Thursday, November 1, 2012
An experimental 3D-animation of the Lagoon Nebula, M8
I have tested a new method to publish my 3D-images as a form of Lenticular prints.
For this technique to work, I need series of images from different angles, in this case 24 images are needed.
Lenticular printing is actually an old technique but in past few years it has become much more sophisticated.
The results can be stunning visually, image plane disappears and object floats in and outside of the frame.
Since astronomical objects are too far away, no real parallax can be imaged. Doe to that, I have developed a method to turn my images to various 3D-formats. My work flow is based on scientific data from the object, distance and the source of ionization are usually known. The different types of the nebulae has typical structures, pillar like formations must point to the source of ionization, the radiation pressure forms kind of hollow area, inside of the nebula, around newly born stars, dark nebulae must be at front of the emission ones to show, etc... rest of the missing information is then replaced with an artistic vision.
The whole process is pretty much like sculpting!
Lagoon Nebula, Messier 8, as an animation
NOTE. Only real data from the original 2D-image is used for the 3D-animation!
Generally images about space objects shows them flat as a paintings in a canvas but in reality, they are volumes floating in three dimensional space. The purpose of my work is to show how I personally see those distant objects in my mind and they are fun to do!
The accuracy of the model depends how well I have known, figured out and guessed. Right or wrong, if my 3D experiments are giving something to think, they are working well.
Original 2D-image used for the animation
Technical details and information of M8 can be seen in this blog post:
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2010/06/m8-lagoon-nebula.html
My previous GIF-animations can be seen here:
IC 1396, http://www.astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/10/an-experimental-3d-animation-from-my.html
NGC 6752, http://www.astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/10/an-experiental-3d-animation-from-my_15.html
Veil Nebula, http://www.astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/10/an-experiental-3d-animation-from-my.html
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Happy Halloween
A ghostly figure from deep space, IC 63
Happy Halloween!
I originally shot this target at Halloween night of the year 2010.
I didn't plan to shoot a seasonal theme image, just followed my imaging plan. When the image first time appeared in my screen at Halloween night, I felt cold fingers at my back...
Original image and the imaging data can be seen here:
A version in HST-palette
Sunday, October 21, 2012
I want to know
I WANT TO KNOW
I get inspired by a poster, seen in TV-series X-files.
(Mulder's poster hangs in the wall of X-files basement office.)
It turned out, that it was made just for the TV-series by the production team.
Images used in the "I want to know" poster above are shot by me.
Messier 104: http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2010/05/final-version-of-m104-sombrero-galaxy.html
The Moon: http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2011/09/moon-images-from-new-point-of-view.html
New imaging project, the "Pickering's Triangle"
Last night was clear! I managed to get ~5h H-alpha exposures for the "Pickering's Triangle" in the Veil Nebula supernova remnant.
This is a dim target, I'll need additional exposures for this. Together, with S-II and O-III exposures, about 15 more hours is needed for a good signal to noise.
"Pickering's Triangle"
A detail from the Veil Nebula supernova remnant
H-alpha, 15x1200s =5h
A closeup
Orientation in the Veil Nebula
Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle
Technical details:
Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Levels and curvesin PS CS3.
Optics, Meade LX200 GPS 12" @ f5
Camera, QHY9
Guiding, SXV-AO, an active optics unit, and Lodestar guide camera
Image Scale, ~0,8 arc-seconds/pixel
165 x 1200s exposures for H-alpha emission = 5h
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