Going deep into the Pleiades with the RASA 8

[gorann]

This is 3.5 hours of data with the RASA 8 and ASI2600MC (105 x 2 min at gain 100, -10°C) on a NEQ6. There is apparently quite a bit of dust around M45 that I have not noticed before. I am pleased to see how deep this telescope/camera combination can go in a few hours. A dark site (Bortle 2-3) helps of course. Stacked in PI and mainly processed in PS, as usual.

EDIT: I now added a second version of the image, inspired by Olly's reprocessing of his data, where I have sharpened the image more (mainly HiPass filtering and LCE in PS), getting closer to the limit of what the data can support.

 

Edited October 19, 2020 by gorann

[tomato]

Lots of dust detail I hadn’t seen in images until recently and beautifully framed.

[jetstream]

This fine image shows what Bartels is talking about ie the Pleiades Bubble.

[gorann]

44 minutes ago, tomato said:

Lots of dust detail I hadn’t seen in images until recently and beautifully framed.

Thanks Steve!

[gorann]

2 hours ago, jetstream said:

This fine image shows what Bartels is talking about ie the Pleiades Bubble.

Thanks! I have to read up on Bartels unless someone enlightens me🤔

[wimvb]

1 hour ago, gorann said:

Thanks! I have to read up on Bartels unless someone enlightens me🤔

And me. I knew about the dust. It took me a lot more effort to reveal even a fraction of it.

https://www.astrobin.com/294874/?image_list_page=3&nc=&nce=
 

Great image, Göran 

Edited October 17, 2020 by wimvb

[Sunshine]

This is simply a beautiful image to say the least!

[gorann]

28 minutes ago, wimvb said:

And me. I knew about the dust. It took me a lot longer to reveal even a fraction of it.

https://www.astrobin.com/294874/?image_list_page=3&nc=&nce=
 

Great image, Göran 

Thanks Wim! Have you opened the roof tonight?

[gorann]

2 hours ago, Sunshine said:

This is simply a beautiful image to say the least!

Thanks a lot! When I now look at it I realize it may need a bit more processing. Such as the red star colours that are a bit pale.....

EDIT: Edited the posted image and put a bit more punch into the yellow stars

Edited October 17, 2020 by gorann

[wimvb]

7 minutes ago, gorann said:

Thanks Wim! Have you opened the roof tonight?

To let the clouds in, you mean? 😉

[gorann]

12 minutes ago, wimvb said:

To let the clouds in, you mean? 😉

Well. it is cloudy here too right now Wim but in my part of Sweden it is supposed to clear up in an hour or so

[wimvb]

I can only quote little orphan Annie:

”Tomorrow, tomorrow ...”

[The Admiral]

That RASA is certainly delivering Göran, when in capable hands of course . The revealed striations in the dust are incredible.

I wonder if such depth of detail could ever be revealed in less than dark skies?

Ian

[jetstream]

His sketch. He is an advanced visual astronomer.

[gorann]

12 minutes ago, The Admiral said:

That RASA is certainly delivering Göran, when in capable hands of course . The revealed striations in the dust are incredible.

I wonder if such depth of detail could ever be revealed in less than dark skies?

Ian

Yes it is, and I would not know how it would work in a light polluted sky. I whent into astrophotography when I bought this old farm house on the country side 10 years ago and looked up on the sky with amazement. Before that I had never even thought about doing astrophotography.

[gorann]

7 minutes ago, jetstream said:

His sketch. He is an advanced visual astronomer.

Oh wow, how could he see that visually? Must have had a lot of aperture!

[jetstream]

Just now, gorann said:

Oh wow, how could he see that visually? Must have had a lot of aperture!

He used a very fast 6" reflector for the sketch. I also see this- not quite the same as him- in our Heritage 130 and 200mm f3.8, among others. Observing IFN is a hobby of mine, as elusive as it is.

The Pleiades is a very favorite of mine and your image is the absolute best I've seen Goran. Many kudos!

[gorann]

27 minutes ago, jetstream said:

He used a very fast 6" reflector for the sketch. I also see this- not quite the same as him- in our Heritage 130 and 200mm f3.8, among others. Observing IFN is a hobby of mine, as elusive as it is.

The Pleiades is a very favorite of mine and your image is the absolute best I've seen Goran. Many kudos!

Thanks Gerry! You are too kind, and Wow, I doubt my old eyes would see that in a 6" reflector, maybe that is why I stick to imaging and cameras that are more sensitive than my eyes.

[Littleguy80]

Agree with Gerry, superb image, Goran. Very well done. Beyond my observing and imaging skills!

[gorann]

8 hours ago, Littleguy80 said:

Agree with Gerry, superb image, Goran. Very well done. Beyond my observing and imaging skills!

Thanks a lot, much appreciated!

[ultranova]

Wow, it looks like you are setting some new standards,

with your scope camera combo,

beautifully captured and processed.

Looking forward to your next Pic

Well done 

Paul

[ollypenrice]

Just seen this. Super!

Olly

[gorann]

1 hour ago, ultranova said:

Wow, it looks like you are setting some new standards,

with your scope camera combo,

beautifully captured and processed.

Looking forward to your next Pic

Well done 

Paul

Thanks Paul! That may be a slight exaggeration 😋 but one or maybe two more RASA pics are coming before clouds move in again on Monday night. I am surfing with Aladin Sky Atlas and I found that there is a lot of very cool stuff in Taurus if I manage to go deep enough.

[gorann]

15 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

Just seen this. Super!

Olly

Thanks Olly, much appreciated!

[Erling G-P]

Another stunner for sure!