Thursday, February 18, 2010
Starting a new project, IC 443
Last night I started a new imaging project with the IC 443, supernova remnant in Gemini.
Not a very promicing start though, I got less than two hours of usable data after spending whole night shooting it. There was lots of thin upper clouds and they ruined majority of my frames. I'll shoot more H-a, maybe 6-7 hours, Sulfur and Oxygen as well.
I will test a new imaging system with this objet, I call it "VARE" Variable Resolution imaging. The idea is shoot part of the data binned 1x1, like an example here, and rest of it binned down to 2x2 - 4x4.
By that way, I can use high S/N details from a 1x1 binned image and low S/N areas from other bin modes.
Using binning is basicly same as use of the faster optical configuration, I have much greater sensitivity at cost of resolution. For example if I bin camera down 3x3, I have allmoust nine times more sensitivity!
I will write a tutorial about VARE-method, after I have tested it.
Telescope, Meade LX200 GPS 12" @ f5
Camera, QHY9
Guiding, SXV-AO @ 7Hz
Image Scale, 0,75 arcseconds/pixel
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Exposures:
H-alpha 5x1200s, binned 1x1, Flats. Bias and Darks
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Planetary Nebula in Constellation Lynx
Red=S-II, Green=H-alpha and Blue=O-III
Finally, after a long period of bad weather, I was able to shoot more H-a, O-III and S-II channels.
Seeing was not too bad but the transparency was very poor. This is an object with a very low surface brightness and bad transparency eated out some signal.
Due the low brightness this objet is not commonly imaged, even though it has a largish angular diameter to a planetary nebula. (6'.67" x 6'.67")
Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack.
Deconvolution with a CCDSharp, 30 iterations.
Levels, curves and color combine in PS CS3.
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Telescope, Meade LX200 GPS 12" @ f5
Camera, QHY9
Guiding, SXV-AO @ 9Hz
Image Scale, 1,5 arcseconds/pixel
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Exposures:
H-alpha 14x1200s, binned 2x2 and 7x1200s, binned 3x3
O-III 2x600s, binned 4x4 and 1x1200s, binned 4x4
S-II 3x600s, binned 4x4 and 1x1200s, binned 4x4
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
An Universe Today article, Stereo "Soul"
An Article by Tammy Plotner.
At this time Universe today published an article based on my volumized closeup visualization of a "Soul nebula".
Klick HERE, to see an articel in Universe Today.
The original image with details:
http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p1072219942/h12739e52#h12739e52
A 3D-animation for those, who has difficulties to see Stereo image pairs:
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-3d-animations-from-deep-space.html
The original image with details:
http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p1072219942/h12739e52#h12739e52
A 3D-animation for those, who has difficulties to see Stereo image pairs:
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-3d-animations-from-deep-space.html
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Astro photographing in Finland
This it is...
Lots of snow and clouds in winter 2010.
I bet, if I'll start to shoot snow and clouds, we dont see them anymore.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
3D-models from 2D-astro images, more testing
In this blog, there is lots of experimental material. To see my actual astroimages, please, see my Portfolio: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
Links to the original images are with animated models, there is links to other 3D-formats as well.
Animations are made by creating artificial parallax to an image. Then two images are animated together by using a very clever webservice. There can be some artifacts in images, due the experimental nature of this work! The volumetric models are based on some known facts and an artistic impression.
Please, let the images load for few seconds to see them animated!
Flaming Star nebula and IC 410
Other 3D-formats HERE
Cone Nebula area
Other 3D-formats HERE
Rosette Nebula area
Other 3D-formats HERE
Butterfly Nebula
Other 3D-formats HERE
Tulip Nebula wide field
Other 3D-formats HERE
NGC 1499, the California Nebula
Other 3D-formats HERE
This has been a very poor winter for astro imaging, playing with old data is one way to try avoid frustration.
We have just two and half months imaging season left up here in 65N. After that no astronomical darkness here until late in the next Autumn : (
Monday, February 8, 2010
"Astrokuvausta Suomesta" (in finnish)
Löydät julkaisuni ja muuta aiheeseen liittyvää täältä:
http://www.tiede.fi/keskustelut/tahtitiede-ja-avaruus-f6/astrokuvausta-suomesta-t43923.html
Kommentit, ideat ja kritiikki ovat tervetulleita. Jätä kommenttisi tänne, tai keskustelupalstalle.
(Sorry, this post here and the link is in finnish this time.)
Monday, February 1, 2010
Content of this Blog
Note, please.
In This Blog, there is lots of experimental material.
To see the actual astro images, please, select a Cathegory, like Nebulae, from a Right hand side menu!
Or You can go to my image portfolio; http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/ , thank you.
Huomautus. (Finnish)
Tässä Blogissa on runsaasti kokeilevaa materiaalia.
Nähdäksesi astrokuviani, ole hyvä ja valitse oikeanpuoleisesta valikosta esim. "Nebula" ryhmä. (Kaasusumut)
Tai voit vierailla kuvaportfoliossani; http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/ , kiitos.
North Anmerica & Pelican Nebula as an animated 3D.
Please, let the image load for few seconds to see it animated!
One more, 3D-transform from a both halves of the stereo pair, the North America and the Pelican nebula. Stars are removed to better show my vision of a possible 3D-structure.
Original post, 2D-images and details, from this target can be seen HERE.
Other 3D-formats, like anaglyph 3D, Paralle and Cross vison stereo pairs, can be seen HERE.
NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some known facts and artistic impression.
The "Cat's Eye" nebula as an animated 3D
I made an animated 3D-presentation from the Cat's Eye nebula too.
Since threre was difficulties with a star field around it, I removed all other stars but the central star of the nebula. The spherical nature of this planetary nebula can be now seen without eye tricks, like in a stereo pair.
Original post, 2D-images and details, from this target can be seen HERE.
Other 3D-formats, like anaglyph 3D, Paralle and Cross vison stereo pairs, can be seen HERE.
NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some known facts and artistic impression.
Bubble nebula 3D-animation
Sorry, there is some artifacts in image, mainly stars. This is an experimental technique yet.
Friday, January 29, 2010
One more test with a 3D-animation of nebulae
not at every time but now and then. After all, this algorithm is originally ment for regular images.
I made a test with a IC 410 nebula image with supressed stars, the actual nebulosity is much more clear and since there is no stars, animation is clean.
Please, let the images load for few seconds to see them!
Original 2D-image HERE
Other 3D-formats HERE
just few artifacts can be seen.
Original 2D-image HERE
Other 3D-formats HERE
This service is used to convert a stereo pair images to an animation: http://www.start3d.com/
Thursday, January 28, 2010
New 3D animations from deep space objects
You'll find many of them from here: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/f359296072
Due the distance, we can not have enough parallax to create real stereo pairs from deepsky objects.
I have developed, some time ago, a method to add volumetric information to a 2D astro images.
This information is based on some known facts and an artisic impression.
Here are samples of my 3D-visualizations.
This time a special technique is used to turn two slightly different images from a stereo pair to an animation.
Please, let the images load for few seconds to see them!
Original 2D-image and details HERE
Stereo pair can be found HERE
An anaglyph Red/Cyan 3D can be found HERE
A Zoom out 2D-movie HERE
Original 2D-image and details HERE
Stereo pair can be found HERE
An anaglyph Red/Cyan 3D can be found HERE
Original 2D-image and details HERE
Stereo pair can be found HERE
An anaglyph Red/Cyan 3D can be found HERE
A 2D Zoom in movie HERE
Original 2D-image and details HERE
Stereo pair can be found HERE
An anaglyph Red/Cyan 3D can be found HERE
All animations here are made by using an experimental web service. It'll turn Left and Right images from any stereo pair to a smoothly animated picture. If you'll like to give a try, please, go here: http://www.start3d.com/
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Anaglyph 3D astro images and movies
PK 164+31.1, Start of the new project
PK 164+31.1, the "Headphone Nebula"
A false color H-alpha image of PK 164+31.1
I started a new project with this planetary nebula at January 22, the same nigh as I shot the IC 410.
This planetary locates in constellation Lynx. Magnitude is 14 but it has a very low surface brightness. The 16.8 magnitude central star can be barely seen in the image. Distance is about 1600 ly. This is a large object to a planetary nebula, dimensions are 6,7 x6,7 arcminutes. This object is not too commonly imaged.
Seeing was very poor at that night and I shot this target only to see if it can be captured at all. I shot H-alpha frames binned down 2x2, image scale is 1,5 arcseconds/pixel. I'll shoot more frames to this when weather allows and hopefully in better seeing. I have plans to expose O-III and S-II too to make a three band color image out of this target.
Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack.
Levels, curves and color combine in PS CS3
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Telescope, Meade LX200 GPS 12" @ f5
Camera, QHY9
Guiding, SXV-AO @ 8Hz
Image Scale, 1,5 arcseconds/pixel
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Exposures:
H-alpha 7x1200s Binned 2x2
This exposure time is way too short for this low surface brightness object!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
A Stereo animation
For those who has difficulties to see stereo pairs, there is a clever service in http://www.start3d.com/
It'll turn any stereopair to a smooth animated file.
Original 2D-image and details can be found HERE
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IC 410 and IC 405 as a Zoomin Movie.
I have shot this area back in 2008 with a 300mm camera lens. In this movie the latest image of IC 410 is embeded in an older wide field image and animated to a still motion movie. By this way, I can show both, wide field and a high resolution in a same image.
Klick HERE to see this movie in YouTube, please, klick the HD-symbol at lower Right corner to see it in HD-resolution.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
IC 410 as a 3D Stereo pair
NEW!
For those who has difficulties to see Stereo images, there is a new service http://www.start3d.com/
This clever service turns Left and Right images, from a stereo pair, to an animated image.
Please, have a look:
http://www.start3d.com/4500142351/0001/1139333978770550
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Parallel vision
Cross vision
NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some known facts and artistic impression. Viewing instructions can be found from a Right hand side menu.
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Here you can find an Anaglyph, Red/Cyan, Stereo image.
You'll need Red/Cyan Eyeglasses to be able to see images right. Note, if you have a Red and Green filters, you can use them! Red goes to Left eye.
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NEW ADDITION!
An Anaglyp Still Motion movie
Klick HERE to see this movie in YouTube, please, klick the HD-symbol at lower Right corner to see it in HD-resolution.
Friday, January 22, 2010
IC 410, a cosmic fertilization
HST-palette
Natural color composition from Narrowband channels.
After many technical and weather problems I managed to get enough data for this image.
IC 410 is a beautiful object next to a "Flaming Star Nebula", IC 405, in Auriga.
Ambient temperature was about -21 celsius degrees and the transparency was good.
Seeing was really bad all night long, about 5 FWHM, so I shot H-alpha frames binned 2x2 to have a image scale of 1,5 arcseconds/pixel.
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Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack.
Deconvolution with a CCDSharp, 30 iterations.
Levels, curves and color combine in PS CS3.
-
Telescope, Meade LX200 GPS 12" @ f5
Camera, QHY9
Guiding, SXV-AO @ 8Hz
Image Scale, 1,5 arcseconds/pixel
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Exposures:
H-alpha 7x1200s Binned 2x2
O-III 4x600s, binned 3x3
S-II 3x600s, binned 3x3
A starless image of the IC 410. This looks now like a Rococo painting, very 3D!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Frustration
I mentioned about hardware problems in this post. Problems I ment are in a telescopes electric, not in my camera. I like to clear this up.
QHY9 will have soon a software update and it'll work without flaws in my extreme conditions too.
Bottom line.
QHY9 has been a bigest upgrade for my equipments ever!
We have now clear up here 65N and temperature is nice -30 celsius (-22 Farenheit).
Seeing looks good, transparency is not too good though.
Can't do any imaging since my equipments are not working due many hardware issues.
I have spend countles hours fixing things and now there is only couple of issues left.
I just have spend six hours to do some power measurements to pinpoint failure(s), three hours of them outside.
I feel really frustrated to be unable to use clear night(s)... what a shame.
NOTE
I made a small face lift to my Blog. There is now larger preview images and both columns are wider, hope you'll like!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Cloudynights forum October 2009 winner
My image of Bubble Nebula was a "Cloudy Nights Imaging and Sketching Contest - CCD Imaging & Processing's" winner.
This post is somehow late, since I noticed this just now.
Original image and technical details can be found HERE.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Three new Zoomout Movies
Tulip Nebula Zoomout.
Klick HERE to see this in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol to see this in HD-format.
Klick HERE to see this in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol to see this in HD-format.
Klick HERE to see this in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol to see this in HD-format.
I have found out, that with this tech. I can combine a high resolution details to a wide field experience.
Seeing the "big picture" helps the orientation and shows the context.
Heart Nebula Zoomout
I made a Zoomout video from a Heart Nebula as well.
Klick HERE to see this in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol to see this in HD-format.Movie is made by stitching together a wide field image and a detail image from a same target, in this case the heart (Melotte 15) of the heart nebula.
Original images can be found here:
http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p62690868/h2254fd41#h2254fd41
http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p1072219942/h12bae2d9#h12bae2d9
Bubble Zoomout
Bubble Nebula and a Sh2-157
This video shows the Bubble Nebula in a larger context.Klick HERE to see this in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol to see this in HD-format.
Movie is made from two images stiched to gether. Image of the Bubble Nbula is atken with a Meade LX200 12" telescope and a QHY9 astro camera, larger field of view image of Sh2-157 and a Bubble is taken with a Tokina 300mm lens and a QHY8 astro camera.
Bubble details:
http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p1072219942/h3b6799c6
Sh2-157 details:
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2008/11/sh2-157.html
Thursday, December 31, 2009
All my images from a Autumn season 2009
I made a Slide Show about all my Autumn 2009 Astro Images. Not too many of them due the weather problems up here 65N.
To see full page Show, please, maksimize your Browser and klick HERE
Here you'll find a Still Motion Movie about the same material. Klick HERE to see this in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol to see this in HD-format.
Happy New Year to All!
To see full page Show, please, maksimize your Browser and klick HERE
Happy New Year to All!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
An anaglyph Still Motion collection
You'll need Red/Cyan Eyeglasses to be able to see images right. Note, if you have a Red and Green filters, you can use them! Red goes to Left eye.
Anaglyph Still Motion movies
You'll need Red/Cyan Eyeglasses to be able to see images right. Note, if you have a Red and Green filters, you can use them! Red goes to Left eye.
This was an interesting test. I tested how 3D-anaglyph images might work as a Still Motion movie files.
'They simply work! This will give a new life to 3D-images, it'll kind of adds a "fourth dimension" to images.
I used a Sony Vegas evaluation version to add the Zoom & Pan feature to still images.
How ever, there was a problem with video conversion in YouTube. For some reason it courses chosting in the movie. Original version has no chosting effect at all.
Other samples:
Full Moon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj8oqbH3Ftc
Butterfly Nebula.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPuLp09E9R8
IC 1396.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXpfCAHNpj8
M27
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGMupR68GY0
Zoom in movie test.
Bubble Nebula Zoom in movie.
Klick HERE to see this animation in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol in lower Right corner to see it in HD-format.
Heart & Soul Nebulae, zooming to a Soul detail.
Zoomed image is a composition of a wide field image of H&S and a high resolution detail image of a Soul Nebula.
Klick HERE to see this animation in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol in lower Right corner to see it in HD-format.
I tested an evaluation version of Sony Vegas video editor to create this effect.
Windows movie maker is a free option to do this, but effects are not parametric, so there is not enough user control for a good result.
This is a good way to show actual resolution of a picture, there is not much point to publish full resolution version of an image due the huge size.
Original images with details can be found here:
Bubble Nebula: http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2009/10/bubble-nebula-finalized.html
Heart & Soul Nebulae: http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2008/10/heart-soul.html
Soul Nebula detail: http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2009/11/soul-nebula-closeup-finalized.html
Sunday, December 27, 2009
3D-conversion testing
Here is some tests, that I found interesting.
I have done lots of stereo pair and anaglyph Red/Cyan conversions from my 2D-astro images.
This time I have animated those three stereo image types to a 3D-animations.
First the 2D-animation of the Soul Nebula.
Klick HERE to see this animation in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol in lower Right corner to see it in HD-format.
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Secondly a 3D-animation in Parallel vision and Cross vision formats
A Parallel vision movie
Klick HERE to see this in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol to see this in HD-format
A Cross vision movie.
Klick HERE to see this in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol to see this in HD-format.
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A third version is in Anaglyph format. Red/Cyan eyeglasses are needed to see the movie right.
Note you can use a Red and Green filters instead to see video! Red goes to Left eye.
Klick HERE to see this in YouTube, please, klick a HD-symbol to see this in HD-format.
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The original 2D-image with imaging details can be seen HERE.
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NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some known facts and artistic impression.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Happy Saturnalia to all!
Hyvää Saturnalia kaikille!
Happy Saturnalia to all of you!
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Ok, it's a Christmas time, but Saturnalia was there first.
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EDIT:
This image get published in UNIVERSE TODAY.
Many thanks to Tammy Plotner and merry Christmas!
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
An Anaglyph animation test
I made this funny 3D-video from a Veil Nebula. It shows how it might be formed from a Supernova explosion. Movie is very short though.
You'll need Red/Cyan Eyeglasses to be able to see the movie right.
Note, if you have a Red and Green filters, you can use them! Red goes to Left eye.
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Original 2D-image can be found HERE.
A Stereo pair version can be found HERE.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
NGC 281, the "Pac-Man nebula" as a stereo pair
Parallel Vision 
Cross Vision -
NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some known facts and artistic impression. Viewing instructions can be found from a Right hand side menu.
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Here you can find an Anaglyph, Red/Cyan, Stereo image.
You'll need Red/Cyan Eyeglasses to be able to see images right. Note, if you have a Red and Green filters, you can use them! Red goes to Left eye.
Friday, December 18, 2009
NGC 281, the "Pac-Man Nebula"
This image has coused a lots of trouble to me. At one point I was thinking what's the point of doing this!
Let's face it, my equipments are a big pile of crap. Everything is faling a parts and I'm spending more time to fixing things than actually imaging.
It's not a picnic to spend two hours outside and soldering when it's very windy and temperature drops to -26 celsius. (-15F). I really need better instruments if I'm going to continue this "hobby" (read addiction) now everything is put to gether from self made solutions and cheapest possible parts.
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Ok, here is a image after all, not a perfect one though. I started this project at the end of the last month and I collected last photons 16.12. I collected 42 x 1200s of H-alpha light, that's a 14 hours.
Due the technical problems I was able to use only 6 x 1200s, Two hours, of them!
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Images are in my Portfolio with less compression, Please, have a look HERE.
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Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack.
Deconvolution with a CCDSharp, 30 iterations.
Levels, curves and color combine in PS CS3.
-
Telescope, Meade LX200 GPS 12" @ f4.65
Camera, QHY9
Guiding, SXV-AO @ 11Hz
Image Scale, 0,8 arcseconds/pixel
Exposures:
H-alpha 6x1200s Binned 1x1
O-III 3x600s, binned 3x3
S-II 4x1200s, binned 1x31
Saturday, December 12, 2009
A new version of the Veil animation.
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Original video can be downloaded from HERE
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This video is done by splitting the original 2D-image to a layers by type under a PS. Layers are then projected to a real 3D-sufaces in a 3D-modeling SW, in this case the TrueSpace.
The resulting 3D-model is the animated to a movie file.
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NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some known facts and artistic impression. The original 2D-image can be found HERE
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Stereo animation of birth of the Veil Nebula, http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2008/10/veil-nebula-supernova-animation-in.html
In this vsualization a massive Star ends its life to a explosion, known as a Supernova!
An older, no HD, version of the Animation can be found HERE
Friday, December 11, 2009
Closeup of the Soul Nebula, a monthly winner
The Soul nebula was selected as a Monthly winner in imaging competition at MyAstroimages site.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A new version of Anaglyph Veil Nebula
You'll need Red/Cyan Eyeglasses to be able to see images right. Note, if you have a Red and Green filters, you can use them! Red goes to Left eye.
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NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some known facts and artistic impression.
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I made this new version with a colors. Looks like the narrowband color scheme is very suitable for Red/cyan Anaglyph format, since Red color can't be seen that way and images are Grayscale ones with dominating Red.
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Original 2D-image with details can be found here:
Klick the image to see original one.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Astro anarchy gets published
The finnish "Tähdet ja Avaruus" (Stars and Space) magazine pulished a large panoramic image of my high resolution, NGC 6888, the Crescent Nebula image.
Image is in HST-palette.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
North America & Pelican Nebula as a stereogram
Parallel Vision 
Cross Vision -
NOTE! This is a personal vision about forms and shapes, based on some known facts and artistic impression. Wieving instructions can be found from a Right hand side menu.
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Here you can find an Anaglyph, Red/Cyan, Stereo image.
You'll need Red/Cyan Eyeglasses to be able to see images right. Note, if you have a Red and Green filters, you can use them! Red goes to Left eye.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
NGC 7000 & IC 5070, The North America & Pelican Nebulae
I found this older image from my HD, this was my very first narrowband color image!
The original post from September 2008 can be found HERE.
I noticed, that I haven't done a Natural color version from the data, so here it is.
Technical details with the original post.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Astro Anarchy gets published
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