M20 -tulip nebula from the French Alps

[Ivor]

Hi,

This my first attempt at NB, and considering all the technically problems I had with the kit and getting to this location (I was definitely pushing the capabilities of my galaxy up some of the tracks) I'm quite pleased. The views once up at the col du Joly (45.785N 6.674E) were outstanding with loads to shooting stars and the Milky way was breathtaking. All kinds of problems getting going with fuses going on the camera and bolts in the battery box disappearing as them became lose on the bumpy dirt track on the way up. It unfortunately clouded over at 03:00 so I could get the Oxygen data I'd planned for so I blended the HA and S to get the green. RGB is mapped (HA,SII,HA/SO 40/60) HA 8 x 600s, S II 4 x 600s

[Fay]

you have done really well there Ivor,  good star shapes. what equipment was you using?

[Ivor]

Sorry forgot to copy it from the gallery (it's been such a long time since I've posted an image!!!)

Scope:Williams Optics FLT110
Imaging camera: SBIG ST8300
Guiding camera: Starlight express
Filters: HA and SII
Mount EQ6

It need a little more work especially on the stars in the corners but I'm pleased with the dusty parts considering the limited data set.

[Mike]

That's the Triffid Nebula, not the Tulip.

Nice image Ivor.

[Ivor]

Thanks for the correction, it was on my list of targets and I guess I got mixed up. I have to admit I'd been struggling to see how it was a Tulip

[MarkS]

It looks really good!

You've certainly captured some good data there.

French Alps ... Jealous!

Mark

[Ivor]

Just got back from the French Alps again and have internet access again, thanks for the comments and it's good to see a few people have managed some great imaging over the last few weeks.

As this is probably my best image to date I'm thinking of getting it printed off but before that I'd like to improve the image a bit further. The first improvement is addressing the mis-shaped stars in the corners, remove the noise in a few places and I'm also like to improve the graininess ?sp in the dark lanes. Question is the graininess caused by me over stretching to bring out the dust lanes? What can I do to improve this? Equally is that how it is meant to look (I've never had to deal with this must data before  )

What else would you recommend improving?

Cheers

[Mike]

Ivor, just to let you know that I showed this image on my last presentation at the OAS Meeting.

[Ivor]

Damm missed my moment of fame.

[Rocket Pooch]

Hi,

Where did you go in the Alps?

Chris

[Ivor]

I went to Les Contamines www.lescontamines.net about 40 mins from Chamonix, my in laws has a place there. It's a great place if you like the mountains, both in the Summer and the Winter and unlike Chamonix and Megeve it's still French and not overrun with the English.