Ptolemy's Jewels AG12

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

I forgot I grabbed this data last imaging session two weeks ago - ha bonus!

Because it was new moon and I thought what the heck...many of you will be relieved to know it is actually an LRGB and not narrow band

Taken with the 12" F3.8 Orion Optics Astrograph and FLI Proline 16803 this is the beautiful open cluster M7 in Scorpius and surrounding golden sands star field.

Here is a 50% resolution version (slight crop) try shrinking it in your browser to 75% and use full screen mode (F11)

And of course here is the whole album of various zooms, includng the full 1.8deg X 1.8deg version and close-ups of a cool planetary Neb near the main cluster and a globular cluster too

Cheers

Mike

[beren]

Very fine image as usual Mike, rich star colour looks great.........checking your gear pics the imaging chain hanging off the Orion is pretty impressive

[John Hothersall]

I know M7 has a starry backdrop but that is insane, there is no space between. Love the black niches of dust all over, you have such a wide field for a big scope thats for sure.

Each of your AG12 efforts is a big event here - just love them.

John.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Beautiful image Mike.
Tight, round stars. great colour. Nicely differentiated.
The 12" seems to like you!

[multiweb (Marc)]

That's a beaute Mike. Love it! M7 is a cool cluster because it's nested in that dust and starry background. Great contrast.

[Hagar (Doug)]

Lovely Mike, etremely colourful star field and cluster.
Lovely clean, sharp image.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by beren

Very fine image as usual Mike, rich star colour looks great.........checking your gear pics the imaging chain hanging off the Orion is pretty impressive

Yeh it's a capable bit of kit Beren...still hasn't hits is real straps yet but soon

Originally Posted by Hagar

Lovely Mike, etremely colourful star field and cluster.
Lovely clean, sharp image.

Thanks Doug having a great wide field at good image scale really helps with the versatility.

Originally Posted by multiweb

That's a beaute Mike. Love it! M7 is a cool cluster because it's nested in that dust and starry background. Great contrast.

Cheers Aragnou MP

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

Beautiful image Mike.
Tight, round stars. great colour. Nicely differentiated.
The 12" seems to like you!

Cheers Peter, Yes the AG12 is a formidable bit of imaging kit, I can't wait to get it under dark skies

Originally Posted by John Hothersall

I know M7 has a starry backdrop but that is insane, there is no space between. Love the black niches of dust all over, you have such a wide field for a big scope thats for sure.

Each of your AG12 efforts is a big event here - just love them.

John.

Thanks so much John, I am glad you find the early results with one of John and Barry's babies so enjoyable ...there aren't many of us in Oz yet but I think that will slowly change

[Paul Haese]

Ah very nice star field Mike. Colours look great and the inky blacknest of the dust has no noise. Nicely done.

[gregbradley]

Fabulous Mike. I love the light blue glow around the star ckuster.

Greg.

[DavidU (Dave)]

Yep, it's a beaut ! I love the dust clouds.The 12" is picking up a lot of photons.Nice work

[Stevec35 (Steve)]

That's a top shelf M7 Mike. Great star colour and even the little globular NGC 6453 is well resolved.

Cheers

Steve

[TrevorW]

A fine image that has a 3d depth to it

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Ah very nice star field Mike. Colours look great and the inky blacknest of the dust has no noise. Nicely done.

Others here have done some nice presentations of it. It really is a lovely vista and benifits from the wide and high res field.

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Fabulous Mike. I love the light blue glow around the star ckuster.

Greg.

Thanks Greg, I don't get out as much as you do so I have to ration out the data over a time period, finding forgotten data was a nice surprise during this rainy period

Originally Posted by DavidU

Yep, it's a beaut ! I love the dust clouds.The 12" is picking up a lot of photons.Nice work

Thanks Dave

Originally Posted by Stevec35

That's a top shelf M7 Mike. Great star colour and even the little globular NGC 6453 is well resolved.

Cheers

Steve

Thanks Steve, it's a field that looks good a bit widish.

Originally Posted by TrevorW

A fine image that has a 3d depth to it

Thanks Trevor, yeh the cluster looks distinctly in front of the background star field huh?

Mike

[Phil Hart]

a very fine image of M7 mike.. lovely.

although i often go the 'if in doubt, crop it out' route, in this case i like the uncropped field of view.. it sets the cluster off very nicely against a dramatic background. i like it a lot!

Phil

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by philiphart

a very fine image of M7 mike.. lovely.

although i often go the 'if in doubt, crop it out' route, in this case i like the uncropped field of view.. it sets the cluster off very nicely against a dramatic background. i like it a lot!

Phil

Glad you liked it Phil ...I never know exactly which crop will look best (or no crop) so...I have a version there for all tastes

Mike

[Tom Davis (Tom)]

I lovely image, Mike! Beautiful star colors!

What is going on in the upper left corner? Mis-registration? Slight chip tilt? I can't quite tell.

Tom

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Tom Davis

I lovely image, Mike! Beautiful star colors!

What is going on in the upper left corner? Mis-registration? Slight chip tilt? I can't quite tell.

Tom

Thanks Tommy

Yeees well, good question

[atalas]

Nice work Michael.

[mill (Martin)]

Very nice starfield Mike with perfect star colours.
It makes for a very busy picture with lots to see

[Bolts_Tweed (Mark)]

Good stuff mate

MB