NGC6231 and unknown nebulosity from Cambroon 2008-05-03

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

In all the excitement of another night at Cambroon I actually managed to get some imaging done (accompanied by much friendly heckling from my noisy dew collecting neighbours. Yes you know who you are. ).

Canon 20D/ED80/WO II FR. 7/5 min @ ISO800. Aligned and stacked in IP, post process in PS.

I found it a challenge getting this one colour balanced. I found I couldn't get the stars' colours to balance out. Then I checked the red channel and saw the extent of the gas cloud. I think I've taken it too far now and the background is too neutral. Yah live and learn.

The second shot is the red channel showing the extent of the cloud.

BTW does anyone know the designation of this nebulosity. I couldn't find it.

[jase (Jason)]

Another fine image Paul. Would be keen to see a close up view of the cluster. Stars look tight. Well done.

IC4628 is the neb to the lower left - the image shows the extent of the nebulosity.

[AlexN]

Not too shabby Paul. Did you get any others for the night?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Thanks for the link and the designation Jase.

After shooting this one I was considering having a go of the area with the 135mm lens. But if you managed the whole area with 530mm and the 11000 then it might come close into the ED80/0.8 FR and 20D FOV. Would be a tight fit though, approx 50 x 70 arcmin difference in the FOVs

Anyway here's the crop of the 6231 cluster, I was very happy with my guiding .

Thanks Alex. No that was the only light caught by my little setup on the night. But that's ok, I'm there for there more for the social activities, unless of course it's an absolute cracker night

[iceman (Mike)]

Nice result, Paul. It's a lovely pairing.

I took an image of the same area with almost the same equipment back in early March. I also did a mosaic with the nearby NGC6242.

I would've expected the modded camera to reveal a little more H-alpha in IC4628?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

On my laptop (where I do my processing) it shows quite a bit (I could have probably brought out more but still learning this modded game ) but on my desktop with the older style LCD it looks quite dark and even the red channel doesn't show the clouds of gas my laptop does.

[Ric]

Great image Paul, the extent of the nebulosity looks great in the red channel image as well.

The stars are lovely and sharp.

Cheers

[jase (Jason)]

Awesome cluster Paul. Thanks for sharing this crop. Stars don't come any more circular than that - guiding is working a treat. Might be a good long FL target.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Might be a good long FL target.

I've been thinking along similar lines Jase. Considering that was taken on my road weary GM8 I might give the G11 a go tonight (clouds willing) with my 8" meade and a 6.3 FR (though I think the FR is slightly astigmatic).

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

yes thats the old prawn nebula all right--very nice widefield there Paul

as n aside when I read the title of your post I thought you had captured nebulosity around 6231 itself-something like

http://www.celestialimage.com/page159.html

but that stuff doesn't seem to be there even in Jase's image as well

narayan

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

let me work on it for a while Narayan and see what I can do. I might pop on the 135mm tonight and give it a go. (That's if the damn planes would stop flying through it. )

[glenc (Glen)]

A great image Paul. E E Barnard discovered IC 4628. He discovered 43 nebulae between 1881 and 1905.
G B Hodierna found NGC 6231 before 1654. See NGC/IC Observers
IC 4628 can be seen in a 10" without a filter but it is better with a UHC or OIII filter. It is also visible in 20x80s.

[RB (Andrew)]

Nice shooting there Tex !
That mod 20D is a real winner and your guiding is fantastic looking at the crop.

Looks like you have a very dark sky there at Cambroon.

I'd love to see some more from the good ol' 135mm too Paul.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

thanks again guys.

Ric I did the 135 last night, but I think I went too long at 5 min@ISO800@ f2.8

I'll try again soon.