Tuesday, October 16, 2012
IC 1340, project finalized
Finally, after waiting four weeks for a clear night, I was able to finalize this project last night by shooting the missing S-II channel (light from the ionized Sulfur)
IC 1340, Part of the Eastern Veil Nebula in Cygnus
RA: 20h56m 45.8s DE:+31 degrees07' 17"
Orientation
Note. an apparent size of the Moon is at lower Right corner.
The area of interest is shown with a rectangle and the size of the Moon with a circle.
Image in visual spectrum from the same material
R=Hydrogen + Sulfur, G=Oxygen and B=Oxygen + Hydrogen.
Technical details:
Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Levels, curves and color combine in 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
16 x 1200s exposures for H-alpha emission = 5h 20min.
12 x 1200s exposures for O-III, emission of ionized Oxygen = 4h
12 x 1200s exposures for S-II, emission of ionized Sulfur = 4h
Total exposure time 13h 20min.
Ps.
Stars vs starless animation
Soetimes it's easier to see deatils in the nebula, if the stars are removed.
Monday, October 15, 2012
An experiental 3D-animation from my image of NGC 6752
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 a 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!
NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some known facts and an artistic impression.
A globular cluster, NGC 6752, as an animated 3D-study
Please, let the image load, the size is ~6.5MB
24-frames, images are meant for a lenticular 3D-print. Hence only limited horizontal animation. If needed, I'm able to do whole "fly around" animation out of the same 3D-model, used for the image above.
NOTE. Only image elements from the original 2D-image are used for this 3D-model.
Original 2D image of the object
Image of the NGC 6752 from the year 2010
Original blog post, with technical info, can be seen here:
What are globular clusters?
First of all, they are very beautiful, visually and imaged! A globular cluster is a spherical collection of stars that orbits a galactic core as a satellite. Globular clusters are very tightly bound by gravity, which gives them their spherical shapes and relatively high stellar densities toward their centers. The name of this category of star cluster is derived from the Latin globulus—a small sphere. A globular cluster is sometimes known more simply as a globular.
Globular clusters, which are found in the halo of a galaxy, contain considerably more stars and are much older than the less dense galactic, or open clusters, which are found in the disk. Globular clusters are fairly common; there are about 150 to 158 currently known globular clusters in the Milky Way.
Globular clusters, which are found in the halo of a galaxy, contain considerably more stars and are much older than the less dense galactic, or open clusters, which are found in the disk. Globular clusters are fairly common; there are about 150 to 158 currently known globular clusters in the Milky Way.
A screenshot from the 3D-modeling software
A screen shot from the TrueSpace modeling software. This kind of model gives much more freedoms to animate, than is used in this example. A series of 24 images, with about one degree increments, are needed for the lenticular 3D print.
A collection of my experimental 3D-studies, of astronomical objects, can be found from my portfolio:
3D-material is under a folder "Volumetric 3D images"
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
An experiental 3D-animation from my image of Veil Nebula SNR
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!
Veil Nebula, supernova remnant, as an animation
Click for a large image
Click for a large image
Please, wait for few moments for animation to load, the size is ~7MB
NOTE. Only real data from the original 2D-image is used for the 3D-animation!
NOTE. Only real data from the original 2D-image is used for the 3D-animation!
This animation shows the estimated shape of the Veil Nebula. It has to be more or less spherical due to nature of the supernova explosion.
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.
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.
The original 2D-image of the Veil Nebula
I shot this image at Autumn season 2011. The blog post with information and technical details can be seen here: http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/03/veil-nebula-reprocessed-with-some-new.html
Buy a photographic print from HERE
The apparent scale of the Veil Nebula
Many nebulae are very large in the sky. This image series shows the apparent size of the Veil Nebula compared to size of the Moon. (The full Moon has an angular size of ~30 arc minutes, that's equal to ~0,5 degrees.)
Click for a large image
Note. The apparent size of the Moon is marked as a white circle for a scale.
An experimental fly a round movie of Veil Nebula
Few years back I made a movie out of the Veil Nebula.
HD-format (720x1280) To see this in Youtube: KLICK HERE
Please, klick the "gear symbol" in Youtube to select high resolution. Double click the movie window to see it in full screen.
An experimental fly a round movie of Veil Nebula
Few years back I made a movie out of the Veil Nebula.
Please, klick the "gear symbol" in Youtube to select high resolution. Double click the movie window to see it in full screen.
-
Original video can be downloaded from HERE
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
An experimental 3D-animation from my image of IC 1396
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!
An image set of IC 1396, used for a lenticular print, as an animation.
(More of my experimental 3D-images under a folder "Volumetric 3D images" in my Portfolio http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/ )
(More of my experimental 3D-images under a folder "Volumetric 3D images" in my Portfolio http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/ )
Please, wait for few moments for animation to load, the size is ~7MB
The animation shows, IC 1396, a largish ionization zone in Cepheus.
AN UPDATE
AN UPDATE
08.01.2013
The astronomer Phil Plait collected an annual list of the best astronomical images for the year 2012.
This experimental image of IC 1396 was selected as one of them.
The Best Astronomy Images of 2012
by an astronomer Phil Plait
THE LIST
My image is a sixth from the top.
The astronomer Phil Plait collected an annual list of the best astronomical images for the year 2012.
This experimental image of IC 1396 was selected as one of them.
The Best Astronomy Images of 2012
by an astronomer Phil Plait
THE LIST
My image is a sixth from the top.
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2011/10/ic-1396-home-of-elephants-trunk-nebula.html
Buy a photographic print from HERE
Here is an image series showing the apparent scale of the IC 1396 in the sky:
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2011/07/ic-1396-scale-in-sky-zoom-in-series-in.html
All of my images can be seen in my portfolio:
http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
(More of my experimental 3D-images under a folder "Volumetric 3D images")
I turned the original 2D-image to 3D by using a surface modeling software (TrueSpace).
Image is first divided to layers by its content, each layer is then projected to a 3D-surface.
To have good and realistic forms, I did use an other software, Bmp2CNC, it converts the shades in the image to a 3D-form. I have semi automated the whole process, it'll takes about 20 min. to make a 3D model like in this example is used.
A screen shot from the TrueSpace modeling software.
This kind of model gives much more freedoms to animate, than is used in this example.
A series of 24 images, with about one degree increments, are needed for the lenticular 3D print.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
An experimental animation of IC 1340
In this experimental animation the nebula, IC 1340, can be seen with and without stars.
Sometimes it's easier to see complex shapes of nebula without stars, specially if it locates in a very dense star field. Human brains has an ability to create some quasi-logical shapes out of the random cloud of dots, like stars, and it can interferes the underlying shapes to be seen clearly.
Original image and imaging data can be seen in this blog post:
http://www.astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/09/ic-1340-project-as-bi-color-from.html
Sunday, September 30, 2012
An electric Nike, IC 1340 in Eastern Veil Nebula
IC 1340, an electric Nike of Samothrace
This is a second version of this photograph. It looks like an electric version of the Nike statue!
Statue of the Nike
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winged_Victory_of_Samothrace
IC 1340
http://www.astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/09/ic-1340-project-as-bi-color-from.html
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Two panel mosaic from the Butterfly to Crescent Nebula
Butterfly and Crescent Nebulae in constellation Cygnus
Image is in mapped colors, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulfur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen.
The colorful "noise" at background is not a noise but countless number of stars!
This is a part of the much large, 18-panels, mosaic of constellation Cygnus, it can be seen HERE.
Image is shot at Autumn 2011, I'm publishing this here, since I have reprocessed the color data.
Image is shot with Canon EF 200mm f1.8 optics, full open, QHY9 cooled astronomical camera and the Baader narrowband filter set. (H-a. O-III and S-II) Esposure times, about two hours per channel, total six hours.
Shooting with f1.8 optics is kind of extreme, the critical focus zone is only 7 microns (7/1000mm).
Focusing and staying in focus is really difficult at that speed, one quarter of the degrees temperature drop is enough to destroy focus. I have build a temperature compensating automatic focusing system for camera lenses. ( http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2008/09/new-equipmets-and-some-development-work.html )
A closeup image of the Crescent Nebula,
it can be seen at center of the image above
Image is in HST-palette, (HST=Hubble Space Telescope)
from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulfur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen.
Star colors are mixed from the NB channels, Red=H-a, G=O-III and B= 85%O-III + 15%H-a.
This image was selected as an APOD, Astronomy Image Of the Day, by the NASA.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
A scale study of the Veil Nebula supernova remnant
Many times, it's difficult to understand the image scale of astronomical images.
Therefore I have added a "Moon circle" in the images to show the angular scale in the sky. The full Moon has an angular size of ~30 arc minutes, that's equal to ~0,5 degrees.
A new scale study, the Veil Nebula
Note. The apparent size of the Moon is marked as a white circle for a scale.
Images used in this series:
Two images at top are shot with the Canon EF 200mm f1.8 camera lens and QHY9 astronomical camera with the narrowband filters:
Images at middle are shot with SkyWatcher 80 ED telescope at ~700mm focal length:
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2010/04/eastern-part-of-veil-nebula-as-stereo.html
Image at bottom is shot with Meade LX200 GPS 12" telescope at ~f5:
http://www.astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/09/ic-1340-project-as-bi-color-from.html
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
IC 1340 project as a bi-color from hydrogen and oxygen
IC 1340, Part of the Eastern Veil Nebula in Cygnus
RA: 20h56m 45.8s DE:+31 degrees07' 17"
Colors are mixed R=H-a, G=O-III and B=O-III + 5%H-a
An experimental starless version to show the actual nebula better
An animation to show difference between H-alpha and O-III emissions
Hydrogen and the Oxygen are clearly separated
Orientation image
Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle in this older wide field image above.
Technical details:
Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Levels, curves and color combine in 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
16 x 1200s exposures for H-alpha emission = 5h 20min.
12 x 1200s exposures for O-III, emission of ionized oxygen = 4h
IC 1340 in Eastern Veil Nebula. Image shows a starless version of pure ionized Oxygen, exp. time ~5h.
This is a second version of this photograph. It looks like an electric version of the Nike statue!
Ps.
I made an animation about different components in my image.
In this animation, allthe components in my image of IC 1340 are separated.
Looks odd but it's very useful while processing the image, since operations can be done to single element in image without interfering other image components.
NOTE. There is absolutely zero data lost in this technique due to my processing method.
I'm using a "difference mapping" between images and all the removed components gets placed back byte by byte in final image!
Monday, September 24, 2012
First project, IC 1340, of Autumn 2012 continues
The weather hasn't been on my side. At four nights, I have managed to collect about three two hours set of Hydrogen alpha light exposures. Now there is more details and less noise, than in previous two hours version.
I'll shoot other channels, ionized Oxygen and Sulfur, for the color image, as soon as the weather cooperates again.
IC 1340, Part of the Eastern Veil Nebula in Cygnus
RA: 20h56m 45.8s DE:+31 degrees07' 17"
A closeup
IC 1340 is part of the Veil Nebula, a supernova remnant in constellation Cygnus at distance of about 1470 light years. This is one of the more luminous areas in this SNR. Image is B&W, since it shows only a light emitted by ionized Hydrogen. The shock front formed by the material ejected from giant explosion, the super nova, can be seen in this image.
There is only two hours of exposures integrated in this image. I'll need least three more hours for H-alpha and about a same amount for O-III and S-II to make a color composition out of this target.
There is only two hours of exposures integrated in this image. I'll need least three more hours for H-alpha and about a same amount for O-III and S-II to make a color composition out of this target.
Orientation image
Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle in this older wide field image above.
Technical details:
Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Levels and curves in 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
16 x 1200s exposures for H-alpha emission = 5h 20min.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
My equipment
I'm shooting my astronomical images from downtown Oulu. This is my collection of gears needed for my astroimaging. Canon EF 200mm camera lens can't be seen in images here.
This is a new combination from old gears. Now I'm able to shoot with two cameras at ones! QHY9 is used for longer focal length work with my old Meade LX200 GPS 12" telescope at about f5. QHY8, a cooled single shot color imager, is used with Tokina AT- X 300mm camera lens for wide field work.
Now I can have both, a closeup and a wide filed images, from same target at same time. I'll test, if color information from QHY8 camera can be used with images taken by QHY9 camera.
As you can see, I don't have any fancy gears for my work.
Not a pretty boy...
Lots of cords. They might look unorganized but I can sure you, there is a system.
Light path from the telescope to camera. There is an active optics unit at middle. (SXV-AO)
Counterweight, Meade fork mount and the dew heater control box at right.
The other side of the scope.
The ugly yellow fabric, at top, works as an insulation for the
heater stripe at front of the QHY8 camera. It's heated due the frost.
Images taken with Meade LX200 GPS 12" telescope
Friday, September 21, 2012
New exhibition of my astronomical images
Sorry, in Finnish only this time, since the exhibition happens in Liminka, Finland.
Näyttely Limingan Taidekoulun tiloissa 21.09 - 16.10. 2012
"DIMENSIOITA"
Kuvia taiteen pimeältä puolelta
J-P Metsävainion tähtikuvia
Monday, September 17, 2012
First light for the Autumn season 2012, IC 1340
Finally the sky stayed open for couple of hours and I was able to capture some new photons for this imaging season. After a six months mandatory Summer pause, (I'm shooting from the latitude 65N) it feels like doing this at the first time.
For last couple of years, I have shot with camera lenses, Tokina AT-X 300mm f2.8 and Canon EF 200mm f1.8.
This season will shoot with much longer focal length by using my old Meade LX200 GPS 12" telescope.
I'm using the SXV-AO active optics unit with it and I have forced the f-number down to ~5 from original f10. (Focal reduction is done by "miss using " the Celestron f6.3 reducer.)
I'm a happy camper now!
IC 1340, Part of the Eastern Veil Nebula in Cygnus
RA: 20h56m 45.8s DE:+31 degrees07' 17"
IC 1340 in H-alpha light from emission of ionized Hydrogen.
(I'll need least three more hours for H-alpha light)
IC 1340 is part of the Veil Nebula, a supernova remnant in constellation Cygnus at distance of about 1470 light years. This is one of the more luminous areas in this SNR. Image is B&W, since it shows only a light emitted by ionized Hydrogen. The shock front formed by the material ejected from giant explosion, the super nova, can be seen in this image.
There is only two hours of exposures integrated in this image. I'll need least three more hours for H-alpha and about a same amount for O-III and S-II to make a color composition out of this target.
There is only two hours of exposures integrated in this image. I'll need least three more hours for H-alpha and about a same amount for O-III and S-II to make a color composition out of this target.
Orientation image
Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle in this older wide field image above.
Technical details:
Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Levels and curves in 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
Six 1200s exposures for H-alpha emission = 2h
(I'll need least three more hours for H-alpha light)
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