Eagle Nebula

cataclysm · Post by **cataclysm** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:11 am

Shot this last night. I started the imaging run late just to let the Gibbous Moon to set lower. It was really hazy all night long, but the Halpha filter helped a great deal in cutting down the glare from the city lights and the Moon.

Genesis SDF
Canon 350D (modified)
MiniBorg 50 as guidescope
SAC 4-2 guide camera
GM8
24x240s ISO800 with Baader Ha filter (luminance frames)
38x180s ISO800 with Astronomik UHC filter (colour frames)
Dark, Flat calibrated & stacked with ImagesPlus

Meng Lee · Post by **Meng Lee** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:19 am

Great shot! I want to try to image this someday also.

I was wondering how come the s/n ratio at the edges of the nebula is still quite low. Do you think its because the H alpha caused the DSLR to be at 1/4 its resolution and subexposures are still too short due to the presence of the H alpha filter?

Hehe, trying to figure out how to make best use of DSLRs.

Post by **Airconvent** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:38 am

Hi
Nice image! I can see the Pillars of Creation clearly but I think a better name for it would have been "Buddha's Palm" instead as that's what it looks like.
(not sure what level....heh heh).
Read recently that these "pillars" will not last long as they are being blown away by the central stars. Quick, take more pictures before they disappear in a few thousands years time!

rich

Post by **weixing** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:01 am

Hi,
Very nice shot...

Anyway, weather lately was really hopeless...

And now, it's full moon period...

Hope weather will improve soon.

Have a nice day.

Clifford60 · Post by **Clifford60** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:31 am

Very nice pic

The eagle like more like a rooster in this "wide" shoot. hehehe

Post by **VinSnr** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:42 am

Nice pic, but I find the use of the filters too aggressive until all the stars seem red and the picture too "hard"

Have you thought of using just a simple LPR filter?

aquillae · Post by **aquillae** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:06 am

awesome shot!

cataclysm · Post by **cataclysm** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:52 am

Hi all thanks!

I was wondering how come the s/n ratio at the edges of the nebula is still quite low. Do you think its because the H alpha caused the DSLR to be at 1/4 its resolution and subexposures are still too short due to the presence of the H alpha filter?

Hi Meng Lee, yes i think the s/n ratio is on the low side. Halpha filter will peform better with longer exposures. Unless i can find an effective way to cool the camera, exposure beyond 4 minutes leads to horrible heat signatures on the canon slr. The alternative is to have longer integration time, ie: a lot more sub exposures.

cataclysm · Post by **cataclysm** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:58 am

Nice pic, but I find the use of the filters too aggressive until all the stars seem red and the picture too "hard"

Hi Vincent, thanks for the feed back. I am still trying to find the best 'blend' with the Halpha data. Here is another pic with Halpha data purely as luminance layer. I think the stars are more 'natural'.

Meng Lee · Post by **Meng Lee** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:46 pm

you can read this about blending H alpha images:

http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/HARGB.html