Are we sick of M42 yet?

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

Last night I had a bash (again) with narrowband filters on the 16HR and got this:-

( Click to make it grow )

Full size version is here if anybody's interested, (though it's not a great deal bigger)

http://www.gas.uk.net/images/M42RGB.jpg

The details:-

CLS filter, 10 X 10 seconds, 5 X 30 seconds, 5 X 60 seconds

Ha filter, 10 X 20 seconds, 10 X 100 seconds, 5 X 200 seconds

OIII filter same as Ha.

Each group combined in Maxim (i.e. 10 X 10 seconds turned into master 10 second frame), Each channel then HDR converted in Photoshop CS2.

Layers arranged in CS2 to give 60:40 Ha:OIII for green channel, Ha for red and OIII for blue. Cls used as luminance layer with curves and levels stuff. Finally another luminance (CLS) layer was stuck on top in darken blend mode to bring back the trapezium.

And I quite like it

Captain Chaos

[GordonCopestake]

Never sick of M42! I could stare at it for hours (and have done!)

In my 12" dob it's fantastic even under my mag 4 skies

[Kai]

Im sick of yours...................

Because there sooooooooo much better then mine

Seriously thought it gives me something to aim for.

Nice one CC

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

Should have also pointed out:-

'Scope - Celestron 80mm f/5 Achro.

Mount HEQ5 goto

Guiding - SC3 camera, 200mm f/5 guidescope, K3CCD tools guiding through Astronomiser parallel port breakout guider box.

Captain Chaos

[geppetto]

That's a beauty CC 8)

Not sick of M42 because have you noticed it's well on it's way now.

Springs coming

[MartinB]

Bet your pleased with it CC. You've put a huge amount of work into that one. Look at all the fine detail in the nebula. What's an HDR conversion??

[CELESCOPE]

nice one CC bet you pleased how its all coming together now , only one complaint , i,m standing on my head here , can u turn it around please

Rog

woddles off

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

Bet your pleased with it CC. You've put a huge amount of work into that one. Look at all the fine detail in the nebula. What's an HDR conversion??

Well pleased Martin, now I need to find something else to point at which has Ha and OIII components that show up differently. Probably browse Richard Crisp's site http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/ for inspiration.

In Photoshop,

file/automate/Merge to HDR

Pick your files and [removed word] about for half an hour - easy.

Basically uses several images to create a High Dynamic Range image. You need to have well aligned images or else it fails, fortunately that's child's play in Maxim.

Captain Chaos

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

[removed word].

Just noticed that all the layers aren't in register. I had convinced myself that I'd maximed them into line but just noticed that I can't load my files into Maxim and so I can't have done. Still, it means that it might be better in a day or so.

Captain Chaos

[dazza1639]

The main camera on the Hubble hasn't stopped working!

You & Martin have hijacked it. The images you have been posting are stunning

[SteelRat]

Nice CC - your M42s are just better and better. That's a belter I reckon mate 8)

[barkis]

Tire of the big Neb.? Never, Never, Never. That is a great image CC. And don't even contemplate abandoning the astrophotographers favourite model. She would be devastated.

Barkis.