M 17 The Swan Nebula

AstroJason (Jason) · #1 27-07-2025, 08:10 PM

I had a bit of trouble processing this one. Every time I look at this image I think it is over saturated. I'd process it and then look back over it the next day and think, what was I thinking?!

But I think this is a nice balance! Just 2.2 hours on this one. Like my previous image on the Chameleon Dark Cloud, not sure I am 100% happy with it. I've lost count of the revisions I have done on it but I think it is time to just move on!

Full res on my AstroBin here.

Also attached here is one of my psychedelic edits! I actually don't mind it, am I nuts or what?

Startrek (Martin) · #2 28-07-2025, 10:31 AM

Jason,
That’s a nice Swan you’ve captured up there in the Mountains
Well done !!
I’m currently imaging the Swan from my light infested B8 location in Sydney ( obviously in Narrowband) and I’m up to 16 hours over the past week and still have a clear night tonight.
Any reason why only 2.2 hrs as the nights have been relatively clear and stable in the Sydney basin , even after that front pushed through yesterday.
Only my opinion, but the colour seems way too saturated, I reckon if you back off the saturation, more fine detail will be exposed particularly in the core region. Too much colour saturation ( particularly light saturation) can mask detail in those inner and outer gaseous structures.
Anyway enough of my babble , a fine broadband image of the Swan ( Omega )
Cheers
Martin

AstroJason (Jason) · #3 29-07-2025, 04:09 PM

Thanks Martin! 16 hours and more will look great with your image, hopefully you can break through the Sydney LP! But with all this rain/cloud this week (and crazy wind in the mountains) it has been frustrating missing imaging time while it's new moon.

Oh the 2.2 hours is only because I remembered there was another target (LDN43) I wanted to shoot and that was my priority! And even with that I struggled to get a decent amount of time on.

Yeah I agree with the over saturation. Like I said, after processing each version of the image I would come back to it the following day and think, "Gee! What was I thinking processing it like this?". But then felt it kinda looked boring and lacked something when I desaturated it. I may try reprocessing it again and see if I can resist that saturation slider

Thanks heaps for the feedback, it is much appreciated!