A Quiz and A Question...

[Mike Lewis]

So I have a new image that is a 3 panel vertical pano. I decided to post a crop out of the middle of it first for 2 reasons:

1) vertical orientation panos never look show off their detail well online. So I thought this central crop would be a good teaser of the object. Can anyone guess what object this is from just this cropped area?

2) I am torn on how large the stars need to be to keep the image looking real, while still allowing the underlying nebulosity to show through to greatest effect. The large star version actually has the star size increased, whereas the small star version is closer to the original star sizes. Gotta love that Redcat 91 - it focuses SO crisply...

So here you go - guess what the overall object is that is teased in this crop, and let me know of a preference between the 2 star treatments...I'll post the full image soon.

Large Star Version:

Small Star Version:

ML

 

[JimFox]

Great Quiz!!!

First off I like the small star version better. The stars are there to anchor the image, but they don't dominate the image.

(answering the quiz in no particular order)

The name, or a guess of the name is right on the tip of my tongue, I don't want to look anything up, and cheat. But it does look familiar.

As to the vertical vs Horizontal, it's one thing I dislike about the Seestar Smart Telescopes, they have the sensor vertical. I have been drawn lately to the Dwarf Labs scopes since they are horizontal, and was kind of thinking that would be my next one, once they upgrade it. But now ZWO has announced the S50 Pro. So that's really tempting, even though I hate the vertical.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Great Quiz!!!

First off I like the small star version better. The stars are there to anchor the image, but they don't dominate the image.

(answering the quiz in no particular order)

The name, or a guess of the name is right on the tip of my tongue, I don't want to look anything up, and cheat. But it does look familiar.

As to the vertical vs Horizontal, it's one thing I dislike about the Seestar Smart Telescopes, they have the sensor vertical. I have been drawn lately to the Dwarf Labs scopes since they are horizontal, and was kind of thinking that would be my next one, once they upgrade it. But now ZWO has announced the S50 Pro. So that's really tempting, even though I hate the vertical.

Jim,

I will reveal this soon. I am sure I would not have recognized this area of the sky either, before actually imaging this target myself.

Yes I saw about the new S50 Pro. It really is a little strange they enforce that vertical framing, especially since the new sensors are 16:9 aspect ratio if I recall.

I am leaning towards the small star version myself. Will see if anyone else chimes in...

ML

 

[JimFox]

Hopefully @Andy Elliott or @kiwiapple will check in and give their thoughts.

 

[JimFox]

As to the S50 Pro, I will probably wait until Christmas, but I am hoping Dwarf Labs will give a few hints on what they have in the works now that ZWO has released this.

 

[kiwiapple]

How fun! For me, I prefer the small star version, and I suspect that it might be the Elephant's Trunk nebula but it's certainly a northern-hemisphere target, so I'm a bit out of my depth.

 

[kiwiapple]

I just used my recently-released freeware application, AstroFrame, to identify the image you presented, so I now know the answer (and I was way off). If anyone's interested in it, you can download it for Mac or Windows (I'm not a notarised Apple developer, so it isn't signed) at www.github.com/jlg84/AstroFrame.

 

[kiwiapple]

As far as the S50 Pro is concerned, I don't see a use case for me for it. As it is my S50 spends most of its time idle, so I hardly can get a new telescope into the house without a serious talking-to from my spouse....

 

[Mike Lewis]

James,

Good guess, just by what you can see in this snippet. I may post another close-up of an area that gives away a litle bit more, so thanks for giving out the answer

ML

 

[Mike Lewis]

OK, here is a second hint - I think thisa gives away a lot more about the target, although if you haven't yet imaged this one (or as james mentions, it is in the wrong hemisphere for you) perhaps even this does not give it away...

From the overlapping regions you should be able to tell how these 2 sections go together...Even with 3 panels in the mosaic I struggled to fit this whole object in as it just a little bit too wide. But I got close.

ML

 

[JimFox]

OK, here is a second hint - I think thisa gives away a lot more about the target, although if you haven't yet imaged this one (or as james mentions, it is in the wrong hemisphere for you) perhaps even this does not give it away...

From the overlapping regions you should be able to tell how these 2 sections go together...Even with 3 panels in the mosaic I struggled to fit this whole object in as it just a little bit too wide. But I got close.

View attachment 90898


ML

Hmmmm... it's actually reminding me of the Helix, though it's too small for a mosaic.

Love how it looks, and this is really fun. I need to sit back and look some more.

 

[JimFox]

I just used my recently-released freeware application, AstroFrame, to identify the image you presented, so I now know the answer (and I was way off). If anyone's interested in it, you can download it for Mac or Windows (I'm not a notarised Apple developer, so it isn't signed) at www.github.com/jlg84/AstroFrame.

That's super cool that you did that James!

You should create a Thread announcing it with the link.

 

[Mike Lewis]

OK @JimFox , one last hint. If you put these 3 together and you are aware of this target in the first place,m it should no longer 'be a question anymore' what the target is

I'll post the full image later tonight...

ML

 

[JimFox]

I must be unaware. Though I wish I was aware of it, though once I learn the name I am sure I will slap my forehead!

That's an incredible about of detail you got to be able to crop in so close for the first image.

I will think about it some more, but I have to head to Disneyland right now, maybe Mickey can give me a hint.

 

[Mike Lewis]

OK, I have dragged this on long enough. Here is the full image (a 3 panel mosaic):

It is the Cosmic Question Mark, containijng NGC 7822 and a host of other objects. A fun target but one that is too big for my 448mm focal length on my Redcat 91. Between this and the 4 panel Blue Horsehead (and another 2 panel mosaic that is still in development) I have gotten a good amount of experience with mosaics lately. A lot of work but very rewarding when they come together well. In this case, even with 3 panels, this object crowds the frame at the top. But I was not up for a 6 panel version I opted to keep a fair amount of green in as it seemed to really help identify where and how the different elements were mixing in the nebula.

From Wikipedia: NGC 7822, also known as the Cosmic Question Mark Nebula, is a young star forming complex in the constellation of Cepheus. The complex encompasses the emission region designated Sharpless 171, and the young cluster of stars named Berkeley 59. The complex is believed to be some 800–1000 pc distant,[ with the younger components aged no more than a few million years. The complex also includes one of the hottest stars discovered within 1 kpc of the Sun, namely BD+66 1673, which is an eclipsing binary system consisting of an O5V that exhibits a surface temperature of nearly 45,000 K and a luminosity about 100,000 times that of the Sun.



Equipment:
Poseidon-M Camera @ -5C and
Gain:125 Offset:25
Astro-Physics Mach2 Mount
Williams Optics Cat 91, 448mm @ f/4.9
Antlia Pro Filters (3nm narrowband / RGB)
Askar FMA180 Guide scope with ASI290MM

Software:
Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.9
Lightroom CC
Photoshop CC
N.I.N.A. Control Software
BlurXTerminator (Russell Croman)
StarXTerminator (Russell Croman)
NoiseXTerminator (Russell Croman)
Astro-Physics APCC and APPM

Light Frames (Sum of 3 Panels):
Gain 125 / Offset 25
Hα: 51 x 600 secs (8 hrs 30 mins)
Oiii: 49 x 900 secs (12 hrs 15 mins)
Sii:: 48 x 900 secs (12 hrs)
Red: 49 x120 secs (1 hr 38 mins)
Green: 48 x120 secs (1 hr 36 mins)
Blue: 48 x 120 secs (1 hr 36 mins)

37 hrs 35 mins total