Wide fields: Coalsack, Tail of Scorpius, Rho Ophiuchi

naskies (Dave) · #1 21-05-2012, 09:23 AM

Hi everyone,

Hooray - clear skies and cool weather in Leyburn last weekend meant that I could finally capture some of the images I've been after for months.

(Click on the links for higher quality versions.)

1. Coalsack and Dark Doodad Nebulae: 20x 90 sec (total 30 mins), 135 mm, f/4, ISO 3200.

2. Tail of Scorpius: 18x 180 sec (total 54 mins), 135 mm, f/4, ISO 1600.

3. Rho Ophiuchi: 35x (31 stacked) 180 sec (total 105 mins), 135 mm, f/4, ISO 1600.

4. Self portrait under the "emu": 1x 30 sec 14 mm f/2.8 ISO 6400 (fixed tripod).

Images 1-3 were shot with a Canon 5DmkII and 135 mm f/2L lens on an Astrotrac. Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Dave

multiweb (Marc) · #2 21-05-2012, 09:31 AM

Absolutely gorgeous. Loved them all!

iceman (Mike) · #3 21-05-2012, 09:33 AM

Amazing images - the first 3 are stunning.

troypiggo (Troy) · #4 21-05-2012, 10:57 AM

Very nice set. The astrotrac seems to do well at that focal length.

RickS (Rick) · #5 21-05-2012, 11:24 AM

Beautiful shots, Dave! You had a very productive night.

Cheers,
Rick.

DavidTrap (David) · #6 21-05-2012, 05:16 PM

These are incredible Dave!

I hope I can get my widefield setup humming like yours.

DT

Martin Pugh · #7 21-05-2012, 05:31 PM

Great work. I particularly like the Rho Ophiuchi image.

well done
Martin

DavidU (Dave) · #8 21-05-2012, 05:32 PM

Wonderful stuff ! The site looks nice & dark. Well done,

tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook) · #9 21-05-2012, 05:49 PM

Hi Dave,

Absolutely stunning!!!

These images are so sharp and full of detail

Cheers,

Justin.

rogerg (Roger) · #10 21-05-2012, 06:26 PM

Stunning colour and clarity

I take it the 5D is not modified? I'm surprised at the colour you have. I really must sort out getting the most colour from my DSLR shots, I'm sure there must be more in there than I squeeze out

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #11 21-05-2012, 06:37 PM

Oh wow wow wow

naskies (Dave) · #12 21-05-2012, 09:09 PM

Thanks everyone!

I think I'm slowly-but-surely starting to figure out how to make the wide field DSO images pop...

Troy - the Canon 135 mm f/2L lens happens to be one of my favourites.

Rick - thanks! I hope you had some success yourself?

David - I'm looking forward to seeing what magic the D800 can do!

Roger - Yep, it's a stock unmodified camera. Here's one of the Rho Ophiuchi subs completely unedited except for resizing - the dark nebulosity and colours were easily visible on the back of the camera.

RickS (Rick) · #13 21-05-2012, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naskies

Rick - thanks! I hope you had some success yourself?

I did thanks, Dave, but I used a 2000mm f/8 lens

I'll processing for a few more evenings to do justice to the data, I think.

Visionoz (Bill) · #14 21-05-2012, 10:17 PM

Wow David - sweet collection there!

Cheers
Bill

Lester · #15 22-05-2012, 12:39 AM

Fantastic views Dave. I really need to brush up on my processing. Wow, thanks for the views. All the best.

dvj (John) · #16 22-05-2012, 02:47 AM

Outstanding images, all of them. Great contrast and color.

j

MrB (Simon) · #17 22-05-2012, 03:30 AM

WOW Dave, the Rho Ophiuchi shot is stunning, would love to get a shot like that!

I am confused tho, didn't you sell the Astrotrac a few months back?

gregbradley · #18 22-05-2012, 04:28 AM

They are superb images.

Greg.

CapturingTheNight (Greg) · #19 22-05-2012, 06:27 AM

WOW. My jaw just hit the floor. Stunning images Dave. Congratulations.

rogerg (Roger) · #20 22-05-2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naskies

Roger - Yep, it's a stock unmodified camera. Here's one of the Rho Ophiuchi subs completely unedited except for resizing - the dark nebulosity and colours were easily visible on the back of the camera.

It's the colour I'm surprised at .. I think you have very good processing skills, to be able to bring out the colour without making it look too higher contrast or too over processed