Chamaeleon Molecular Cloud meets the Dark Doodad

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Hi all,

this is my wide field image of the region from the Chamaeleon Molecular Cloud to the Dark Doodad.

I spent a while processing this as I had significant gradients to deal with despite the Bortle 3/4 skies at my friend's place. It spans approximately 12 degrees of sky.
Sadly, due to weather & other reasons, this was my only night under dark skies for the year so far (and the moon rose at 11:40).

Pentax K-5iis (modded), Samyang 135mm f2.0 lens, tracked (but unguided) on my almost 40 year old Vixen Super Polaris mount.
80 x 90 sec exposures (2 hours only) at ISO 400 & f2.8.

Really needs viewing at higher resolution here: Astrobin Chamaeleon to Doodad

Thanks for viewing,
Pete.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

This is bluudy great Pete, so sharp and love the refreshingly different and interesting composition too, the big scary dust monster on the left, with multiple grappling arms, just coming into he frame, clearly chasing the USS Cygnus vessel, fleeing to the right, so cool

Mike

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

This is bluudy great Pete, so sharp and love the refreshingly different and interesting composition too, the big scary dust monster on the left, with multiple grappling arms, just coming into he frame, clearly chasing the USS Cygnus vessel, fleeing to the right, so cool

Mike

Thanks Mike, I really appreciate your comments!

I didn't catch the reference initially but do remember watching the movie back in the day.

Cheers,
Pete