Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Milky Way, 12 years, 1250 hours of exposures and 125 x 22 degrees of sky
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It took nearly twelve years to collect enough data for this high resolution gigapixel class mosaic image of the Milky Way. Total exposure time used is around 1250 hours between 2009 and 2021.
" I can hear music in this composition, from the high sounds of sparcs and bubbles at left all the way to a deep and massive sounds at right."
From Taurus to Cygnus
Click for a large image, it's really worth it! (7000 x 1300 pixels)
Image in mapped colors from the light emitted by an ionized elements, hydrogen = green, sulfur = red and oxygen = blue. NOTE, the apparent size of the Moon in a lower left corner. NOTE 2, there are two 1:1 scale enlargements from the full size original at both ends of the image
NEW, A HD-video from Germany shows my photo in full glory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-Z60eZ4yqM
(Video in Germany but images are the international language)
Close ups form the parts of the Grande Mosaic
NEW, A HD-video from Germany shows my photo in full glory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-Z60eZ4yqM
(Video in Germany but images are the international language)
Close ups form the parts of the Grande Mosaic
Cygnus side of the mosaic, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/12/cygnus-project-grande-finale-for-now.html
Cassiopeia side of the mosaic, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2021/01/mosaic-image-gets-large-400-hours-and.html
Taurus side of the mosaic, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-new-mosaic-image-from-taurus-to.html
A closeup from large panorama to show the overall resolution
Click for a large image
The California Nebula, NGC 1499, can be seen at bottom left of the large mosaic image.
There are about 20 million individual stars visible in the whole mosaic image.
There are about 20 million individual stars visible in the whole mosaic image.
Orientation and details
Click for a large image
Click for a large image
Imaging info
Image spans 125 x 22 degrees of the Milky About 20 million individual stars are visible in my photo!
Image spans 125 x 22 degrees of the Milky About 20 million individual stars are visible in my photo!
It took almost twelve years to finalize this mosaic image. The reason for a long time period is naturally the size of the mosaic and the fact, that image is very deep. Another reason is that I have soht most of the mosaic frames as an individual compositions and publish them as independent artworks. That leads to a kind of complex image set witch is partly overlapping with a lots of unimaged areas between and around frames. I have shot the missing data now and then during the years and last year I was able to publish many sub mosaic images as I got them ready first.
My processing workflow is very constant so very little tweaking was needed between the mosaic frames. Total exposure time is over 1250 hours. Some of the frames has more exposure time, than others. There are some extremely dim objects clearly visible in this composition, like a extremely dim supernova remnant W63, the Cygnus Shell. It lays about six degrees up from North America nebula and it can be seen as a pale blue ring. I spent about 100 hours for this SNR alone. An other large and faint supernova remnant in Cygnus can be seen at near right edge of the image. G65.5+5.7 is as large as more famous Veil nebula. There are over 60 exposure hours for this SNR alone. (Veil SNR is just outside of the mosaic area for compositional reasons but can be seen in "Detail" image above.)
My processing workflow is very constant so very little tweaking was needed between the mosaic frames. Total exposure time is over 1250 hours. Some of the frames has more exposure time, than others. There are some extremely dim objects clearly visible in this composition, like a extremely dim supernova remnant W63, the Cygnus Shell. It lays about six degrees up from North America nebula and it can be seen as a pale blue ring. I spent about 100 hours for this SNR alone. An other large and faint supernova remnant in Cygnus can be seen at near right edge of the image. G65.5+5.7 is as large as more famous Veil nebula. There are over 60 exposure hours for this SNR alone. (Veil SNR is just outside of the mosaic area for compositional reasons but can be seen in "Detail" image above.)
The Mosaic Work, technical info
I took my current toolset as a base tool since it has a relatively high resolution combined to a very large field of view. Also it collects photons very quickly since it's undersampled and I can have very dim background nebulosity visible in very short time (many times 30 min frame is enough)
I do all my mosaic work under the PhotoShop, Matching the separate panels by using stars as an indicator is kind of straight forward work. My processing has become so constant, that very little tweaking is needed between separate frames, just some minor levels, curves and color balance.
I have used lots of longer focal length sub-frames in my mosaic to boost details. (See the mosaic map at top of the page) To match them with shorter focal length shots I developed a new method.
Firstly I upscale the short focal length frames about 25% to have more room for high resolution images.Then I match the high res photo to a mosaic by using the stars as an indicator. After that I remove all the tiny stars from the high res image. Next I separate stars from low res photo and merge the starless high res data to a starless low res frame. And finally I place the removed low res stars back at top of everything with zero data lost. Usually there are some optical distortions and it's seen especially in a star field. Now all my stars are coming from a same optical setup and I don't have any problems with distortions. (I'm using the same star removal technique as in my Tone Mapping Workflow)
Closeups from large panorama to show the overall resolution
Click for a large image
IC 405 6 410 area
IC 1396
Click for a large image
Image in mapped colors from the light emitted by an ionized elements, hydrogen = green, sulfur = red and oxygen = blue.
A 1:3 resolution close up from the photo above
Click for a large image,
Click for a large image,
A closeup from the main image shows the Sharpless 124 at up and the Cocoon nebula with a dark gas stream at bottom.
Sharpless 205, NGC 1491 and Lynds Bright Nebula 696
IC 405 6 410 area
From Bubble to Cave Nebula
Image info, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-bubble-to-cave-nebula-area.html
Not an igloo, this is reality of astro photographing in Finland
The tulip nebula area
The Tulip Nebula, Sh2-101, can be seen at center right, there is also a black hole Cygnus X-1
The blog post with technical details can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-tulip-nebula-in-cygnus-sh2-101.html
The blog post with technical details can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-tulip-nebula-in-cygnus-sh2-101.html
The supernova remnant G65.3+5.7
More info about this image here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/g65357-large-supernova-remnant-in_22.html
My Observatory,
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Sharpless 114, a Cosmic Dragon, is now the Ukrainian Ironbelly
This cosmic photograph is dedicated to Ukrainian people and a deadly fight they are forced to.
I have renamed Sharpless 114, the Flying Dragon Nebula, to the Ukrainian Ironbelly, after a dragon seen in Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
The whole world is now witnessing the barbaric actions of the brutal Russian dictator Putin. As an artist and astrophotographer, I thought about what I could do to help Ukraine and its people. All proceeds from the sale of this NFT will go to efforts supporting the Ukrainian people during this war.
UKRAINIAN IRONBELLY
(Click for a large image)
Upper image, Flying Dragon nebula, Sharpless 114 (Sh2-114)
Bottom Image, Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon - as seen in Harry Potter Movie
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
WB Studio Tour Entrance Claire Evans / Alamy Stock Photo
4K MOVIE,
SHARPLESS 114, THE UKRAINIAN IRONBELLY
4K movie, best seen as full screen
A story behind this artwork
Few days ago I was working with my new photo, showing a rarely imaged object Sharpless 114 in Eastern part of constellation Cygnus, the Swan. The official nickname for the object is the Flying Dragon Nebula. As I worked with this photo, I had a strong feeling that I have seen it before but I couldn't remember where.
I woke up in the middle of the night realizing that I have seen this nebula in the movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Yes, I'm a nerd)
There is a magical creature in a movie, a massive dragon called the Ukrainian Ironbelly. It turned out to be the creature that among other things, helped Ukrainians during the WW1 as a "wizarding air force" (Source Harry Potter Fandom Wiki)
I believe that this can be a great symbol for the Ukrainian fight against the Russian monsters.
This is also a great symbol for a modern version of Ukrainian Ironbelly, the Turkish made drone, Bayraktar-TB2, a most important weapon in war against Russians tanks in Ukraine. As a dragon, this drone is producing a steel melting "jet of fire" against murderess Russian main battle tanks and saves countless of Ukrainian lives as we speak.
This is an extremely personal art project to me as a Finnish citizen. We have a 1340 km (830 mi) common border with Russia and there is a huge risk that we might be the next victims of the brutal dictator of Russia.
All proceeds from the sale of this NFT will go to efforts supporting the Ukrainian people during this war.
History of Ukrainian Ironbelly by Harry Potter Fandom
Source: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Ukrainian_Ironbelly
Source: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Ukrainian_Ironbelly
Ironbellies had been subject to constant observation by the Ukrainian wizarding authorities, ever since a particular Ironbelly carried off a sailing ship from the Black Sea in 1799. Thankfully, the boat was empty at the time.
In 1926, Newt Scamander mentioned to Jacob Kowalski that he had previously worked with Ukrainian Ironbellies during the First World War. In that same war, Ukrainian Ironbellies were also considered for use in a wizarding air force. The Ironbelly could produce jets of flame up to 3,560 degrees Fahrenheit (1960 degrees Celsius).
It does look like a dragon
(Click for a large image)
(Click for a large image)
This artwork is also a symbol of the Bayraktar-TB2 drone, a modern version of Ukrainian Ironbelly. It has saved countless of Ukrainian lives from a barbaric attack of the brutal dictator Putin
This Turkish drone has saved countless of Ukrainian lives from a barbaric attack of the brutal dictator Putin
INFO about Sharpless 114, Sh2-114
Sh2-114 is a complex and unusual HII emission nebula. Its complex, wispy structure is likely the result of winds from hot, massive stars interacting with the magnetic fields in the interstellar medium. But very little is known about it. (Source, https://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im1112.html)
Technical details of the photo
I have combined the old and new data by my new powerful imaging and processing method,
the VARES (VAriable RESolution imaging)
I have combined the old and new data by my new powerful imaging and processing method,
the VARES (VAriable RESolution imaging)
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 21 iterations, added at 25% 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
Mount
10-micron 1000
Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-alpha
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Astrodon filter, 3nm S-II
Exposure times
H-alpha, 9x 1200s = 3h
O-III, 3 x 1200s binned = 1h
S-II, 3 x 1200s binned = 1h
New Data
Imaging optics
Tokina AT-x f2.8 camera lens
Mount
10-micron 1000
Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and an old spotting scope of Meade LX200
Astrodon filters,
5nm H-alpha 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
Exposure time
H-alpha, 15 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 5 h
O-III, 1x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 20 min.
S-II, 1 x 1200 s. binned 2x2 = 20 min.
Sharpless 114, orientation in Cygnus
Sharpless 114, orientation in Cygnus
The Sh2-114 is marked as white rectangle
Sunday, February 27, 2022
Cederblad 214, the Cosmic Question Mark
I have published this photo back in February 2020 but I have done some reprocessing and repost this image now since this photo of Cosmic Question Mark has symbolic value to me. A cosmic curiosity is the very reason I'm doing this difficult, and sometimes frustrating, form of nature photographing art.
Cederblad 214, the Cosmic Question Mark
Click for a large image
Image info, technical data and more images of this object, https://tinyurl.com/yeykd3wc
Friday, February 25, 2022
4K HYPER Zoom to the Milky Way and a Bubble Nebula
I have made couple of 4K videos out of my massive 145 degree Milky Way panorama. In the video you can see the actual resolution of this massive image. This time I'm zooming into the Bubble Nebula in cassiopeia at distance of about 12.000 light years.
Super Zoom to The Bubble nebula (44 seconds)
Best seen as a full screen and better yet, with a 4K display, direct link to the YouTube:
https://youtu.be/HZrcwxeFLYs
Info about the large panorama of the Milky Way
(Click the image to enter)
https://youtu.be/HZrcwxeFLYs
Info about the large panorama of the Milky Way
(Click the image to enter)
Over a decade, 1500 exposure hours and 301 individual frames visible in one image
NOTE, image of the Full Moon as a scale in lover left corner.
Info about the Bubble Nebula
(Click the image to enter)
NOTE, image of the Full Moon as a scale in lover left corner.
Info about the Bubble Nebula
(Click the image to enter)
Thursday, February 24, 2022
4K zoom in the Milky Way
I made a 4K video out of my massive 145 degree Milky Way panorama. In the video you can see the actual resolution of this massive image when it zoom in to IC 1396 in constellation Cepheus
Super Zoom to IC 1396
Best seen as full screen and 4K display, direct link to the YouTube:
https://youtu.be/weeA-jEzezA
Info about the large panorama of Milky Way:
https://youtu.be/weeA-jEzezA
Info about the large panorama of Milky Way:
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Super Zoom to my photo, the Grand Mosaic of the Milky Way Revision 2
4K Super Zoom to my photo
Grand Mosaic of the Milky Way Revision 2
Super Zoom to the Milky Way, note, best to see in full screen
It took over 12 years to finalize this massive photo of Milky Way
Blog post with a zoomable image, please, have a look here: https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2021/10/grand-mosaic-of-milky-way-is-now-large.html
IMAGE SPECS
- Panorama spans 145 x 22 degrees of sky (Full Moon covers 0,5 degrees of sky)
- Resolution 120.000 x 18.000 pixels
- Photos has 2.2 gigapixels in it, the spatial resolution is equal to 8.8 gigapixel image from color camera since all the channels are in native resolution.
- There are least nine confirmed supernova remnants in this panorama
- About 25 million stars are visible in the photo
- Distance to the nebulae in the image between 350 to 20.000 light years
- Exposure time over 1500 hours between 2009 - 2021
- 301 individual images are stitched together seamlessly
- It took about 12 years to finalize this photo
- Narrowband image from light of ionized elements, hydrogen = green, sulfur = red and oxygen = blue
- Processing time for the whole panorama, way too large part of my life
Monday, February 14, 2022
Supernova remnant HB3 and the cosmic heart
I have shot this target originally at January 14 2020 and it was the second light to my modified Tokina lens. Now I have reprocessed the data and I do like this result much better.
new imaging system based on Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 camera lens.
The Heart Nebula, IC 1805
Please, click for a large image
Going very deep just in two hours! Image is in visual color palette from emission of an ionized hydrogen and oxygen. R=hydrogen, G=Oxygen and B=oxygen. I have made a starless version out of this image, it can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/an-animated-heart-nebula-ic1805805-with.html
SUPERNOVA REMNANT 132.7+1.3 (HB3)
IC 1805 in visual palette
Please, click for a large image
Supernova remnant
In this photo there is a large supernova remnant, marked as a white circle. I haven't seen any photos of it before. I must take more O-III exposures to see, if I'm able to pick up any signal from this supernova remnant.
Radio image of the area shows mostly signal from OB6
Technical details
Processing workflow
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
Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 camera lens
Mount
10-micron 1000
Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and an old spotting scope of Meade LX200
Astrodon filters,
5nm H-alpha 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
5nm H-alpha 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
Total exposure time
H-alpha, 12 x 600 s, binned 1x1 = 2 h
O-III, 3x 600 s, binned 1x1 = 30 min..
S-II, 2x1200 s, binned 2x2 = 40 min.
O-III, 3x 600 s, binned 1x1 = 30 min..
S-II, 2x1200 s, binned 2x2 = 40 min.
INFO About undersampling etc
The CCD I'm using has kind of large pixels, 9 microns, so I'm undersampled, the image scale is almost 5 arc seconds / pixel. Undersampling is not a bad thing when my targets are large and dim nebula complexes. This system collects photons very fast!
I selected the Heart Nebula as a target since I have plenty of reference material for it. Another reason is interesting and rarely imaged area after the bright tip of the heart. There are some remnants of a supernova explosion. I was really thrilled, when I saw the final stack of 12 600s H-alpha light frames. (Equal to 2h of exposures) I never have seen so much background nebulae and details from this popular target.
Beside 2h of H-alpha (Light from an ionized hydrogen) I shot 30 min of O-IIII (Light from an ionized Oxygen) To be able to make an image in visual palette.
Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Cygnus Mosaic in Visual Colors
Three Musketeers of Swan
Deepest and most detailed image showing the whole constellation Cygnus ever taken
There are three large supernova remnants visible in this image. The Veil nebula is the most bright of them, other two are really dim and diffused. I spent about 200 exposure hours for those two alone to show them well. I call this trio to the Three musketeers.
I like the new composition, it's very dynamic and shows the whole constellation Cygnus first time ever at this detail level and deepness. I haven't seen anything like this before. Image spans now 31 x 23 degrees of sky and has 118 individual frames in it. total exposure time is now around 700 hours and the resolution 20.000 x 25.500 pixels. Image it took over a decade to finalize this photo between 2010 and 2021.
The mapped color version of this mosaic can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2021/12/cygnus-mosaic-gets-large.html
Bang, Bang & Bang
Three large supernova remnants in the same field of view
Click for a large image
Click for a large image
ZOOMABLE VERSION
Three Large Supernova Remnants
Click for a large image
Click for a large image
INFO
Three supernova remnants, two Wolf Rayet stars and a black hole
In the orientation image above, there are three large supernova remnants visible, first the Cygnus Shell W63 , bluish ring at middle left, secondly the large SNR G65.3+5.7 at upper right and the third is a brighter SNR, the Veil nebula at right edge of the image.
Beside three supernova remnants there are two Wolf Rayet stars with outer shell formations. NGC 6888, the Crescent Nebula at center of the image and the WR 134, it can be seen as a blue arch just right from the Crescent Nebula, near the Tulip nebula.
Next to the Tulip Nebula lays a Black hole Cygnus X-1
Constellation Cygnus is an endless source of celestial wonders, both scientifically and aesthetically. For me, as an visual artist, this are of night sky is very inspiring There are endless amount of amazing shapes and structures, I can spend rest of my life just shooting images from this treasury.
Equipments used
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