It's NGC253 season after all....

Peter Ward · #1 03-10-2008, 09:47 PM

Mixed some 2008 high res data with some I got same time last year....

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/gallery32.html

leon · #2 03-10-2008, 10:14 PM

Ah Peter were sick of these NGC 253 images,

but I suppose we can just fit you into the fantastic basket,

top image mate, as to be expected.

Leon

h0ughy (David) · #3 03-10-2008, 10:21 PM

bet you spent a few silver dollars to get that shot?

Peter Ward · #4 03-10-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

.......top image mate, as to be expected.

Leon

Thanks Leon, but to tell you the truth the whole thing needs a re-shoot. The old data had crappy flat fields, and the scope was not quite set-up right.

My 2008 data is proving to be much better hence yet another work in progress

Peter Ward · #5 03-10-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

bet you spent a few silver dollars to get that shot?

No silver dollars were harmed in the making of this picture

Hagar (Doug) · #6 03-10-2008, 10:35 PM

Very nice Peter. If thats not so good data then I want some. The galaxy has a real 3 D look to it with a deep glow eminating from the apparent flat plane of the galaxy.

Lovely.

Lester · #7 04-10-2008, 07:20 AM

Outstanding image.

Very nice Peter.

sjastro · #8 04-10-2008, 07:47 AM

Very fine image Peter.

Is this a 14" RC shot?

Regards

Steven

Ric · #9 04-10-2008, 10:37 AM

Lovely image Peter.

There is always room for another 253.

Peter Ward · #10 04-10-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjastro

Very fine image Peter.

Is this a 14" RC shot?

Regards

Steven

Thanks Steve. It is a RC14 image. That said, despite its icon status and size, getting really fine detail in that galaxy I've found to be a challenge.

Getting good data is easy enough, but to get great data I'm moving to the opinion, with narrow field at least, you need to look hard at the seeing etc. to see whether its worth collecting on the night.

Peter Ward · #11 09-10-2008, 07:48 PM

Well not only is it NGC253 season, but re-processing seems to be in vogue

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/gallery32.html

Now if we could only do something about the south pacific peso....

Bassnut (Fred) · #12 09-10-2008, 07:56 PM

Nice work Peter. Was hoping for those ellusive streamers, there is a hint of them there, but I suspect, as you say, seeing is the limiting factor.

Peter Ward · #13 09-10-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Nice work Peter. Was hoping for those ellusive streamers, there is a hint of them there, but I suspect, as you say, seeing is the limiting factor.

I am not at all convinced that Jay's (albeit visually spectacular) processing is valid, in that it would not be a big effort to pull out a layer and enhance the right spatial frequency to show the streamers.

Recent ESA data: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap081002.html

despite the *really high* res simply doesn't show the streamers as being dominant....in short it's a long bow to only enhance one part of the data.

Bassnut (Fred) · #14 09-10-2008, 08:47 PM

You have a point there. Jays image is the only one ive seen with those artifacts, ive wondered why. That APOD indeed doesnt show them.

gregbradley · #15 09-10-2008, 09:53 PM

Spectacular Sculptor image.

Jays image is fantastic but his processing style is his particular style which to me is a bit heavy handed on saturation and probably leaves too much of a processing footprint so to speak. A bit like the heavily saturated colours in CSI Miami!

Excellent musicians create their definite unique style and that is a good thing. Same with imaging. There is no right or wrong about that simply what the viewer likes or doesn't like.

Those streamers could also possibly be the result of stroking in a vertical direction any dust lanes using the sponge tool set to burn. I have done this myself and whilst it did not look just like his it did bring out a similar effect. So is it a natural condition in the galaxy or an artificial result from the style of processing? The possibility is there either way.

Who knows.

Greg.

Peter Ward · #16 09-10-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

............So is it a natural condition in the galaxy or an artificial result from the style of processing? ........

Greg.

It comes down to "enhancement" and reality. It is not a hard task to enhance any part of an image, simply to show some aspect of feature.

However, when literally "brush stroking" in localized sharpening, one needs some "higher knowledge" that the feature is indeed present, and not simply a random interpretation of an astronomical ink blot test.

Really high res images (eg the ESO data I linked to) of NGC253 do not show these streamers. Not much more to say really....

stevenc77 · #17 09-10-2008, 10:53 PM

I'll bet you think that you are good!................Well you bloody well are!

Peter Ward · #18 09-10-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenc77

I'll bet you think that you are good!................Well you bloody well are!

Nah.... I'm just lucky enough to have some really cool toys.

Bassnut (Fred) · #19 09-10-2008, 11:55 PM

So, umm, does that mean just the toys are good, like umm, its mainly the tools

.

Tandum (Robin) · #20 10-10-2008, 02:24 AM

Peter, check this out. Far sharper than yours and done by a noob.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=35940