Amazing M57 image

[Carole]

Not sure if any-one looks at SGL, but I just had to point out this amazing image of M57.  She says she took it by accident as she was just experimenting.  

Any-one else seen M57 look like this in an image before?

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-deep-sky/141926-m57-accidental-image.html

[Mac]

are you sure she has not done a fay special and uploaded a hubble image,

now that would be embarrassing. 

Mac

[Rocket Pooch]

Carole,

M57 does have a faint outer halo which appears in Ha, that what she has done here, its a HaGB Image, must admit reading the image it does seems quite an explination 30 minute subs for Ha thats really long and the results are fantastic.  314L rule I guess

Chris

[MarkS]

It's just a question of collecting photons.  To get a good quality image of any deep-sky object, the key is to shoot many hours of data from a dark place.

I'm planning to take at least 8 hours of data for each image I do this year.  Trouble is, the weather might have different plans!

By the way - there's only one reason why you should do very long exposures - so that the noise from the sky background flux plus the thermal signal (if any) swamps out the read noise of the CCD.  Once you have reached this point then take more subs rather than increase the exposure time further.

Mark

[JohnP]

Well in that image she has captured both halo's... dont often see that so I reckon her skies must be well dark. I shot a 20min test sub of this the other day from Bromley with my 7nm baader Ha in place & even if I really push the sub  I have barely captured the inner of the two halo's.. it was crap seeing & 1/2 moon was around though....

John

[Fay]

Anni is a superb imager, a lot better than the top men that have become familiar to us via the forums.

I think she is a professional & her american boyfriend is a photographer. She pushes the boundaries. I think she lives in Cambridge.

[Carole]

I think she lives in Cambridge.

It says Suffolk on SGL, so as you say probably very dark skies. 

Is there a sticky for envy? 

Carole

[Fay]

Oh probably read Cambridge somewhere else in one of her threads

[Rocket Pooch]

By the way - there's only one reason why you should do very long exposures - so that the noise from the sky background flux plus the thermal signal (if any) swamps out the read noise of the CCD.  Once you have reached this point then take more subs rather than increase the exposure time further.

You missed a bit, pop quizz.

[Carole]

I think she is a professional

Professional photographer or Astronomer Fay?

Carole

[Fay]

well she is a pro photographer, so is up with processing etc, having lots of work published. Then went on to astro, & is very knowledgeable at that as well.

I think she has had images on APOD.

http://morrisastronomy.blogspot.com/

[Carole]

Oh yes, I remember that stunning veil image.