Latest from Bells Observatory. RCW 75 (aka Gum 48a) is not often imaged. It's quite a challenging target with an ocean of bright stars tending to get in the way of the faint neb. With proper techniques, the impact of the stars can be reduced so the the neb detail pops into view.
In any case, this is my first completed image in over a year (!!) thanks largely to the appalling La Lina weather!! I actually started this way back in 2015 with Ha, adding some more in 2017. With a couple of clear nights earlier this month, I gathered LRGB data. I was definitely a bit rusty, but managed a reasonably decent result I think.
This is a 14.66 hour natural palette LHaRGB image. Lum - 3 hrs (10 min subs), Ha - 5.5Hrs (30 min subs), Red - 2Hrs (10 min subs), Green - 2Hrs (10 min subs), Blue - 2.16Hrs (10 min subs)
Summary details of the object are underneath the images.
PS: I processed the image in the Adobe RGB colour space and, for best viewing results, they really should be viewed using Firefox or Edge (2nd best) on a calibrated monitor.
Last edited by marc4darkskies; 23-05-2022 at 11:58 AM.
That's a terrific image of a relatively unimaged target, well done!
Q) Is the red saturation turned up a tad too far? Might be losing a spot of detail as a result.
Regardless, welcome back!
That's a terrific image of a relatively unimaged target, well done!
Q) Is the red saturation turned up a tad too far? Might be losing a spot of detail as a result.
Regardless, welcome back!
Thanks very much Andy! Nah, don't think so. No (significant) details were harmed during the making of this image!
FYI only, I embedded the Adobe RGB colour profile in this image and it really should be viewed using Firefox or Edge (2nd best) on a calibrated monitor.
A great target for your field of view Marcus. There is certainly a lot of Ha activity in this region and well worth chasing down for new targets. I've just checked and RCW 75 is captured within my recent widefield shot centred on Cederblad 122 as well. I can see that it would be a little challenging to process with that busy starfield though I reckon that it has landed in a very good place.
A great target for your field of view Marcus. There is certainly a lot of Ha activity in this region and well worth chasing down for new targets. I've just checked and RCW 75 is captured within my recent widefield shot centred on Cederblad 122 as well. I can see that it would be a little challenging to process with that busy starfield though I reckon that it has landed in a very good place.
Thanks Rodney! Ah yes! I see it in your widefield. Indeed, the star field was very challenging to tame. A mix of techniques were used and it took me 5 days of tinkering to get the image to this point. I can tell you that the LRGB master hid what little neb there was behind an ocean of stars!! What you see in the result are, mostly, Ha stars. (FYI, I always add some Lum to my Ha so that the RGB stars have a place to deposit their colour).
Beautiful image Marcus. You've tamed that field. The angular resolution is impressive.
Thanks very much Marc! The taming (reducing stellar profiles and minimising ugly dark halos) took a fair bit of effort.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
A very pretty field Marcus, nice and welcome back ....I shouldn't be toooo far behind you now...
Mike
Cheers mate!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Retrograde
Great stuff Marcus.
Hopefully the wet weather might start to subside over winter (fingers crossed).
Thanks a lot Pete!
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregbradley
That turned out great Marcus. Yes its been very challenging getting any astrophotography time in over the last at least 9 months.
You may've created a new technique there for minimising stars. It's quite effective.
Greg.
Thanks Greg - glad you liked it! Nah, it's more a case of using several existing techniques as opposed to inventing anything ... combined with the immense skill of the astrophotographer of course!
I actually started this way back in 2015 with Ha, adding some more in 2017. With a couple of clear nights earlier this month, I gathered LRGB data. I was definitely a bit rusty, but managed a reasonably decent result I think.
You've tamed that field. The angular resolution is impressive. 
Are you pulling my leg?
