Swan (Omega) Nebula

Post by **rcj** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:30 pm

Hi all,

This is a picture of Swan Nebula captured during last weekend's Mersing expedition in the chalet grounds. All channels were utilised and image capture took half the night to complete.
As usual, the hydrogen alpha channel was a "must take and include" as well, due to the dorminant component of emissive components in this object. Dew was prevalent that night (Saturday) but was put to bay via the Kendrick heater (bought four years ago!) and used for the first time with the TOA. The darker skies (as compared to imaging in Singapore) made it easier to process the individual components and the composite result. The capture session was made even more challenging with a stubborn runny nose and pulsating headache!

Here is...

Post by **rcj** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:49 pm

posted a web friendly version in the Albums' Deep Sky Photos folder.

aquillae · Post by **aquillae** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:56 pm

awesome!

Post by **weixing** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:45 pm

Hi,
WOW!! Excellent image!!

Have a nice day.

Post by **Airconvent** » Mon May 21, 2007 11:28 pm

Hi Remus
David and Kay Heem told me you were set up and busy imaging the swan at the resort so this is the result of your efforts. Nice shot! So much details it cannot be called the Swan anymore...heh heh

Sandeep10 · Post by **Sandeep10** » Mon May 21, 2007 11:52 pm

Hi,
Good Shot...! can we know more details pls.

hommel · Post by **hommel** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:35 am

Remus I think your pics are more than good enough for S&T or Astronomy magazine. Has any of your pics been published? You should do so if you haven't submitted them yet.

Post by **rcj** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:44 am

Hi Richard and rest,

Actually the Swan nebula in its largest extent looks like a tapered bubble with the emission brightness dimming away from the popular central swan region. It's just that it is too dim for visual observers to see but the silicon chip is able to capture this when used in a lower f.l. imaging scope, say 600-800mm.

Hi Sandeep10,

This image in technical terms is a HaLRGB composite where all my available filters (Ha, L, R, G, and B) were used to capture and accentuate various details. The L (3 exposures of 10 minutes each) is used to "soak in" the star profiles, while the Ha (hydrogen alpha, 2 exposures of 20 minutes each) is used to capture the emissive nebula components (the tendrils and structure you see in the picture). The rest of the filters (R, G and B) is used to provide the colour data from the object. Each colour channel has 3 sub exposures of 10 minutes each. Thus length of project is about 3 hours of exposures not including time allowance for composing, mount calibration, and autoguiding trials. Hence it was a blessing that Saturday night had a long period of time where there were not passing clouds, so exposures could be taken back-to-back continously.

Hi Jeff,

Have posted to the magazines before, one of which, a mosaic of the gibbous moon...might try again, but quite lazy!