NGC2736 - Pencil Nebula

jase (Jason) · #1 07-03-2010, 12:38 AM

Hi,

...Still processing data from a few previous runs. I sat on this one for a while given Greg recently posted a great image on the target and I'm not one to show competing images. So, here's my rendition of the scene;

NGC2736 - Pencil Nebula (aka Herschel's Ray)

Less than perfect data making gradients a tall order to deal with. Feels a little too turbulent for my tastes, but I was keen to avoid making it uber smooth like plastic. That said good detail was obtained in the Ha data set. No OIII acquired. The blue and green channels were relatively strong to begin with on the RGB combine, however to give them more punch I blended (Ha+L) in to green at 30% and blue at 20% which was selectively masked. Less than ideal, but worked out once channels were balanced. Apologies if this upsets the imaging purist, but in this instance it wasn't the journey, but the destination.

Enjoy!

Cheers

strongmanmike (Michael) · #2 07-03-2010, 12:53 AM

Very nice work again Jase

It's a kinda quirky odd piece of nebulosity really but still, interesting.

Mike

Octane (Humayun) · #3 07-03-2010, 12:58 AM

Jase,

Beautiful, as always.

Although, I can't help but feel the composition is a little left heavy.

Minor criticism, though.

Looking forward to more.

H

skeltz (Rob) · #4 07-03-2010, 01:07 AM

mmm...look s bloody good to me jase ....keep up the good work!

jase (Jason) · #5 07-03-2010, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Very nice work again Jase

It's a kinda quirky odd piece of nebulosity really but still, interesting.

Mike

Hey Mike, thanks! Certainly is an interesting neb, but really the whole Vela SNR complex is a gold field full of treasures. Difficult to say if the region is better suited to traditional RGB or narrowband imaging. Both work I guess. Thanks again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

Jase,

Beautiful, as always.

Although, I can't help but feel the composition is a little left heavy.

Minor criticism, though.

Looking forward to more.

H

Thanks H.

Yes, I procrastinated over the framing. Guide star selection with the PIR was probably poor judgement on my part. I could rotate the image 90 CCW and call it the sling-shot nebula

. I settled on this composition as I liken it to being similar to entrancing Veil nebula. So I'll call the composition, the southern witch's broom stick.

All jokes aside, I do acknowledge your comment. The twists of neb in the lower left corner don't help with the weighting. It will have to do for now. Thanks for your constructive feedback.

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeltz

mmm...look s bloody good to me jase ....keep up the good work!

Thanks Rob! Haven't seen you around the traps for a while (neither have I been however). Hope you've still got the Titan. Thanks for your comments.

skeltz (Rob) · #6 07-03-2010, 01:22 AM

no probs bro good too see you!

Martin Pugh · #7 07-03-2010, 06:24 AM

Very nicely rendered Jase.

take care
Martin

spearo (Frank) · #8 07-03-2010, 07:43 AM

Looks great
I have yet to learn how to mix and blend all these channels!
so much to learn...so little clear sky time...
frank

avandonk · #9 07-03-2010, 10:05 AM

Looks alright to me Jase.

Here is an animated GIF of your red channel with my image in HA. 2MB

http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.co...10_03/jgif.gif

I made it high res so the 16" RCOS was not disadvantaged.

We are comparing 300 mm APO lens to 3360 mm RCOS.

Bert

gregbradley · #10 07-03-2010, 10:09 AM

Wow, that is just sensational. I love it.

Perfect framing and colour, lots of detail and that nice little jellyfish style neb in the bottom right. Gorgeous.

Where is the 16 inch RCOS located? Gee they are good scopes.

Greg.

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #11 07-03-2010, 11:22 AM

Hey Jase - very nice mate, as always!

I wouldn't call myself a purist, but blending Ha with blue & green? ... I dunno

.

Cheers, Marcus

multiweb (Marc) · #12 07-03-2010, 01:36 PM

Beautiful rendition - top work as usual.

gbeal · #13 07-03-2010, 03:25 PM

Lovely shot Jase. I have about 2 hours of Ha and O3 and was quite happy with my meagre efforts, until I saw this.
Gary

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #14 07-03-2010, 04:15 PM

Top work... again

telecasterguru (Frank) · #15 07-03-2010, 05:16 PM

Beautiful image.

Frank

AlexN · #16 07-03-2010, 05:26 PM

Lovely... One of my favorite areas of Vela..

Paul Haese · #17 07-03-2010, 08:58 PM

Nice going Jase, some of the gradient work is just ever so slightly visible; but this is certainly a lovely image. Wish I could do the same.

Peter Ward · #18 07-03-2010, 09:37 PM

Jase, a wonderful renditon of a tough object.

Excellent acquisition and processing.....Great scale (16"RCOS Hummm....)

Top shelf to be sure!

jase (Jason) · #19 08-03-2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Pugh

Very nicely rendered Jase.

take care
Martin

Cheers Martin! Thanks for checking it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearo

Looks great
I have yet to learn how to mix and blend all these channels!
so much to learn...so little clear sky time...
frank

One word Frank - experiment. If you play it by the book all the time, you will not develop the skills. I hear you on the clear sky time. I'm using gear all over the place, not just mine so at present I've got more data than time to process. It doesn't rain, it pours. Next few months I'll probably release nothing...who knows!

Looking forward to seeing your results of the CCD imaging journey...Thanks for taking the time to check out the image and make comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by avandonk

Looks alright to me Jase.

Here is an animated GIF of your red channel with my image in HA. 2MB

http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.co...10_03/jgif.gif

I made it high res so the 16" RCOS was not disadvantaged.

We are comparing 300 mm APO lens to 3360 mm RCOS.

Bert

Thanks Bert.

I like your comparison. 300mm lens packs some punch thats for sure. I was admiring you Eta mosaic the other day. May use it for a scaffold image in due time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Wow, that is just sensational. I love it.

Perfect framing and colour, lots of detail and that nice little jellyfish style neb in the bottom right. Gorgeous.

Where is the 16 inch RCOS located? Gee they are good scopes.

Greg.

Cheers Greg.

I liked your rendition too, despite the thread going slightly off track. The 16" RC is located in Victoria.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Hey Jase - very nice mate, as always!

I wouldn't call myself a purist, but blending Ha with blue & green? ... I dunno

.

Cheers, Marcus

Ummm... you're a purist Marcus.

You're in denial or something

Seriously, you're only limited by your imagination and skills. As I've already mentioned, if you play it by the book all the time, I don't see the value. You should try it sometime. Thanks for checking it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Beautiful rendition - top work as usual.

Thanks Marc. Appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbeal

Lovely shot Jase. I have about 2 hours of Ha and O3 and was quite happy with my meagre efforts, until I saw this.
Gary

Hey Gary...must of sparked interested to get a comment from you.

Only kidding mate. Seriously, post your image. Every image portrays the scene differently so deserves it own time in the spot light. Pleased you liked my rendition and thanks for making a comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolhandJo

Top work... again

Thanks Paul. Pleased you liked it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecasterguru

Beautiful image.

Frank

Cheers Frank!

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

Lovely... One of my favorite areas of Vela..

Thanks Alex!

I could agree more. It certainly is a special area for imaging. Thanks for you comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Nice going Jase, some of the gradient work is just ever so slightly visible; but this is certainly a lovely image. Wish I could do the same.

Cheers Paul.

Yes, as I mentioned I feel the background is turbulent. I can image lower than 50 degrees in the east with this rig as the gradients get too nasty. I'm use to dealing with them, but these took nearly all the tricks out of the bag. Lets just say GradientXterminator couldn't tame them, resulting in manual extraction using masks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Jase, a wonderful renditon of a tough object.

Excellent acquisition and processing.....Great scale (16"RCOS Hummm....)

Top shelf to be sure!

Thanks Peter. Its not an easy target, but I'm pleased with the result none the less. Pleased you enjoyed it too!

====

Thanks again all for your support. Appreciated.

avandonk · #20 08-03-2010, 09:02 PM

Thanks Bert.

I like your comparison. 300mm lens packs some punch thats for sure. I was admiring you Eta mosaic the other day. May use it for a scaffold image in due time.

I might start up a new business 'scaffolding for the gentry'. Just kidding.

Anytime anyone needs an almost perfectly rectilinear image as a scaffold for a mosaic with longer length optics just ask.

We are all doing battle with the limitations of our hardware. Collaboration is one way to win.

Actually Jase the 300mm Canon F2.8L is really a 290mm focal length lens. That way they can crib a bit to call it f/2.8 with a clear aperture of 104mm. To be f/2.8 at 300mm the clear aperture would be 107mm. The real limiting factor and expense is the single crystal of Magnesium Fluoride that is the heart of this lens. This single crystal element is in an 'o' ring sealed nitrogen atmosphere. There are also two ED elements in the main front lens combination. The front element is an optical flat which can be easily replaced if damaged.

I have had this lens out in the worst conditions for many years and it still performs like new. It is fully sealed against dust and moisture!

Sorry about the rant. Imagine how long the rant would be if I had a 16" RCOS!

Bert