steppenwolf Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 The Pelican Nebula is one of my favourite objects although it is often overshadowed by its big neighbour, The North America Nebula. The skies didn't play ball with this one so it took several evenings over a protracted period of time to capture any meaningful data. What I particularly wanted to accentuate in this image was the dust. I have always loved the dust apparently 'falling' from the area where M42 and M43 'touch' and was keen to get a similar affect here with this object. Working with just bi-colour data introduced some challenges but in the end, I did get an image that reflected what I was looking for. The Pelican Nebula is situated to the north-west of the North America Nebula, 2 degrees east south-east of the bright star Deneb in Cygnus. The region is alive with star-birth and evolving gas clouds. As well as the gas and dust, there was another feature that I hoped to probe and that is the Herbig-Haro jets (designated HH-555) emanating from the top of the dust and gas pillar on the 'neck' region of the nebula. These jets indicate the presence of an unseen proto-star and they are indeed visible in this image. Mount: Mesu 200 Telescope: William optics FLT98 Reducer: William Optics FR IV Camera: QSI 683 WSG-8 Guiding: SX LodeStar Filters: Baader 7nm Ha and 8.5mm OIII Subframes: 20 x 600 sec Ha, 37 x mix of 900 and 1200 sec OIII Control: CCD Commander Capture: MaxIm DL Post-Processing: MaxIm DL and PS3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swag72 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 I love the colours you have here Steve and the dust looks like you could reach out and touch it...... very nice indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessun Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Dusty and glowing! I like the vibrant colours. Really brings out detail. Thumbs up! /Jesper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan4908 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Very impressive Steve. I do like the colours, particularly the orange glow effect around the "head". Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owmuchonomy Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 It's all marvellous and what really does it for me is the attention given to the framing so often lacking in images. I also really like the depth of field created by the star field especially at the very top of the image. Excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 That is superb! Really lovely rendition of the Pelican Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky1973 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Wow...fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonk Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Very nice Steve, looks like a volcano. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Lovely! Real dirty looking dust, just the job Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gorann Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 one of the coolest dusty and rusty old pelicans I have seen! - also nice to see that standard affordable NB filters can still do wonders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloz1664 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Superb rendition of the Pelican Steve. Just love the subtle colours and detail. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astro mick Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 One of the best images i have ever seen,absolutely fantastic. Wish i knew how you process to such a level. Mick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollypenrice Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Super. I really like two things. The first is the lighter background which arises from your determination not to clip out the dust. The second is the colour variety in the Pelican's body. This gives a familiar old bird a new freshness. (I'm a bit of a fan of real pelicans as well. They fly effortlessly and are fascinating when they do a heavyweight impression of a cormorant's folding dive!) Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlight 1 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 One of my top three images I have ever seen if you are not contacted for publication I will eat my hat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickGilliland Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Glorious! Bringing the gold colour through the main body was a great move. Excellent work. Paddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symesie04 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Absolutely gorgeous image, that glowing area is divine and really makes the image come to life. I do wish i knew why they call it the Pelican nebula though i can only see a Pelican if i imagine thats its 3 week old road kill on a busy highway but maybe thats just because of the glorious detail in the image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry-Wilson Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I too am really struck by the warm bronze/dusty orange colours you've brought to the data helping give this carcking image a 3-d effect. I congratulate you Steve and think you've achieved your goal in accentuating the dust - it really does seem to be billowing off the Pelican's neck . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkster501 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Great picture Steve. looks rather like Lava running down the slopes of Mount Doom in LOTR.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenwolf Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 Thank you for your comments folks. I can see where the volcano concept comes from! Quote I do wish i knew why they call it the Pelican nebula though i can only see a Pelican if i imagine thats its 3 week old road kill on a busy highway but maybe thats just because of the glorious detail in the image. How about when it is cropped in to just the head, eye and long beak? Or just to confuse the issue, how about this rabbit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symesie04 Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 errr and hmmm. To be honest i cant even tell which way the Pelican is supposed to be facing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenwolf Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 Quote errr and hmmm. To be honest i cant even tell which way the Pelican is supposed to be facing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symesie04 Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 WOWEE love the reprocess i have no idea how you pulled out such detail??? It looks just like a Pelican. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenwolf Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 Quote i have no idea how you pulled out such detail??? To be honest, and this is strictly between the two of us, I am married to a Pelican and this was a wedding shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Spock Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 Lovely image. Though I do think your rabbit looks more like a swan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan potts Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 Stunning image Steve, absolutely stunning. One day I must have a go at this AP, I have a modded camera so it is not as if I spend any money, though i don't think i will ever be in your league. alan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.