Cat's Eye Nebula

[dx_ron]

Current version is 11.5 hours (172x240s) with L-Ultimate duoband plus 2.5 hours (210x60s) OSC. AT130EDT, Risingcam 571c, B6 backyard

Catseye_172x240s+OSC_v1bp_1600crop.jpg (450.19 KiB) Viewed 3734 times

Crop, Wipe, 50% bin, Optodev with the ROI just barely into the edge of the really bright core (each pixel move of the ROI border had a large impact on how the outer nebula looked), Contrast, HDR (very little impact), Sharp (noticeably brightened up the outer nebulosity), Color, slight bit of Dim Small (70%-ish) then Layered in color from the osc. I had saved a mask from pre-color, because Flood Fill Brighter doesn't work well once color has been added. The OSC color went to everything outside the nebula plus the brightest part of the core. This view is cropped in Irfanview to 1600 pixels wide.

People go through great contortions processing this nebula, typically pasting in super-short exposures for the core. I didn't do that - I guess it feels to me almost like Photoshopping one person's head onto someone else's body. Oh well, no IOTD for me.

[Stefan B]

Hi Ron,

that looks really good. Due to the high dynamic range it's a pretty tough target as far as I know. I haven't dared trying it, also because of the fact that the core is so bright it gives diffraction spikes with a Newt...

I am bit surprised that HDR didn't have an impact on the core. Did you play around with the context slider?

People go through great contortions processing this nebula, typically pasting in super-short exposures for the core. I didn't do that - I guess it feels to me almost like Photoshopping one person's head onto someone else's body.

Personally, I don't see anything bad about using short exposures for the core and layering them. It's just a method for overcoming the limitations of the dynamic range your camera's sensor is able to capture. As far as I know, our eyes are capable of covering a higher dynamic range. Of course it's possible to kind of take it to far and tame the core to much, resulting in a core appearing just as faint as the outer parts. That would be a bit misleading in my eyes. But if it's just adding real, but bright details? Why not?

Anyway, awesome result!

Regards
Stefan

[fmeireso]

A nice image!

It is on my wanted list too, if i ever get the RC8 on line. It seems a tough target; Indeed the core is mostly overblown and one should take very short exposures of it, as i read and then kind of layering it. I don't intend to do that. I guess the outer skirt is more then worthwhile to image, besides the core is very small.

I just need desperately clear skies. The weather is awfull. Today rain and very windy..is it automn allready perhaps...