A Dumbbell by name - a gem by nature (Updated)

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

I always knew this wasn't going to be easy!! From Sydney it's max altitude is 33 degrees or so and most of my imaging was done well below that!! Seeing and transparency are rarely any good at this altitude. I was finally defeated by weather this last week and was unable to get the additional Ha I wanted to bring up the outer shells with more clarity. All up, I threw out more data than I used!

Anyway, enough excuses, it's an object I've always wanted to image and I think what I've got is respectable under the circumstances.

Full res:
http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/146168301/original

Cheers, Marcus

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Very nice, Marcus!

[multiweb (Marc)]

Nice one. The details on the high-res are very sharp.

[RickS (Rick)]

Well done, Marcus! Very respectable, indeed.

[Logieberra (Logan)]

That extended TOA at F11.7 works a treat, great pic

[David Fitz-Henr]

Brilliant image Marcus, nice details and great colour processing as usual! ... and especially considering it's at such a low altitiude.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

That's a ripper Marcus!

Cheers,

Justin.

[Stevec35 (Steve)]

Very respectable indeed Marcus. Beats my effort from Arizona.

Cheers

Steve

[stardust steve (Steve)]

Great effort and image. I have just dipped my toe in this vast ocean of AP and i am already throwing away frames before i have even started
Edit- full res image is an absolute cracker

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Love the hi res version Marcus. Details are amazing.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Simply beautiful. Great to see some new work from you, Marcus.

H

[Paul Haese]

Cool Marcus. Despite what you describe this is a really nice image. Colour looks great.

[Star Catcher (Ted Dobosz)]

Looks good to me Marc. Well done.
Ted

[Martin Pugh]

You've caught a good deal of the outer nebulosity there Marcus and you also have that nice teal colour in the nebula. Good job.

cheers
Martin

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by Larryp

Very nice, Marcus!

Thanks very much Laurie!

Originally Posted by multiweb

Nice one. The details on the high-res are very sharp.

Cheers Marc! Not quite as good as it would have been if imaged at higher altitudes, but not bad.

Originally Posted by RickS

Well done, Marcus! Very respectable, indeed.

Thanks Rick!

Originally Posted by Logieberra

That extended TOA at F11.7 works a treat, great pic

Yes indeed it does! Do I see a new refractor in your life soon Logan?

Originally Posted by David Fitz-Henr

Brilliant image Marcus, nice details and great colour processing as usual! ... and especially considering it's at such a low altitiude.

Thanks David! Glad you liked it! That new DIY astrograph of yours will be blitzing us all soon!

Originally Posted by tilbrook@rbe.ne

That's a ripper Marcus!

Cheers,

Justin.

Thanks Justin!

Originally Posted by Stevec
35;896577

Very respectable indeed Marcus. Beats my effort from Arizona.

Cheers

Steve

Thanks a lot Steve - it does needs a bit of magnification to really do it justice. Even at 1760mm I was pushing it IMO - although more wouldn't have helped me at this altitude.

Originally Posted by stardust steve

Great effort and image. I have just dipped my toe in this vast ocean of AP and i am already throwing away frames before i have even started

Edit- full res image is an absolute cracker

Hi Steve, thanks! I'm not used to throwing so much away but you have to be ruthless. Good luck!

Originally Posted by peter_4059

Love the hi res version Marcus. Details are amazing.

Thanks Peter!

Originally Posted by Octane

Simply beautiful. Great to see some new work from you, Marcus.

H

Cheers H! Yes, between work and clouds it's hard to find quality time. But with El Nino on the way maybe we'll all have a surplus of clear nights soon!

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Cool Marcus. Despite what you describe this is a really nice image. Colour looks great.

Thanks Paul - glad you think so. Yes, many renderings are too blue IMO. When I created my RGB master it was too green! When I finished the final colour balancing it was torquoise / teal - a nice compromise!

Originally Posted by Star Catcher

Looks good to me Marc. Well done.
Ted

Cheers Ted!

Originally Posted by Martin Pugh

You've caught a good deal of the outer nebulosity there Marcus and you also have that nice teal colour in the nebula. Good job.

cheers
Martin

Thanks a lot mate! I struggled a bit during processing for lack of enough Ha, but I'm reasonably happy.

[Ross G]

A great looking photo Marcus.

Beautiful colours.

The detail is amazing. The "shimmering" in the body gives it a "Stargate" look.

Ross.

[Leonardo70 (Leonardo Orazi)]

It's more than respectable...
Great shot....

All the best,
Leo

[RobF (Rob)]

Wonderful work Marcus. Always look forward to seeing your next project. Love the colours and detail even with the challenges you described. The dumbell itself if great, but LOVE the natural star colours and out shells you've shown. Very tasty....!

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

from any latitude, it's an amazing image.

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by Ross G

A great looking photo Marcus.

Beautiful colours.

The detail is amazing. The "shimmering" in the body gives it a "Stargate" look.

Ross.

Cheers Ross. Considering the altitude and the aperture the detail's not bad. What I wouldn't give for a 5000ft mountain in the middle of nowhere though!

Originally Posted by Leonardo70

It's more than respectable...
Great shot....

All the best,
Leo

Thanks a lot Leo! I guess I'm a tough critic of my own work - I see all the improvements that could be made.

Originally Posted by RobF

Wonderful work Marcus. Always look forward to seeing your next project. Love the colours and detail even with the challenges you described. The dumbell itself if great, but LOVE the natural star colours and out shells you've shown. Very tasty....!

Hey thanks Rob! I always make sure to spend processing time on the stars - they can make or break an image!

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

from any latitude, it's an amazing image.

Thanks a lot JJ - glad you think so!