NGC1499 - California nebula in mono

[swag72]

I do like this nebula in particular and after imaging it last year I decided to give it another go. I decided to do a 2x2 pane mosaic so that I could fit it all in. I'm hoping to get some OIII to go with it and then we'll see what happens with regards colour!!

Details

M: Avalon Linear Fast reverse

T: Takahashi FSQ85 0.73x

C: Atik 460EXM with 3nm Ha filter

55x1800s in total - 27.5 hours of integration time so far.

A full res image can be viewed from here http://swagastro.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/3/7/23377322/ngc1499_ha.jpg

[Mark72]

May be my monitor is off but it looks like white point is stretched too much, hard to discern details. Perhaps you could check it again Sara?

Mark

[nmoushon]

I got to get me one of those 3nm Ha filter...thats a great image Sara. Nicely done.

[ollypenrice]

I reacted to a private preview (hark at me!) rather as Mark did but when you see the full res I think Sara's processing has simply presented the staggering depth of signal she's collected. OK, maybe a little too compressed in the very bright stuff but, then again, this gives a new look to the California and there's something gorgeous about that Alpine snowscape look! So, I see the critical point being made but I also feel refreshed by the new look.

What consistent quality we're seeing!

Olly

[swag72]

Thanks for your comments - @Mark, my monitor is a bit off and doesn't do the bright stuff. Because of this, I always rely on the eye dropper in the curves menu to tell me if stuff is clipped - There's no clipped highlights that I can find running the eye dropped over the bright bits. I don't think I've missed any!!! Is that what you are meaning that you think the highlights are clipped?

Thanks Olly- Interesting that you find it refreshing. I looked at it in comparison to the same image last year and they could be worlds apart. I don't know if that is good or not!

If this is a processing issue and it's been pushed too far I will revisit in a more sympathetic mode!

[wxsatuser]

I'm not an expert but the high res is excellent imo. :icon_salut:

[johnrt]

The highlights are definitely not clipped, but perhaps the background is a little too dark, I think you have captured hydrogen signal there that you aren't showing around the nebula main body.

Awesomely deep!!

[swag72]

Cheers John - Looks like I really do need to go back to the drawing board with this one Appreciate you looking and commenting.

[swag72]

OK, here it is again, with a more 'sympathetic curve' - Does this look better now? I think it does and can see what you all meant now.

[Mark72]

yes, much better Sara,

Mark

[johnrt]

Ah, yes, now that has nailed it.

[PhotoGav]

Splendid, superb - yes, version 2 is much richer with detail. It looks soft (as in you could jump into that and it would be all fluffy and soft, rather than dissing your focussing!). I guess this shows that our best friend is loads and loads of data...!

Stunning work and I look forward to the next version of this.

[Fay]

That is truly amazing Sara!!!! worth all the effort

Fay

[swag72]

Thanks all - Looks like I got a little carried away with the processing!! Or maybe I'm just not ready to be different yet!

[davew]

No2 is a cracker. The background looks alive with swirling gas.

Those dust clouds look very good too.

The main Nebula looks like it's got a torch shining through the back of the laptop screen. Lovely,

Dave.

[andyo]

Wow! that second process is a lot better and  just superb

[swag72]

Thanks Dave and Andy

[opticalpath]

Insane amount of detail .... California Neb. as you've never seen it.

Yet another stunner, Sara!

Adrian

[fwm891]

Stunning, Brilliant...

Sara strikes again

[swag72]

Thanks Adrian and Francis - Lets hope the OIII can do it justice ..... as and when of course!

[Ewan]

Your dedication,skill & presentation Sara is is a credit to you & as usual an amazing image which when finished will rival other versions of this target & rightly so.

[swag72]

Thank you Ewan