The Black and White Swan

strongmanmike (Michael) · #1 29-05-2009, 12:18 AM

For those who like B&W Halpha shots, this is just the 75min (5 X 15min) of Halpha with 13nm Astronomik low reflection filter.

As you can see the relatively broad band pass of the Astronomik Ha filter (13nm) retains plenty of stars while still enhancing the HII nebuloisty

Small (800k)
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...74636/original

Large (1.5meg)
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...74646/original

No "I feel dizzy" colours this time

Mike

jase (Jason) · #2 29-05-2009, 12:37 AM

You're too predictable Mike. How many repros are planned?

Seriously, I don't think you'll improve on it given the conditions you mentioned in the other thread. I didn't notice the horizontally elongated stars in the SHO palette image, but its more evident across the top in the presented Ha data. Perhaps the subs are fine, but problems were experienced with registration.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #3 29-05-2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jase

You're too predictable Mike. How many repros are planned?

Seriously, I don't think you'll improve on it given the conditions you mentioned in the other thread. I didn't notice the horizontally elongated stars in the SHO palette image, but its more evident across the top in the presented Ha data. Perhaps the subs are fine, but problems were experienced with registration.

I'm not trying to improve on it Jase, just displaying the Halpha mate, I like it, so thought so might some others...?

As for you noticing elongated stars, hmmm?..you gotta be pulling my leg Jase..? Have you got your Star-exageratormatic out again

Here are "extreme" enlargements of a small area taken from top left and top right of the 75min Ha image frame:

Top left http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...75976/original

Top right http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...75992/original

If you could notice any star elongation in the smaller full frame images you have better eyes than I do

Bad seeing and wind to boot, so I recon those stars are for all intensive purposes pretty round?

Mike

jase (Jason) · #4 29-05-2009, 01:33 AM

Yes, I blew the cob webs off the Star-exageratormatic. Its more elementary name is an uncalibrated laptop screen with unknown gamma.

Laptop screens are lame for looking at images anyway so wouldn't take my comments seriously. I use a different system for processing. I could swear I do see horizontal elongation though... Perhaps its my imagination...its late...and I'm frustrated as I wait for the 12v battery to recharge so I can get MaxDomeII working again to slave the dome to the scope.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #5 29-05-2009, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jase

... Perhaps its my imagination...its late...and I'm frustrated as I wait for the 12v battery to recharge so I can get MaxDomeII working again to slave the dome to the scope.

You may just have astigmatism too..? Tiny points can look elongated if you have astigmatism.

Mike

Bassnut (Fred) · #6 29-05-2009, 06:44 AM

Some good detail there Mike.

These days id rather use Ha as Lum in LRGB pics on nebs, far more detail than a Lum filter, as your pic shows.

Craig_L · #7 29-05-2009, 01:51 PM

Hmmm! The top right do look a little elongated horizontally with my eyes and I haven't got astigmatism - tested recently. But great pic. Wish I could do the same.

Tom Davis (Tom) · #8 29-05-2009, 01:55 PM

I've always like this object best in H-alpha B&W. HaRGB and NB images of it are also nice but H-a B&W are stunning. Great shot!

Tom

Hagar (Doug) · #9 29-05-2009, 02:06 PM

G'Day Mike. Love it. Fine detail with the Ha is quite exquisite. I think I prefer this image to the full NB image for a lot of reasons. Namely, Purple stars, pukey colours and along with the purple stars they do appear to be smeared a bit, I'm not going to say elongated. This to me is a lovely image and adds detail and contrast way better.
As you can gather I am not a fan of pukey coloured starfields even the Hubble images which are obviously done like that for contrast. I can appreciate that type of imaging but certainly prefer your LRGB images. EVEN YOUR REPRO's.
Cheers Mate.

h0ughy (David) · #10 29-05-2009, 02:26 PM

looks cool Mike - even on my monitor

bluescope · #11 29-05-2009, 03:16 PM

Looking good Mike ...

I did 5x600sec subs of the Swan during the last week but I'm still having problems with Deep Sky Stacker .... it only stacks one image ... no matter what I try. I'm quite p'd off with the whole thing at present. It won't even stack old colour images ... I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling and every conceivable setting to get a stack and all to no avail. It consistently stacks 1 of 1 ... it's driving me nuts

Sorry for using your thread for a moaning session but I would like to see my Ha image of M17 too not just one 10 minute frame

AlexN · #12 29-05-2009, 03:17 PM

Dude... Bring back the colours!! I loved the 60's (even though I was born in the 80's!

)

The detail is fantastic.. No doubt about it.. I definitely like it, but colour mapped images really take my fancy...

Give us a NB colour M16 sometime soon mate?
Alex.

Alchemy (Clive) · #13 29-05-2009, 03:24 PM

some nice crispy detail there mike, time for a repro ?

clive

tornado33 · #14 29-05-2009, 03:54 PM

Excellent work for less than perfect conditions. Was the seeing bad because of wind at ground level, or rather jet stream? I guess with the mount you use it isnt that vunerable to wind buffet.
Scott

gregbradley · #15 29-05-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Some good detail there Mike.

These days id rather use Ha as Lum in LRGB pics on nebs, far more detail than a Lum filter, as your pic shows.

Interesting Fred. Does that wash out colour or is that only when you go too hard with Ha as a luminance layer on top of an already LRGB image?

Greg.

Bassnut (Fred) · #16 29-05-2009, 05:11 PM

Not sure what you mean Greg. I mean Ha as a direct substitute for the Lum filter. I think it was Gendler or Croman that said a few years ago he would use just use Ha as lum on nebs after he tried it, such was the improvement.

Ha renders smaller stars and better detail, Lum is easier to get, but often has bloomy stars and washed out detail, and remember of course Ha is skyglow immune, so just that alone gives close to dark sky imaging with other wise standard LRGB.

Ive taken Ha RGB images with moon up and got better results than with LRGB with no moon. The RGB subs were pretty crappy, but you can often get away with that without affecting the final image too much.

This all applies to Nebulae only off course, wont work with broadband Galaxies, Lum is required.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #17 29-05-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Davis

I've always like this object best in H-alpha B&W. HaRGB and NB images of it are also nice but H-a B&W are stunning. Great shot!

Tom

Cheers Tom.

When I do an image I am always fascinated by how varied an object can look depending on how it is presented or processed so as you can see from my web site I tend to display a few versions and crops of each image I compile, each version has it's own appeal and different sizes and framings allow the object to be appreciated in different ways - Halpha only images are a favourite of mine too.

Mike

Bassnut (Fred) · #18 29-05-2009, 08:13 PM

Think of the opportunities Mike, now you can take all your fav nebs in HaRGB (or just do them again in Ha and add the RGB you have) for a whole new dimension to "repros"

dcalleja · #19 30-05-2009, 02:27 PM

I've never seen so much nebulosity in the swan before. Is that because its a Ha image? Very impressive

multiweb (Marc) · #20 30-05-2009, 05:34 PM

Hot stuff Mike. Top shelf

Keep'em coming. I wanna see M16 next.