Saturday, January 31, 2015
Cederblad 214 as an experimental 3D stereo pair
Images are for two different viewing methods, the first set of images is for the Parallel Vision method and the second set for the Cross Vision method. Viewing instructions can be seen HERE.
NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some scientific facts, deduction and an artistic impression. A short explanation, about the method used for the 3D conversion of my astrophoto, at the end of this post.
3D Soul Nebula as a freeview stereo pair
For a parallel viewing method
Original 2D-image can be seen in HERE
For a cross vision viewing method
Original 2D-image can be seen in HERE
More 3D-experiments in my portfolio, including the
A method used for the 3D conversion, a short explanation
at a tip of the pillars, are also potential places for the formations of the new stars.
HOW?
Firstly, they are great fun to do. Secondly, just because I can.
Many times images of nebulae looks like paintings on the canvas. I like to show a real nature of those distant objects as a three dimensional shapes floating in a three dimensional volume. This is a great way to show, how I personally see astronomical targets as a 3D-forms inside my head.
3D-experiments seems to increase a public interest to a subject, as you might have noticed.
I have studied my astronomical images much deeper, than ever without 3D-modeling.
HOW?
I have been asked many times, how my 3D-images are done, so here it goes!
All the original 2D-images are imaged by me, if not otherwise stated.
Due the huge distances, no real parallax can be imaged for a volumetric information.
I have developed a method to turn any 2D-astronomical image to a various 3D-formats. The result is always an approximation of the reality, based on some known scientific facts, deduction and an artistic impression.
What are the known facts?
By using a scientifically estimated distance of the object, I can organize right amount of stars front and behind the object. (as then we know the absolute position of the object at our Milky-way)
Stars are divided to groups by apparent brightness, that can be used as a draft distance indicator, brighter the closer. There is usually a known star cluster or a star(s) coursing the ionization and they can be placed in right relative position to the nebula itself .
Generally emission nebulae are not lit by the starlight directly but radiation from stars ionizing gases in the nebula. Hence the nebula itself is emitting its own light, at wavelength typical to each element. Due to that, and the thickness of the nebula can be estimated by its brightness, thicker = brighter. Nebulae are also more or less transparent, so we can see "both sides" at the same time.
Many other relative distances can be figured out just carefully studying the image, like dark nebulae must be front of bright ones. The local stellar wind, radiation pressure, from the star cluster, shapes the nebula, For that reason, pillar like formations must point to a cluster. ( Look previous image, above this text.) Same radiation pressure usually forms kind of cavitation, at the nebulosa, around the star cluster, by blowing away all the gas around the source of stellar wind. The ionized oxygen, O-III, emits blueish light, it requires lots of energy to ionize. Due to that, the blue glowing area locates usually near the source of ionization, at the heart of the nebula. This and many other small indicators can be found by carefully studying the image itself.
Using the known data, I can build a kind of skeleton model of the nebula. Then the artistic part is mixed to a scientific part, rest is very much like a sculpting.
All the original 2D-images are imaged by me, if not otherwise stated.
Due the huge distances, no real parallax can be imaged for a volumetric information.
I have developed a method to turn any 2D-astronomical image to a various 3D-formats. The result is always an approximation of the reality, based on some known scientific facts, deduction and an artistic impression.
What are the known facts?
By using a scientifically estimated distance of the object, I can organize right amount of stars front and behind the object. (as then we know the absolute position of the object at our Milky-way)
Stars are divided to groups by apparent brightness, that can be used as a draft distance indicator, brighter the closer. There is usually a known star cluster or a star(s) coursing the ionization and they can be placed in right relative position to the nebula itself .
Generally emission nebulae are not lit by the starlight directly but radiation from stars ionizing gases in the nebula. Hence the nebula itself is emitting its own light, at wavelength typical to each element. Due to that, and the thickness of the nebula can be estimated by its brightness, thicker = brighter. Nebulae are also more or less transparent, so we can see "both sides" at the same time.
Many other relative distances can be figured out just carefully studying the image, like dark nebulae must be front of bright ones. The local stellar wind, radiation pressure, from the star cluster, shapes the nebula, For that reason, pillar like formations must point to a cluster. ( Look previous image, above this text.) Same radiation pressure usually forms kind of cavitation, at the nebulosa, around the star cluster, by blowing away all the gas around the source of stellar wind. The ionized oxygen, O-III, emits blueish light, it requires lots of energy to ionize. Due to that, the blue glowing area locates usually near the source of ionization, at the heart of the nebula. This and many other small indicators can be found by carefully studying the image itself.
Using the known data, I can build a kind of skeleton model of the nebula. Then the artistic part is mixed to a scientific part, rest is very much like a sculpting.
WHY?
Many times images of nebulae looks like paintings on the canvas. I like to show a real nature of those distant objects as a three dimensional shapes floating in a three dimensional volume. This is a great way to show, how I personally see astronomical targets as a 3D-forms inside my head.
3D-experiments seems to increase a public interest to a subject, as you might have noticed.
I have studied my astronomical images much deeper, than ever without 3D-modeling.
3D-studies has really added a new dimension to my work as an astronomical photographer. (pun intended)
Thursday, January 29, 2015
NGC 281, the Pac-Man Nebula, as an experimental 3D stereo image
Images are for two different viewing methods, the first set of images is for the Parallel Vision method and the second set for the Cross Vision method. Viewing instructions can be seen HERE.
NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some scientific facts, deduction and an artistic impression.
3D Soul Nebula as a freeview stereo pair
For a parallel viewing method
Nebula for the Parallel Vision method. Click for a large image.
Original 2D-image can be seen in HERE
For a cross vision viewing method
Nebula for the Cross Vision method. Click for a large image.
Original 2D-image can be seen in HERE
More 3D-experiments in my portfolio, including 3D Red/Cyan anaglyph
All pillar like formations are pointing to a source of ionization, the open cluster NGC 281. There are some more dense areas in a gas, able to resist the radiation pressure from young star cluster. Those dense areas, at a tip of the each pillar, are also potential places for the formations of the new stars. Note. There are some very dim outer formations in this nebula, I haven't noticed them before. Like the one pillar like at the eleven o'clock position.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Soul Nebula, IC 1848, as an experimental 3D stereo image pair
The weather doesn't support the imaging of the new material, so I made a new experimental 3D-study out of my photo of the Soul Nebula, IC 1848.
Images are for two different viewing methods, the first set of images is for the Parallel Vision method and the second set for the Cross Vision method. Viewing instructions can be seen HERE.
NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some scientific facts, deduction and an artistic impression.
3D Soul Nebula as a freeview stereo pair
For a parallel viewing method
Nebula for the Parallel Vision method. Click for a large image.
Original 2D-image can be seen in HERE
For a cross vision viewing method
Nebula for the Cross Vision method. Click for a large image.
Original 2D-image can be seen in HERE
More 3D-experiments in my portfolio
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Jellyfish Nebula, IC 443, a supernova remnant in Gemini
This winter season has been worst I have seen in fifteen years. We have now had almost constant cloud cover for about three months. There was a partially clear sky for couple of nights and I managed to use it, since my observatory is located just next to my home. The night between 18. and 19. of January was kind of clear but the seeing and transparency was very poor. I was about to toss away all of the frames for IC 443 but since I haven't anything else to process, I kept them. Here are the results, I did the best I could with a low quality material. This object will need much more exposures in future.
IC 443, the Jellyfish Nebula SNR
INFO
IC 443, Jellyfish Nebula, Sharpless 248 (Sh2-248), is a galactic supernova remnant in the constellation Gemini. It locates near the star Eta Geminorum (A bright star at middle right) at distance of about 5000 light years. This supernova event very likely created a neutron star (CXOU J061705.3+222127), a collapsed remnant of the stellar core. Nebula spans about 50-70 light years. This photo has an angular size of about one arc minute. (Full Moon has an apparent size of ~30 arc minutes.)
An older wide field photo of the same object
Original blog post of this image with technical details can be seen HERE
A color version of IC 443
Colors from Sulfur and Oxygen are borrowed from the photo above
Sulfur and Oxygen. Oxygen and Sulfur are from an older wide field photo.
An experimental starless view
color is from the Hydrogen alpha emission, the strongest emission line of the hydrogen.
Technical details
Processing work flow
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.
Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f7 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope
Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-alpha
Exposure times
H-alpha, 12 x 1200s = 4h
Monday, January 26, 2015
New exhibition in Oulu, Finland
Astronomical nature photographing, an exhibition
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12-18.00 every week until the end of the February.
Kajaaninkatu 13, Oulu, welcome!
A MAP
Some photos from the exhibition, many new photos as a high quality aluminium prints
A photographic print of Veil nebula at light of ionized Oxygen only, 30x40cm
At to, an aluminium print of the Tulip nebula, 58x70cm. At bottom, Sharpless 132, as an aluminium print, 50x70cm.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Veil Nebula in light of ionized oxygen only
This must be the worst winter season ever! Last time we have had clear skies, up here 65N, was at end of the October, almost two and half months ago! Now it's cloudy, -13celsius (~8 fahrenheit) with a storming wind to a top of that. Next ten days will be no better by weather forecast. Few words comes to in my mind but I say only one, frustrated.
Veil Nebula in O-III light only
Click for the large image
This photo of the Veil Nebula supernova remnant in Cygnus shows only an emission from the ionized oxygen (O-III). All the stars are suppressed to show the actual shapes of the ionization front better.
The ionized oxygen, O-III, glows at wavelength of 500,7 nanometer. To a human eye it shows as a turquoise color.
Info
Veil Nebula is a cloud of ionized gas and dust, leftovers from an exploded star. The star exploded some 5000-8000 years ago at distance of about 1470 light years. This, relatively faint target, is difficult to image due the large angular diameter, about three degrees, and a dense star field.
Some closeup photos in emission of ionized oxygen only
IC 1340 in ionized Oxygen light, O-III
Pickering's Triangle in ionized Oxygen light, O-III
Eastern Veil in ionized Oxygen light, O-III
Witch Broom Nebula in ionized Oxygen light, O-III
The Veil Nebula in colors
This photo of the Veil nebula shows it in full colors. Colors are combined from the emission of ionized elements, hydrogen, sulfur and oxygen.(H-alpha, S-II and O-III) More info about this photo of mine can be see HERE
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Astro Anarchy gets published
CNET article by Michelle Starr about my "It looks like..." photo pairs
You can read the story from HERE
A sample image, the Twirling Dancer
Melotte 15 cluster in IC 1805, info about this photo can be seen HERE
All my "It looks like..." image pairs can be found from THIS blog post.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Cygnus Wall in visual colors
This photo is originally published at 31.10. last year. At the time I made only a mapped color version of it.
Now I'm publishing the same image in visual spectrum. It's combined from three component exposures of an emission from the ionized elements, hydrogen , oxygen and sulfur. (H-alpha, O-III and S-II) Channels are combined by following method, Red = 75%H-alpha + 25%S-II Green = O-III and Blue = 80%O-III+20%H-alpha (to compensate otherwise missing H-beta emission.)
Cygnus Wall
Click for a large image
Image is in visual spectrum from an emission of the ionized elements.
The Red glow is mainly from ionized hydrogen, bluish hues are from ionized oxygen.
The Red glow is mainly from ionized hydrogen, bluish hues are from ionized oxygen.
Detail from the image above
INFO
Source: NASA APOD
The North America nebula on the sky can do what the North America continent on Earth cannot -- form stars. Specifically, in analogy to the Earth-confined continent, the bright part that appears as Central America and Mexico is actually a hot bed of gas, dust, and newly formed stars known as the Cygnus Wall. The above image shows the star forming wall lit and eroded by bright young stars, and partly hidden by the dark dust they have created. The part of the North America nebula (NGC 7000) shown spans about 15 light years and lies about 1,500 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus).
Technical details
Processing work flow
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.
Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f7 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope
Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-aplha
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Exposure times
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Exposure times
H-alpha 6 x 1200s = 3h
O-III 3 x 600s = 30min.
S-II is borrowed from my older wide field image
Orientation
The area of interest is marked as a white rectangle, Photo is in mapped colors.
A single un cropped, calibrated and stretched 20 min. H-alpha frame
Orientation
A single un cropped, calibrated and stretched 20 min. H-alpha frame
Sunday, January 4, 2015
The year of Astro Anarchy as a movie
All my photos and some highlights of the year 2014 as a movie, 2min 30s.
Click to start and stop the movie
Portfolio: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jp.metsavainio
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCivFr6kAAYZqMVE2doG9uDQ/videos
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Happy New Year!
Image shows the Tulip Nebula, Sh2-101, in Cygnus. More info about this photo HERE
Portfolio: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jp.metsavainio
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