M42 and Running Man 27.9 hours

[multiweb (Marc)]

Proof is the pudding. Too good! Go mega-data
I reckon winning the malins with a DSO as popular and common as M42 is like winning the Tour de France with one arm tied in the back. Tall order.

[astronobob (Bob)]

Stunning Dust Paul !

[Phoenix (Steve)]

Wonderful image Paul. Congratulations on the award - well deserved.

[g__day (Matthew)]

World class Paul!

[Paul Haese]

Thanks all for the comments.

Originally Posted by iceman

Beautiful image Paul, well done on the win.
This is now IOTW.

Thank you Mike for this honour.

Originally Posted by multiweb

Proof is the pudding. Too good! Go mega-data
I reckon winning the malins with a DSO as popular and common as M42 is like winning the Tour de France with one arm tied in the back. Tall order.

Yep a tough ask for an object that David considers his favourite. I spent several days umming and ahhing to make sure I had the image the way he would like it. I collected lots of data and I ditched lots of data that I considered inferior.

I saw a lecture from him in Adelaide a year or so ago and he was talking about M42 and the way he would like to see it imaged and processed. I took note of those ideas and mentioned it at the time to a mate whom I was sitting with. Initially I had considered putting it in as a black and white image. He said in the lecture he had a strong affinity with black and white shots of this object. In the end with guidance I decided upon the colour choice. In short I did plan on doing this image to suit David's taste but as always it may or may not suit what he likes. This time I was lucky. Good data helped for sure.

[dylan_odonnell (Dylan)]

Absolutely jaw dropping. :O

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by dylan_odonnell

Absolutely jaw dropping. :O

Thank you. That is what I was aiming for in this image.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Well yes, despite the yawn factor with friggen M42, this is a most excellent rendition and a pleasure to view. A new classic reference.

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Well yes, despite the yawn factor with friggen M42, this is a most excellent rendition and a pleasure to view. A new classic reference.

LOL, yawn factor on the gas. Dust factor 10 . Yep probably the most imaged part of the sky.

[Neil]

I don't think I have ever seen a better amateur image! Simply astounding, well done.

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by Neil

I don't think I have ever seen a better amateur image! Simply astounding, well done.

Thank you very much Neil. Though I reckon you could find one or more images that are better. Rogelio has some very lovely images of this object. Perhaps a little wider field.

Thank you, though for your compliment

[ChrisM]

Congratulations Paul. A great effort!
Chris

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

That's just gorgeous Paul.
So silky smooth. It's like chocolate. It's that good.

[Paul Haese]

Thanks for the comments. JJJ that gas does look a bit like chocolate. That is an interesting thought.

[aljo2345]

amazing!

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by aljo2345

amazing!

Thank you.

[PeterEde (Peter)]

Amazing image
Congrats on the very worthy win

[kkara4 (Krishan)]

This is one of the most insanely good images I have every seen Paul, and is the very reason that many of us are driven further to work towards getting images as good as this.

Thanks for the inspiration!

It will take me many years to get 50+ hours of data on anything, yet alone on one object!

[Elio]

A new classic reference as others say... very well done, it's a plasure for the eyes ;-)

[Ross G]

Hello Paul,

A beautiful photo!

This will be a benchmark for many upcoming M42 photos.

Congratulations on your David Malin Award...well deserved!

Ross.