The Subaru Star Cluster...

[mftoet]

... better known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters.

Total integration time is just 70 minutes; 5 minutes subs @ ISO 1600 with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II (Baader Mod) and Takahashi Epsilon-180ED (f/2.8). Sky brightness (SQM): 20.8 magnitude/arcsec².

Considering the relatively short exposure time, I'm quite happy with the result. Though I had to do more noise reduction and 'polishing' than I would normally allow me to do. In fact, I normally tend to avoid noise reduction. I also had to crop the image due to nasty gradients.

And here is where it came from (one single, unprocessed sub).

Please visit my website for further details and a high-res version.

[skygeezer]

Very nice!

[Fay]

Extremely nice, really like it

Fay

[tingting44]

wow very nice! i love it when i see single subs, just makes you see the amount of effort you have gone through Processing

excellent job

[Nicho]

Wow that is processed very nice indeed !

[StuartJPP]

Very nice Maurice! That TAK is a cracking beast and excellent processing as well. f/2.8 is just insanely fast, just what the doctor ordered for these UK and in your case (though not as bad) Netherlands' skies.

wow very nice! i love it when i see single subs, just makes you see the amount of effort you have gone through Processing

I agree, seeing the start point is nice to see.

[laser_jock99]

Great result- got to love fast Tak Epsilons!

[gingergeek]

good processing and excellent image

[ollypenrice]

Hi Maurice,

A great image. Nice small stars in the nebulosity and good star colour with the reds working well. Given the sky and the lack of exposure time I really don't think you could expect more. It's astonishing that you went so deep. I don't like NR either but you've been very tasteful here!

Olly

[Mav359]

I have to get seriosly better in the processing part of all this, amazing the difference in the two shots

[bluedandelion]

Wonderful colors. Well processed.

Ajay

[symesie04]

Very nice indeed. Love the crisp colour of the yellow stars and nice nebula stuff as well. Thanks for posting the unprocessed sub, its always nice to know what data people are getting their results from. It makes it easier to judge where im at at data collection and processing. Wish everyone would post their base subs.

[tingting44]

Wish everyone would post their base subs.

i know i will be in future

[Tom OD]

Super job Maurice. What a final result from the Green gradient sub!

[iksose7]

Very nice image! 

[mftoet]

Many thanks for all your nice comments!

[bucktailbob]

One of my favorites. Love the bee hive cluster in Cancer and naturally the sword of Orion. I've never found just how many stars make up the sword. I think its several but don't have names like the belt....

[jeremile]

Hi,

Very nice image, good job.

Jérémy

[PatrickGilliland]

Very nice - super work of one sub

Paddy

[sharkmelley]

That's an excellent image and very well processed.  A remarkable result for such a short integration time, I recently shot 8 hours on a Tak Epsilon and I'm not convinced mine came out any better than yours.

Mark

[tich]

Superb image

[mister_wavey]

Lovely!

[theo]

That's a beautiful image Maurice and very impressive given the integration time.

Pete

[tollytastic1]

One word - Fantastic !!

[mftoet]

How did this old topic get dug up again? ;-)

Thanks again for your comments!