This bit of Abell S0636 is a beautiful cluster with two major (and similar) ellipticals apparently attracting a varied range of smaller galaxies. The scene appears to have a slight, misty local reflection nebula, apparently illuminated by the bright foreground star cluster and presumably also by integrated flux from elsewhere. There is also a little background redness in places, about where Rolf identified a weak SN remnant. Also, if you toggle to full res, there is a spatter of tiny pale orange dots at about 8 o'clock to the rightmost big elliptical - looks to be a background galaxy cluster at a vastly greater distance.
antlia cluster (you can toggle to full res in top right corner of the page)
I arranged the composition based on the galaxies, but it has been thrown out of harmony by the reflection nebula - which wasn't readily visible until I stacked. Oh well, this is what it is.
if interested, lum 177x300s 1x1, R 67x180s 2x2, G 30x180s 2x2, B 50x300s 2x2. Minimal processing (colour balance on foreground stars, deconvolution, stretching, slight colour tweak)
Looks like a galaxy cluster seen through the Pleiades.
Ray, you are getting seriously good at these.
Best,
Mike
thanks very much Mike - I appreciate your comment. Yes. it does look a bit like the Pleiades
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregbradley
That's a wow image. When you first look at it you go "Wow".
Impressive.
Greg.
well thanks Greg - that means a lot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Parrott
Just a beaut shot!
thank you Rick!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Atmos
That's amazing Ray, can certainly understand how you wouldn't have spotted that nebula until after stacking. Looks seriously faint!
Yes Colin, it is very faint, but it is definitely there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
What an interesting image Ray, I had a great time surfing and yes that distant galaxy cluster is super cool.
Great work, really enjoyed the view
One thing, how have you determined that that blue glow is reflection neb?
Mike
Thanks a lot Mike. I guess that the diffuse glow could either be dim reflection nebula or galactic cirrus. Since it seems to be moderately well correlated with the bright stars in the cluster and even appears to take on a little of their colour, I concluded that it was probably local reflection nebula (as Mike pointed out, it looks a bit like the Pleiades). However, it could well be much deeper galactic cirrus and the local scattering could be in my scope - I have no way of knowing and would welcome opinions.
Thanks a lot Mike. I guess that the diffuse glow could either be dim reflection nebula or galactic cirrus. Since it seems to be moderately well correlated with the bright stars in the cluster and even appears to take on a little of their colour, I concluded that it was probably local reflection nebula (as Mike pointed out, it looks a bit like the Pleiades). However, it could well be much deeper galactic cirrus and the local scattering could be in my scope - I have no way of knowing and would welcome opinions.
An interesting field of view Ray. I found the comparisons between your image and Rolf's in terms of what looks like cirrus to be fairly similar.
I think the whole image looks a little blue/magenta to me and the orange stars appear a little muted. That is a minor consideration when you take the time to consider the depth of the image. There appears to be literally thousands of galaxies in the field both near and far, some clearly red shifted quite a lot and those being tiny fuzzy specks. Thanks for posting Ray.
no. however, there is a background in the DSS1 image that has roughly the same structure - attached image shows the DSS1 image and the low spatial frequency background that was extracted. My image has bright and dark bits in pretty much the same places and also shows a gradation in background, increasing towards the lower right corner.
I don't have the depth to get down to the fine structure that Rolf's wonderful image shows, but I tried a bit of enhancement and got generally similar line features and swirls etc. Not worth posting because I did a rough processing job on the stretched image and ended up with a lot of noise.
I guess the main question is whether the low spatial frequency structure is real and if its is, what it could be. I am still not sure, but originally left it in because I have never previously recorded any gradients that distinct (except when my mirrors once got coated in sea mist). Will have a close look at the optics and carefully inspect the subs - and if it turns out that I have a red herring, will reprocess - thanks very much for your help so far.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Haese
An interesting field of view Ray. I found the comparisons between your image and Rolf's in terms of what looks like cirrus to be fairly similar. I think the whole image looks a little blue/magenta to me and the orange stars appear a little muted. That is a minor consideration when you take the time to consider the depth of the image. There appears to be literally thousands of galaxies in the field both near and far, some clearly red shifted quite a lot and those being tiny fuzzy specks. Thanks for posting Ray.
Thanks very much Paul - I will go back and have another look at the colour. Yep, the density of galaxies in this area is astonishing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickS
That's a wonderful collection of fuzzies, Ray, and the faint neb is the icing on the cake
Cheers,
Rick.
Thanks very much Rick!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flugel88
Wow the Galaxies seem to outnumber the stars.
Lovely image very crisp.
Thanks very much Michael - yes there are lots of galaxies
Quote:
Originally Posted by topheart
Excellent Ray!
Cheers,
Tim
Hi Tim. Thanks very much
Quote:
Originally Posted by graham.hobart
Just magnificent Ray.
A eye popper!!
Graham
Thank you Graham - appreciated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy01
Pick a galaxy, any galaxy!
Very nice work Ray, well done
no. however, there is a background in the DSS1 image that has roughly the same structure - attached image shows the DSS1 image and the low spatial frequency background that was extracted. My image has bright and dark bits in pretty much the same places and also shows a gradation in background, increasing towards the lower right corner.
I don't have the depth to get down to the fine structure that Rolf's wonderful image shows, but I tried a bit of enhancement and got generally similar line features and swirls etc. Not worth posting because I did a rough processing job on the stretched image and ended up with a lot of noise.
I guess the main question is whether the low spatial frequency structure is real and if its is, what it could be. I am still not sure, but originally left it in because I have never previously recorded any gradients that distinct (except when my mirrors once got coated in sea mist). Will have a close look at the optics and carefully inspect the subs - and if it turns out that I have a red herring, will reprocess - thanks very much for your help so far.
Yep, looks close enough to me too ...nice work Ray, comparing to pro results is often very useful (regardless of what some people think ) for varifying features and details and helping to rule processing artifacts out or real features in
Yep, looks close enough to me too ...nice work Ray, comparing to pro results is often very useful (regardless of what some people think ) for varifying features and details and helping to rule processing artifacts out or real features in
Mike
I think that it is still a "maybe" - wouldn't bet a sheep station on it just yet
This effect could be dirty optics (cleaned just recently though), fine dew on the mirrors, high altitude ice or cirrus clouds, spider's web in the OTA, smoke from neighbours' fires, stray light leakage etc. etc.
.
Just a beaut shot!
) for varifying features and details and helping to rule processing artifacts out or real features in 
