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Archive 2013 · Southern Sky Pano

StarNut
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Southern Sky Pano

Hi,

These are a couple of huge star-forming regions in the southern sky (taken from the South Australia desert).

This is a two-panel panorama; NGC6334 (Cat's Paw Nebula) on the left, and NGC6357 (Lobster Nebula) on the right. It contains over 40 hours of light-frame exposure time.

1. HaRGB version, in "true" color:
http://de-regt.com/Astronomy/CatPaw.25.jpg

2. The reddish color is the emission put out by ionized hydrogen atoms, energized by the new hot stars being created within the gas cloud. These emissions are principally in a very narrow band, called "hydrogen alpha." This version is taken through a filter that passes light only in this frequency; I like it because of the detailed structure it shows:
http://de-regt.com/Astronomy/CatPaw.Ha.25.jpg

There is lots more information about the image, as well as links to larger versions, at
http://de-regt.com/Astronomy/CatPaw.htm

Enjoy, and thanks for looking!

Mark

Jun 10, 2013 at 12:24 PM

_Rob_S_
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Southern Sky Pano

Wow, this is stunning on many fronts! Thanks for sharing and providing the details.

Rob

Jun 10, 2013 at 12:27 PM

JimFox
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Southern Sky Pano

Hey Mark,

Very cool work here. For me, I prefer the color version. Probably because I don't know any better I don't really spot the more detail in the B&W version.

Jim

Jun 10, 2013 at 12:52 PM

Todd
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Southern Sky Pano

Very very nice. It looks as if you captured the bug nebula as well to the far left of the image. I think it is either called the bug nebula or the butterfly nebula one of the two. Either way, excellent work I always enjoy seeing your Astro photos and all the effort that you put into them. Well done.

Todd

Jun 10, 2013 at 01:30 PM

StarNut
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Southern Sky Pano

Thanks, guys!

Jim, take a look at the full-sized version; it takes a larger version to see the structural detail.

Yes, Todd, that's NGC6302 in the left of the image, a tiny planetary nebula (aka Bug Nebula or Butterfly Nebula). Good eye!

Mark

Edited on Jun 10, 2013 at 03:13 PM · View previous versions

Jun 10, 2013 at 01:37 PM

Scott Kroeker
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Southern Sky Pano

Colour hands down. Would look great as a large print on metallic!

Jun 10, 2013 at 02:19 PM

Socalastro
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Southern Sky Pano

Vey nice work Mark.. Gotta love that FSQ; it's the only scope I have that I will NOT part with :-)

Cheers,
Leon

Jun 10, 2013 at 02:54 PM

Samureye
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Southern Sky Pano

Mark,

this is a stunning image and the quality of the large version just blows me away. I cannot even imagine how much work and postprocessing goes into a picture like that and the same goes for the equipment and skills that are required. Nevertheless, I never get tired of looking at images like that.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing,

Samureye

Jun 10, 2013 at 09:00 PM

StarNut
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Southern Sky Pano

Thanks guys!

Yes, the FSQ106 is a wonderful scope, but I'd trade it for a AP130 f/6 Starfire in a heartbeat. But I won't live long enough to get one if I order it now, so I happily make do with my FSQ.

Jun 10, 2013 at 10:57 PM

CW100
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Southern Sky Pano

prefer the color - great images

Jun 11, 2013 at 05:31 AM

lgatlin
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Southern Sky Pano

Excellent! You astro-photographers are amazing!
Lonnie

Jun 11, 2013 at 10:29 PM

Karl Witt
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Southern Sky Pano

Eye opening and fascinating! Thanks for sharing the knowledge and the images, simply awesome

Karl

Jun 11, 2013 at 10:38 PM

phlegmon
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Southern Sky Pano

Nice.

I'm unfamiliar with astrophotography. What do you mean by " It contains over 40 hours of light-frame exposure time."

Did you take the photos over several nights? Is there a good primer that you can recommend?

Jun 12, 2013 at 12:29 AM

philber
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Southern Sky Pano

Awesome! I too prefer the colour version.

Jun 12, 2013 at 01:17 AM

StarNut
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Southern Sky Pano

Thanks again!

Phlegmom, I took images over many, many nights over two months. Each image is 15 minutes long (30 minutes for the Ha-filtered images).

Mark

Jun 12, 2013 at 08:58 AM

phlegmon
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Southern Sky Pano

Many nights over 2 months! Sheesh. Good stuff but I don't think this is for me. =D

Jun 12, 2013 at 12:34 PM

StarNut
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Southern Sky Pano

Serious astrophotography certainly isn't for most folks. But then getting up hours before dawn, hiking a number of miles to be in place for that killer sunrise photo, only to have clouds roll in just before dawn, isn't for most folks, either.

Jun 12, 2013 at 04:35 PM

Mstic
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Southern Sky Pano

make it green and it looks something from green lantern

Jun 12, 2013 at 04:36 PM

John Richter
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Southern Sky Pano

Hi Mark,

Wow! Another wonderful shot. Of the 2, it's the color for me. Thanks for sharing the photos and the knowledge. Great work!

JBR

Jun 13, 2013 at 10:49 PM


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