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:
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