. Processing in a bright room is a pain.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Logieberra
Paul, real nice! Would make for a superb poster.
Done with your TSA? Difraction spikes?
Yes done with the TSA and the diffraction spikes are the caused from the microlensing on the QSI camera 8300.
Great work Paul.
Processing doesn't feel pushed when you zoom around in the big version. Most enjoyable, and you must be glad to have cornered the final data to finish it off.
that is smooooooooth!
i am drawn to the area just to the top left of Alnitak/flame area, you don't too often get to see the gas extend that far in most images of the area. congrats on the image!
Great work Paul.
Processing doesn't feel pushed when you zoom around in the big version. Most enjoyable, and you must be glad to have cornered the final data to finish it off.
Rob, I did very little sharpening in this image. Some selective here and there but nothing extensive or too harsh. The use of tight FWHM data really helps to ensure you don't need to sharpen much.
In truth I would love to collect data in Lum of around 12 hours just to give the image a more dusty and smokey look. I still have plenty of time to do that but have another project that needs data urgently, so it may not get collected this year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rustigsmed
that is smooooooooth!
i am drawn to the area just to the top left of Alnitak/flame area, you don't too often get to see the gas extend that far in most images of the area. congrats on the image!
Rusty
Yes that very part of the image I really am drawn to also. I really like the reflection nebulosity there which appears to be in front of some dust and gas. Very interesting spot.
Amazing image shows what mega data can do. Even if I had the equipment, I have neither the patience nor that many clear sky hours per year to do it.
One this is for certain Kevin. This hobby is not for the impatient. The data collection for this took way longer than I wanted. The amount of clear nights has appeared to diminish in recent years here. Though that is most likely just a perception rather than being real. At least I can go to bed and sleep while the system is collecting data each night now. The enjoyable part is putting it all together and being artistic.
Naah, its real - been a huge lot of cloud in just the wrong places this past six months.
But getting back to the the image - yep that is just plain excellent in all respects. well done. Regards Ray
Hmmm, maybe since the break of the drought that there has been more cloud, but not sure if it is so much more that it is out of the ordinary. Thanks for the comment on the image.
and an attractive framing too 
and the highlights are a bit blown around the Horsey and along the ridge - easy fix though 
. Overall..? kinda reminds me of a good Malin emulsion plate shot from SSO in the 80's, top work 
