Environs of Orion's belt

[jase (Jason)]

Originally Posted by prova

Awesome mate!

Thanks Mark!

Originally Posted by Dennis

Hi Jase

Okay, after a good night’s rest I’m sufficiently recovered to have a look at your second offering, Thor’s Helmet. Much like haute cuisine, I just couldn’t digest more than one of these amazing images at one sitting and do them justice.

The first and most obvious feature that struck me was simply the size of the main subject; I have always seen this object as a relatively small target in a large field so I was astonished to see the Helmet filling my screen. The next characteristic that leaps out was the extraordinary detail in the structure of the nebula – this has to be the best image of this object ever produced, or at least that I have seen.

The detail in the helmet and the horns is breathtaking and I love the “lace” effect where the background stars are shining through the tendrils that make up the “veil” of the main helmet.

Now that you have finished with your close up of this fascinating object, be sure to return it to its original location, some 15,000 light-years away!

Cheers

Dennis

I didn't mean for the images be so exhausting for you Dennis. Perhaps they're best viewed in small doses, so one can take in the enormity. The Helmet was interesting to process. It was originally planned for a SHO palette, but I was too impressed with the Ha and OIII data alone. I haven't done many narrowband and broadband blends before. They typically upset the narrowband purist, but when aesthetics are on the line, we're not going for going for technicality! My goal is not to just image something for the hell of imaging it, but to produce a memorable rendition that people (myself included) will come back for another look - Orion's belt is a classic example of this. Thanks again for your response - always a pleasure to read.

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Whoa!! That Orion's belt mosaic is just fabulous Jase!! Dare I say possible APOD material? So nice to see you blowing the dust of that measly FSQ too. Frankly, I'm surprised the scope bothered to work for you at all after your blantant, two-timing liaisons with that show pony of a 24"

Cheers, Marcus

Thanks Marcus. Maybe APOD, but probably wont submit it - like all of my images, I just dont send them. I'm not in this for the fame, but solely the pleasure and thrill of processing good data, watch the image come alive. Get a kick out of it everytime. You haven't seen the end of the FSQ. More projects await...just need time to complete them!...or should I say, wean myself off the FL of the insane 24" RC. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by multiweb

Wow. Don't know where to start. Orion widefield was very cool. Thor's Helmet has unbelievable details and colours but my jaws dropped when I opened the galaxy shot. That's as good as it gets

Cheers Marc. Yes, the Cigar galaxy is quite a visually pleasing target...and no Ha data as well to bring out the ejecta. I simply combined the luminance and red filtered subs, then layered this back into the image to bring out this feature. Came at a price though as I'm not happy with the colour noise extension on the ejecta. I'll look at resolving this in due time as it bothers me a little. I was amazed how much dynamic range the galaxy has. I used three layers in PS CS4 to manage the intensity. This provided the ability to manage the details in the core while still obtaining the full extension of the outer regions. DDP wasn't a good candidate as the mid tones were too suppressed. The layers took sometime, but the result speaks for itself. Thanks!

Originally Posted by JohnG

Magnificent Jase, magnificent, what else can one say.......

Cheers

Thanks John. Pleased you liked them!

Originally Posted by Hagar

3 superb images Jase. I was starting to think you had skipped the country. Good to see you back with a vengence.

Really Beautiful. I really love the detail in the Galaxy but the amount of detail around the Orion landscape is outstanding. Looks like the FSQ should get more of a workout. You can always send it up to me and I will keep it warm and working.

Great stuff.

No Doug, well I was OS late Jan for work, but things have settled down a little...for now anyway, so need to get some more imaging done. Dark skies contributed to the details in the Orion's belt mosaic, given that there isn't much data to work with. With fires nearby the observatory (churchill, mirboo north and the prom), I'll wait for the smoke to subside before progressing. Will give me time to complete the planning at least...the FSQ is a keeper...its a fun "all-weather" scope to use. Thanks again.

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Thanks again all!

[Garyh]

Awesome like always Jase! Been wondering what you have been up too!
I must admit I really like the Mosaic with the FSQ. Nice and deep and the dust lanes stand out beautifully. You have controlled those stars in the belt very nicely!
cheers Gary

[Craig_L]

Wonderful shots Jase. I do hope you extend the mosaic out to Rigel and the WitchHead.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Jason,

As always, nothing but the finest work.

The detail in the widefield is just astounding. I concur with Dennis, that's the finest Thor's Helmet I have ever seen. It is so 3-dimensional that you want to reach out and touch it. The galaxy, well, not much needs to be said.

Three masterful images, presented masterfully. As always, your work and dedication remains an inspiration.

You sir, are an artisan.

Regards,
Humayun

[peeb61 (Paul)]

AAhhhhhggg! (Stunning Jase)

[AlexN]

10 points and a high five from me... Fantastic...

to be picky.. the flame looks a little pink..

[jase (Jason)]

Originally Posted by Garyh

Awesome like always Jase! Been wondering what you have been up too!
I must admit I really like the Mosaic with the FSQ. Nice and deep and the dust lanes stand out beautifully. You have controlled those stars in the belt very nicely!
cheers Gary

Thanks Gary. Yes, up to no good, but keeping out of trouble... Pleased you like the mosaic. The bright stars across the belt lead to different techniques to control them. I could have been really brutal and curb their brightness to improve the contrast in the surrounding nebulosity, but the image didn't look right. Lets face it...these stars are bright, so might as well make them appear that way!!

Originally Posted by Craig_L

Wonderful shots Jase. I do hope you extend the mosaic out to Rigel and the WitchHead.

Cheers Craig. Hmmm. Rigel and Witch... not sure. I've done them before...but would add a nice dimension to the mosaic.

Originally Posted by Octane

Jason,

As always, nothing but the finest work.

The detail in the widefield is just astounding. I concur with Dennis, that's the finest Thor's Helmet I have ever seen. It is so 3-dimensional that you want to reach out and touch it. The galaxy, well, not much needs to be said.

Three masterful images, presented masterfully. As always, your work and dedication remains an inspiration.

You sir, are an artisan.

Regards,
Humayun

Thanks Humayun. Appreciate the kind words. The trick in adding a depth of field is to smooth the background aspects while sharpening the foreground features. It helps to have transition areas between the two...and make sure you blur your masks... Thanks again.

Originally Posted by peeb61

AAhhhhhggg! (Stunning Jase)

Thanks Paul!

Originally Posted by AlexN

10 points and a high five from me... Fantastic...

to be picky.. the flame looks a little pink..

Thanks Alex. Oh well, can't please everyone.

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Thanks All.

[AlexN]

Oh no.. dont get me wrong... Im pleased.. its utterly outstanding... Just, nobody is perfect (my quirky sense of humour at play!)

[Craig_L]

Originally Posted by jase

Cheers Craig. Hmmm. Rigel and Witch... not sure. I've done them before...but would add a nice dimension to the mosaic.

Seen that one - stunning - my favourite - but still would look good in the mosaic IMHO to give a wider perspective of the constellation.

Cheers

[Peter Ward]

[jase (Jason)]

Originally Posted by AlexN

Oh no.. dont get me wrong... Im pleased.. its utterly outstanding... Just, nobody is perfect (my quirky sense of humour at play!)

No problems Alex. I didn't take it to heart mate. Just a figure of speech. Hey, if I was looking to please everyone, I'd have it reprocessed by now. As I said in the original post, enjoy them for what they're worth.

Originally Posted by Craig_L

Seen that one - stunning - my favourite - but still would look good in the mosaic IMHO to give a wider perspective of the constellation.

Cheers

I'll give it some thought Craig. Nothing is impossible. Given accurate/repeatable telescope pointing and position angle, I can come back and add panels as required. Doubt it will be this season though.

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Thanks Peter.

[Kevnool (Kev)]

An eyeopener and a pleasure as always to view.....Cheers Kev.

[gregbradley]

Oh mate, they are just spectacular images!

A wonderful choice of framing for the Orion with both the Horsehead and M78.

Thors Helmet is simply the best I have seen.

Cigar Galaxy is also simply divine.

Really a class act Jase. Right up there with absolutely anyone.

Greg.

[Ken]

wow Jase three images to be proud of.
Clear skies Ken

[spearo (Frank)]

Jase,
I missed this one earlier
lovely Orion region!
frank

[renormalised (Carl)]

Jase, to be honest with you, I'd put you up there with the likes of Ken Crawford, Rob Gendler and their ilk. Your images are nothing short of spectacular and just as exquisite as any of the other top imagers worldwide. Both yourself and the "Dietzmeister" are so consistently brilliant at what you do, it's a pleasure just to look at the works of art you produce. And don't think that because they are works of art that there's nothing of scientific value in them. They are full of scientific value, even if it's just in the appreciation of the fine work you do. Science and beauty are not mutually exclusive, if anything they're interdependent entities. Neither can be true if it's devoid of the other.

[gbeal]

Man Jase you have been busy, welcome back.
Especially nice to see the FSQ shot.
Gary

[iceman (Mike)]

That is just stunning, Jase. All 3 of them.

The Orion's area is just wonderful and the depth of field work you've done has paid dividends.

Great to see you back, they are just brilliant.

[jase (Jason)]

Originally Posted by Kevnool

An eyeopener and a pleasure as always to view.....Cheers Kev.

Thanks Kev!

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Oh mate, they are just spectacular images!

A wonderful choice of framing for the Orion with both the Horsehead and M78.

Thors Helmet is simply the best I have seen.

Cigar Galaxy is also simply divine.

Really a class act Jase. Right up there with absolutely anyone.

Greg.

Cheers Greg. Its been a while since I did a mosaic. In this instance I used an overlap of around ten percent. This isn't very efficient, but I was cautious. Producing a mosaic only to find there is no overlap on a frame or two is a harsh reality. On reflection, I could have perhaps gone with five percent. Registar will successfully work with as little as three percent. Pleased you also like Thors and the Cigar. Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Ken

wow Jase three images to be proud of.
Clear skies Ken

Thanks Ken!

Originally Posted by spearo

Jase,
I missed this one earlier
lovely Orion region!
frank

Cheers Frank. Pleased you liked "The belt".

Originally Posted by renormalised

Jase, to be honest with you, I'd put you up there with the likes of Ken Crawford, Rob Gendler and their ilk. Your images are nothing short of spectacular and just as exquisite as any of the other top imagers worldwide. Both yourself and the "Dietzmeister" are so consistently brilliant at what you do, it's a pleasure just to look at the works of art you produce. And don't think that because they are works of art that there's nothing of scientific value in them. They are full of scientific value, even if it's just in the appreciation of the fine work you do. Science and beauty are not mutually exclusive, if anything they're interdependent entities. Neither can be true if it's devoid of the other.

Thanks for the kind words Renormalised. Not sure if I'm in the same realm. Those guys are imaging machines with very high output in both quantity and quality. I've still got much to learn on all fronts, but what's important is that I'm having fun doing it. Cheers!

Originally Posted by gbeal

Man Jase you have been busy, welcome back.
Especially nice to see the FSQ shot.
Gary

Cheers Gary!

Originally Posted by iceman

That is just stunning, Jase. All 3 of them.

The Orion's area is just wonderful and the depth of field work you've done has paid dividends.

Great to see you back, they are just brilliant.

Thanks Mike! Pleased you liked them...an interesting mix of targets.

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Thanks for all the support. Appreciated!

[Paul Haese]

These are all lovely images. Each has its own aspects which make it lovely. I am happy to see that my colour rendering of Thors helmet is like yours so I must be close to having that right. Thanks for posting such fine images.