Camera Labs

Hi everyone,

Noel is going through all the recent deep-sky data and has just spent a marathon processing session putting together this image of M31 - the Great Andromeda galaxy:

http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... estvi5.jpg

This image taken over 2 years (winter 2006 - winter 2007) is composed of 7 minutes over 26 hours worth of RGB and H-alpha data, the H-alpha component being about 7 and a half hours worth.

Noel would have spent at least the same amount of time (if not a bit more) in processing the data. For me, this is another definitive image and I won't be going back for more data at this focal length.

You can also see this image on:

http://www.newforestobservatory.com/ if you prefer not to visit Image Shack (and its adverts).

Greg

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Nexstar 11 GPS, 2 x Sky 90, M25C, MaximDL, Photshop CS3, Noel Carboni's Photoshop actions, 7 foot Pulsar fibreglass dome, Canon 40D, 100mm macro lens, 28-200mm zoom lens, 17-55mm f#2.8 zoom lens, 100-400mm zoom lens, 1.4x converter, 2x converter.
http://www.newforestobservatory.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12801949@N02/

I have no idea what all that means but the photo looks incredible!

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Well i think his is why i love space, considering at the time of the image most of those stars and particles wont exist by the time we get to them? I think its just amazing HOW BIG everything is, amazing image to my eyes! I m glad i did some astophysics in highschool

"speacheless so to speak" how big is the original "combined" picture the one that was upploaded on imageshack. I'm going to keep this one on my computer if its ok?

amazing, just lovley!

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The original is a 6 megapixel image. You're welcome to keep the Image Shack version on your computer
Greg

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Nexstar 11 GPS, 2 x Sky 90, M25C, MaximDL, Photshop CS3, Noel Carboni's Photoshop actions, 7 foot Pulsar fibreglass dome, Canon 40D, 100mm macro lens, 28-200mm zoom lens, 17-55mm f#2.8 zoom lens, 100-400mm zoom lens, 1.4x converter, 2x converter.
http://www.newforestobservatory.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12801949@N02/

thank you!

did u attach a camera to the telescop for this image, because that is what i have heard that they do, i have no idea how to take such an image. But i seen some out there, i'm vary impatiente when it comes to waiting but i sure do enjoy this

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Yes I attached a CCD camera that is specifically made for astrophotography to the telescope. The camera is a Starlight Xpress SXVF-M25C one-shot colour camera.
Greg

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Nexstar 11 GPS, 2 x Sky 90, M25C, MaximDL, Photshop CS3, Noel Carboni's Photoshop actions, 7 foot Pulsar fibreglass dome, Canon 40D, 100mm macro lens, 28-200mm zoom lens, 17-55mm f#2.8 zoom lens, 100-400mm zoom lens, 1.4x converter, 2x converter.
http://www.newforestobservatory.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12801949@N02/

Hi Greg,

Another stunner. I don't remember seeing an image quite like this before so forgive me if I'm asking another dumb question but I'm assuming that the tiny red "splodges" are H-alpha emission nebulae local to M31 itself. That seems to fit with their being strongly associated with the opaque dust and gas "lanes". Any thoughts?

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hi Bob,

Not a dumb question at all - and that's exactly what they are! Just like when you look up at our own Milky Way and you see the North America/Pelican nebulae, here are the Andromeda galaxy equivalents - amazing isn't it. Just as amazing [IMO] are the globular clusters you can see in the rings - same thing again - just as you see globs in our Milky Way, so you see them in another galaxy. I think M31 is totally amazing, and would like to image this at a much higher image scale (will then need to mosaic

Greg

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Nexstar 11 GPS, 2 x Sky 90, M25C, MaximDL, Photshop CS3, Noel Carboni's Photoshop actions, 7 foot Pulsar fibreglass dome, Canon 40D, 100mm macro lens, 28-200mm zoom lens, 17-55mm f#2.8 zoom lens, 100-400mm zoom lens, 1.4x converter, 2x converter.
http://www.newforestobservatory.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12801949@N02/

Yep, I reckon you can safely tick that one off the list Greg!

Awesome work!

PS - to put Greg's work into context, check out the last two images of this gallery page in our Canon EOS 5D review:

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon5D/page5.shtml

The small splodges referred to in the captions is the same M31 Andromeda Galaxy!

Absolutely stunning image!

:Wow!

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Graham
Flickr

....... Fantastic

Whooo...................

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Canon EOS 40D - Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM - Canon EF 50/1,8 II - Canon EF 70-200/4L IS USM - Speedlite 430 EX - Lowerpro Nova 4 AW
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Thanks guys - glad you like the image
To get you really going - Noel has even better stuff on his hard disk waiting for processing!!!! It's true!
Greg

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Nexstar 11 GPS, 2 x Sky 90, M25C, MaximDL, Photshop CS3, Noel Carboni's Photoshop actions, 7 foot Pulsar fibreglass dome, Canon 40D, 100mm macro lens, 28-200mm zoom lens, 17-55mm f#2.8 zoom lens, 100-400mm zoom lens, 1.4x converter, 2x converter.
http://www.newforestobservatory.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12801949@N02/

WOW you weren't kidding and I am glad I was already sitting down!!

That's a jaw-droppingly eye-bulgingly amazing image..lol..

Cheers