The Plunge (SH 2-308)

[joshman (Josh)]

I give you, The Plunge, as I've affectionately come to name it. I've been sitting on this one for the last few months, just waiting for the right time to put it out there.

And now that the Astrophotography Prize is over, I feel the time is right; I wanted to enter this without it having been seen by anyone. While I was unable to view the live-stream on Saturday morning, the written feedback provided by the judges indicate that this was definitely my strongest entry, So I'm pretty happy with that.

I really enjoy this portrait orientation, and I'll probably get it printed large to hang somewhere. I've also been starting at this in landscape as my desktop background at work for the last few months, and it works equally as well in that orientation too.

Click through the link above, or the link below to see it, and the capture details on Astrobin.

ASTROBIN

Thanks for looking, and Clear Skies!

[alan meehan (Alan)]

Got to say josh that is a awesome shot and well processed top shelf

ALAN

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by joshman

the written feedback provided by the judges indicate that this was definitely my strongest entry, So I'm pretty happy with that.

It's a hell of an image Josh! fantastic, one to be very proud of

Mike

[Dave882 (David)]

Wow that’s spectacular Josh. Amazing framing and just beautiful colour. Great work!! Love the title too!

[Startrek (Martin)]

Josh,
Tremendous image
Can’t believe you only needed 7 hours to pull all that detail out on such a faint target and with 2 min subs as well
My brother lives in Toormina and I’d guess his skies are B3/4 so that would be a huge advantage if your around that area but still a great result for very little integration
Resolution, framing and colour all top shelf stuff
All of us under a B8 Sydney light dome can only drool
Well done !!!
Martin

[joshman (Josh)]

Originally Posted by alan meehan

Got to say josh that is a awesome shot and well processed top shelf

ALAN

Thanks Alan! It's definitely up there as one of my best images.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

It's a hell of an image Josh! fantastic, one to be very proud of
Mike

Thanks Mike!
I knew this one was pretty special after I processed it up in this orientation. Hopefully I can get something as equally good over the next 12 months ready for next year!

Originally Posted by Dave882

Wow that’s spectacular Josh. Amazing framing and just beautiful colour. Great work!! Love the title too!

Thank you for the kind words Dave! It's been a long time since i've felt the need to "name" an image.

Originally Posted by Startrek

Josh,
Tremendous image
Can’t believe you only needed 7 hours to pull all that detail out on such a faint target and with 2 min subs as well
My brother lives in Toormina and I’d guess his skies are B3/4 so that would be a huge advantage if your around that area but still a great result for very little integration
Resolution, framing and colour all top shelf stuff
All of us under a B8 Sydney light dome can only drool
Well done !!!
Martin

Thanks Martin! Funnily enough, I also live in Toormina. and yes, I would estimate I'm on the edge of a B3/4 zone. Looking south is significantly darker than looking North into the light dome of Coffs.

[gregbradley]

That's a terrific image Josh.

The short exposure and many images stacked approach worked well.

Greg.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

That's a stunning image!
I'm trying to work out how many weeks in 7 hours of imaging, in my neighbourhood probably around 8 if I throw in the trees, mountains and cloud, maybe 12 come to think of it.
One day i'm going to find a nice place to park my mount where I get better than 1 hour.....One day.....

[joshman (Josh)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

That's a terrific image Josh.

The short exposure and many images stacked approach worked well.

Greg.

Thanks Greg! I don't think the short exposures were intentional in my strategy for capturing this one was my intention, it was a just a byproduct of the harmonic mount and terrible weather. I had a much high keep rate with the shorter exposures!

Originally Posted by Leo.G

That's a stunning image!
I'm trying to work out how many weeks in 7 hours of imaging, in my neighbourhood probably around 8 if I throw in the trees, mountains and cloud, maybe 12 come to think of it.
One day i'm going to find a nice place to park my mount where I get better than 1 hour.....One day.....

Thanks Leo! This was hard fought through all the clouds when I was imaging it, I wish I had kept a bit more data on the conditions, but I know from the relatively low amount of integration time compared to my usual, that my conditions were pretty bad.

I definitely feel very lucky that I've been fortunate to have the ability to prioritise some aspects of my living arrangements around this hobby.

[foc (Ross)]

Very cool I had not previously paid attention to this DSO, possibly because it is often very hard to get 7 hours of even very crappy imaging time here with cloud, surging jet-stream, wind and moonlight/urban glow. Perhaps next year will be the year of great Southern astro imaging conditions!

There is much very fine DSO work on this site and I usually do not comment but I feel compelled to say great job! on this terrific work!

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Great work Josh.

Nice to see this object in context with the surrounding sky.

[astronobob (Bob)]

Very Eye-Catching Image Josh, cool composition too,,,