Chamaeleontic dust

marco (Marco Lorenzi) · #1 25-07-2012, 01:37 PM

Dear all, I have been away from this forum (and astroimaging) for a while but eventually managed to process and post another image. This one is centered on the Chamaeleon I complex, one of three large clouds found in this southern constellation. This complex is a site of low mass star formation, which is characterised visually by various reflection nebulae including IC 2631 to the north and the blue nebula Ced 111 and the white reflection nebula Ced 110 to the south. The great obscuring mass of thick brown dust in the region absorbs the blue light of distant stars making them appear much redder than they actually are. This process of interstellar reddening also affects the light of distant galaxies in the line of sight, making them look less blue. The Chamaeleon I complex has been subjected to many searches for young stellar objects that predict that star formation began 3-4 million years ago in the northern half of the cloud and 5-6 million years ago in the southern half. Star formation in the cloud is still ensuing at a declining rate until eventually it will completely cease. Other optically visible signs of star formation are represented by small Herbig Haro objects, of which HH 49 and HH 50 are prominently visible in the region between Ced 110 and Ced 111. Also visible in the image is a unique curiosity, a colourful orange nebula below the reflection nebula Ced 111. This is the Chamaeleon Infrared Nebula, a bipolar infrared reflection nebula that also happens to be visible optically. Its bipolar nature is only visible in infrared images as well as its illuminating source.

Chamaeleon I complex

This LRGB collected a bit more than 10 hours of light, mostly in luminance. Considering the beauty of the area, it is a mistery to me why there are not so many amateur images around

Hope you will like it
Clear skies
Marco

Nortilus (Josh) · #2 25-07-2012, 01:51 PM

that is remarkable...well done...i truely love that pic

marco (Marco Lorenzi) · #3 25-07-2012, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nortilus

that is remarkable...well done...i truely love that pic

Thanks Josh

Clear skies
Marco

strongmanmike (Michael) · #4 25-07-2012, 02:34 PM

Fabulous rendition Marco, can be enjoyed for several minutes

and a great size field to use on it too - very Tom Davis like

This is on my list of things to point the AG12 at under dark skies when I move to dark skies in a few weeks

Mike

tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook) · #5 25-07-2012, 02:40 PM

Another amazing image Marco!!

And another one I never knew existed, might have a go at this don't know how it will come up with my modest setup.

Cheers,

Justin.

MrB (Simon) · #6 25-07-2012, 02:59 PM

Awesome image Marco, love the perceived depth in these dust images.

dvj (John) · #7 25-07-2012, 03:54 PM

It's a beautiful shot. Southern skies are filled with gems like this.

RickS (Rick) · #8 25-07-2012, 04:31 PM

Very beautiful and deep, Marco! A lot of features remarkably similar to the Corona Australis region.

Cheers,
Rick.

gregbradley · #9 25-07-2012, 05:16 PM

A fabulous image Marco, terrific processing.

Greg.

Paul Haese · #10 25-07-2012, 06:13 PM

Very nice Marco. I did this a couple of months ago while it was rising; and did a lot of hours on it but it needs much more time. I like your version more than mine mainly because of the view and how smooth you got the image. I will get more data on it next year but for now I will be encouraged by your lovely image.

BTW Greg also did this too. APOD site has lots of records of this object too.

atalas · #11 25-07-2012, 06:19 PM

Great work again Marco!

John Hothersall · #12 25-07-2012, 07:03 PM

Love how that dust is so black, splendid object as usual.

John.

Martin Pugh · #13 25-07-2012, 07:28 PM

Very nice Marco. You brought the dust out really well.

cheers
Martin

Peter Ward · #14 25-07-2012, 07:53 PM

Very pretty yet rarely imaged...probably due its faint nature

Expertly captured. Like it alot.

marco (Marco Lorenzi) · #15 25-07-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Very pretty yet rarely imaged...probably due its faint nature

Expertly captured. Like it alot.

Thanks Peter, glad you like it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Pugh

Very nice Marco. You brought the dust out really well.

cheers
Martin

Thanks Martin, appreciate!

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hothersall

Love how that dust is so black, splendid object as usual.

John.

Thanks John, too kind of you

Quote:

Originally Posted by atalas

Great work again Marco!

Thanks Louie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Very nice Marco. I did this a couple of months ago while it was rising; and did a lot of hours on it but it needs much more time. I like your version more than mine mainly because of the view and how smooth you got the image. I will get more data on it next year but for now I will be encouraged by your lovely image.

BTW Greg also did this too. APOD site has lots of records of this object too.

Hi Paul, thanks for the appreciation. I was aware of your shot but I missed the nice one made by Greg, saw it just now. Yes, you are right there are also some mentions on APOD page, but no one reporting the whole shebang. Apart from that I was able to find another handful of images, not so many when you can find hundreds on some more popular (and perhaps easier) targets

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

A fabulous image Marco, terrific processing.

Greg.

Thanks Greg, as wrote above, my compliments for your rendition too, I had missed that

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickS

Very beautiful and deep, Marco! A lot of features remarkably similar to the Corona Australis region.

Cheers,
Rick.

Thanks Rick!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvj

It's a beautiful shot. Southern skies are filled with gems like this.

Could not agree more with you John! Thanks for the appreciation

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

Awesome image Marco, love the perceived depth in these dust images.

Thanks Simon, have to say that a kind of love is growing on me too on this dusty areas, they give a nice sense of depth as you said

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilbrook@rbe.ne

Another amazing image Marco!!

And another one I never knew existed, might have a go at this don't know how it will come up with my modest setup.

Cheers,

Justin.

Thanks Justin, happy to inspire your next target so

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Fabulous rendition Marco, can be enjoyed for several minutes

and a great size field to use on it too - very Tom Davis like

This is on my list of things to point the AG12 at under dark skies when I move to dark skies in a few weeks

Mike

Thanks mate. With your fast optic (and same camera) under dark skies you should be able to make wonders. I look forward for it than, wish you clear skies for your trip!

Marco