Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Treasures of Cygnus
I'm still waiting for an astronomical darkness to come, up here 65N. One of the best targets for astronomical imagers in Autumn sky is the nebula complex in constellation Cygnus. That'll be my first imaging target in this Autumn as well. I'll be able to shoot it around mid September.
The collection
I made a collection out of my Cygnus images. Pictures are taken between 2007-2013 with different instruments. Closeups are taken with my longer focal length instrument, an old Meade LX200 12" telescope. Wider field images are taken by using two camera lenses, Tokina AT-X 300 f2.8 and Canon EF 200mm f1.8 lens, both full open. All images are shot with QHY9 astronomical camera and the Baader narrowband filter set, H-alpha, Oxygen and Sulfur.
Be sure to click the image to see it in full scale!
Note. a large image, ~7MB
A collection of my images of constellation Cygnus. Photos are shot between 2007-2013.
The top most image is a large 18-panels mosaic of Cygnus, it spans 22x14 degrees of sky! (An apparent size of the full Moon fits in this area over 1200 times.) At middle, there are images of individual objects. All but the Veil nebula supernova remnant, can be seen in top most image.
At the bottom , there is a single panoramic image of "Cirrus of Cygnus", it's from the top part of the large mosaic at a top. I added it as an individual image, since it's full of very dim filaments of gas, the formation is over 1000 light years long. I haven't seen a separate color image of this are before.
Technical data and other information
You will found all the images in this collection from my portfolio with technical details.
http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
Collection of images from the Veil nebula supernova remnant
Note. a large image, ~3MB
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/11/veil-nebula-collection-as-poster.html
The Cygnus mosaic
Note. A large image 2200x1400 pixels and ~5MB.
A Chinese Dragon Nebula
Original blog post here: http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/11/a-chinese-dragon.html
Orientation
Monday, August 19, 2013
A two frame mosaic image, from Butterfly to the Crescent Nebula
I'm posting this older photo, since it hasn't been posted as an individual image before.
This is a two frame mosaic from the constellation Cygnus, showing the Butterfly and Crescent Nebulae. Image is shot at Nov. 18. 2011.
This image is part of a much large, 18-panel, mosaic of the constellation Cygnus.
Butterfly and Crescent Nebulae
in constellation Cygnus
Click the image to see it in large scale!
Click the image to see it in large scale!
Buy a photographic print from HERE
Image is one part of this massive 18-panel mosaic of the Cygnus constellation
Note. A large image 2200x1400 pixels and ~5MB.
18-panel mosaic of the constellation Cygnus, image is in mapped colors. The area of interest. in top most photo. can be seen at middle of this large mosaic.
Buy a photographic print from HERE
Technical details can be seen behind the link bellow.
Note. A large image 2200x1400 pixels and ~5MB.
Buy a photographic print from HERE
Technical details can be seen behind the link bellow.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
An experimental 3D-study of NGC 1499, the California Nebula
This is an experimental test with a 3D-conversion of my astronomical images. Only real elements from my original image are used, there is nothing added but the volumetric information!
NOTE. This is a personal vision about shapes and volumes, based on some scientific data and an artistic impression.
California Nebula as an experimental 3D-model
In constellation Perseus
This is a looped video, click to start and stop. Original movie is in HD1080p resolution.
My original image of the California Nebula is used for the animation
Click for the large image
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/02/california-nebula-ngc-1499-with-some.html
More 3D-experiments can be seen here:
http://www.astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/search/label/animations
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Art ∩ Science = Wonder
My summer pause is still ongoing, next time we'll have an astronomical darkness at mid September, up here at 65N.
Astronomical imaging is a mixture of art, science and technique. The art part is the most important for me, even though my images are scientifically correct. I made an image to show, how I see my passion.
ART ∩ SCIENCE = WONDERS
Rosette Nebula in natural colors
INFO
My image of the Rosette Nebula is used for this poster. Original image with technical details can be seen in my portfolio: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p62690868/h6d02179f#h6d02179f
More information and images in my original blog post:
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2011/02/caldwell-49-rosette-nebula.html
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Pelican Nebula zoom in series and the scale in a sky
I have shot many targets with several focal lengths. Due to that, I will publish some of my material as image sets, with a different field of view and level of details. The fractal nature of our universe stands out nicely in this way and it will make the orientation more easy.
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.
Be sure to click for a full size image!
Note. a circle, size of the full moon, as a scale.
A largish image, 7.5MB and 1356x5487 pixels
The North America and Pelican nebulae can be seen at upper left corner.
Images used in this zoom in series
Technical details behind the links
- Part of the large, 18-panels, mosaic of the Cygnus, imaged with a Canon 200mm f1.8 lens, QHY9 astronomical camera and the Baader narrowband filters: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p1072219942/h1a60116f
- North America and the Pelican Nebulae, imaged with a Tokina AT-X 300mm f2.8 lens, QHY9 astronomical camera and the Baader narrowband filters: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p1072219942/h2c811434#h2c811434
- Part of the large, 18-panels, mosaic of the Cygnus, imaged with a Canon 200mm f1.8 lens, QHY9 astronomical camera and the Baader narrowband filters: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p1072219942/h3f92be2d#h3f92be2d
- A closeup of the Pelican Nebula, imaged with the Meade LX200 GPS 12" f5 telescope, QHY9 astronomical camera and the Baader narrowband filters: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/p1072219942/h35663238#h35663238
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Filaments of the Veil nebula, starless view
One of my starless astronomical image experiences, the Pickering's Triangle in Cygnus supernova remnant.
This area of the nebula is filled with colorful filaments, ionized sulfur and hydrogen are seen as green, golden hues, ionized oxygen can be seen as blue.
The complexity of filaments stands out nicely in this starless image.
An original image with the stars
Image is in mapped colors, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulfur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen.
Original blog post about this image, with the technical details, can be seen here:
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/11/pickerings-triangle-project-finalized.html
Orientation in the Veil Nebula SNR
INFO
Exposure and processing details
This area of the nebula is filled with colorful filaments, ionized sulfur and hydrogen are seen as green, golden hues, ionized oxygen can be seen as blue.
The Pickering's Triangle with a suppressed stars
A detail of the Veil Nebula supernova remnant
An original image with the stars
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2012/11/pickerings-triangle-project-finalized.html
Orientation in the Veil Nebula SNR
Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle, the apparent size of the Moon can be seen at lower right corner.
INFO
Pickering's Triangle, Simeis 3-188, is a small part of the Veil Nebula supernova remnant in constellation Cygnus.
Veil Nebula is a cloud of ionized gas and dust, leftovers from an exploded star. The star went off some 5000-8000 years ago at distance of about 1470 light years. This, relatively faint target, is difficult to image due to the large angular diameter, about three degrees, and a dense star field.
Exposure and processing 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 8Hz
Image Scale, ~0,8 arc-seconds/pixel
15 x 1200s exposures for the H-alpha, emission of ionized Hydrogen = 5h
9 x 1200s exposures for the O-III, emission of ionized Oxygen = 3h
4x1200s exposures for the S-II, emission of ionized Sulfur = 1h 20min.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Never lose your sense of wonder!
Just a little reminder...
The Bubble Nebula
http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2011/03/bubble-nebula-reprocessed.html
Thursday, May 16, 2013
An experimental starless version of the Wizard nebula,
I like to make starless versions of my astronomical images now and then. They'll show the actual nebula better and have a kind of mystique feel.
Human brains has a tendency to form some quasi logical shapes out of cloud of random dots, like stars in this case. Without stars, the shapes in a gas cloud stands out much better.
A starless Sharpless 142 (Sh2-142), the Wizard Nebula
In constellation Cepheus
Image with a suppressed stars, click for a large image.
Original image with a technical details can be seen in THIS blog post.
Image with the stars
Info
NGC 7380 is a catalog number of the open star cluster inside Wizard nebula, SH2-142.
Nebula locates in constellation Cepheus, about 7000 light years from my home.
Technical details
Processing work flow:
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack.
Deconvolution with a CCDSharp, 30 iterations at 50% weight.
Levels, curves and color combine in PS CS3.
Telescope, Meade LX200 GPS 12" @ f5
Camera, QHY9 Guiding, SXV-AO @ 6,5Hz
Image Scale, 0,75 arcseconds/pixel
Exposures H-alpha 15x1200s, binned 1x1
S-II 1x1200s, binned 4x4
O-III 1x1200s, binned 4x4
Beside data here, a color information from an older wide field image is used.
Image can be seen here: http://astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2011/02/sh2-142-wizard-nebula-wide-field.html
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Universe, rated by stars?
Just little something...
Rated universe, how many stars?
I used my image of a globular cluster NGC 6752 for the poster. Original image and technical details can be found HERE.
Rated universe, how many stars?
Sunday, May 12, 2013
A starless Melotte 15 in IC 1805, the Heart Nebula
For some reason, I like to make starless versions of my astronomical images now and then. They'll show the actual nebula better and have a kind of mystique feel.
Human brains has a tendency to form some quasi logical shapes out of cloud of random dots, like stars in this case. Without stars, the shapes in a gas cloud stands out much better, I think.
A starless Melotte 15 in IC 1805
Original image with a technical details can be seen in THIS blog post.
Image with the stars
Original image with a technical details can be seen in THIS blog post.
INFO
The "Heart Nebula", IC1805 locates about 7500 light years away in constellation Cassiopeia. This is an emission nebula showing glow of ionized elements in a gas cloud and some darker dust lanes.
In a very center of the nebula, lays Melotte 15, it contains few very bright stars, nearly 50 times mass of our Sun, and many dim ones. The solar wind, a radiation pressure, from massive stars makes the gas twist to a various shapes.
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 8Hz
Image Scale, ~0,8 arc-seconds/pixel
18 x 1200s exposures for the H-alpha, emission of ionized Hydrogen = 6h
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Dead Stars Society, a collection of passed away stars
I made a poster format presentation out of my photos of exploded stars. In this collection, there are two types of dead stars, Planetary Nebulae and Supernova remnants. Images are not in scale.
Individual images, with some information, can be found from my portfolio: http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
Dead Stars Society
Planetary Nebulae & Supernovae
Monday, May 6, 2013
New collection of my B&W images
I have a gray scale version from all of my astronomical images. The camera used, QHY9, is a cooled astronomical camera and it has a gray scale CCD-sensor. Color images are made by shooting the same target at least three times, with different filters. Three images are then combined to a RGB-color image.
Due to that, I have a gray scale version from every target. Usually the light emitted by ionized Hydrogen, H-alpha, has most details and I made a collection out of them.
A high resolution, gray scale, image collection in my portfolio, please have a look:
(Second folder from top left)
The Elephant's Trunk Nebula in IC 1396, more info and a color version in this blog post.
You can buy a photographic print from any image at first two folders in my portfolio, http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
All prints will be real photographic prints on photo paper. For the most exclusive result, metallic paper can be used.
Metallic prints give a distinctive look to most color shots, black & white and sepia images are particularly effective. With its glossy finish and metallic appearance, it represents another dimension for creating images with exceptional interest and depth. Metallic paper adds stunning visual impact and a contemporary flair to photos.
If you don't want to use the web shop or want images be framed, signed and numbered, please contact directly to me by email: astroanarchy (at) gmail.com
If you don't want to use the web shop or want images be framed, signed and numbered, please contact directly to me by email: astroanarchy (at) gmail.com
Thursday, April 25, 2013
New professional printing service in use, the One Vision Imaging UK
I have updated my image portfolio account, Astro Anarchy Zenfolio, with new professional printing service, please have a look
(Images can be ordered only from the first two folders!)
Half a Moon with the Earth Shine by J-P Metsavainio, Astro Anarchy Observatory
The larges print made out of this Moon image was 5 by 5 meters.
The larges print made out of this Moon image was 5 by 5 meters.
The Service
There is now a new, very high quality, professional printing service added, the One Vision Imaging in UK.
They have more medias and sizes available, including metallic photographic papers. The maximum size is now 101,5 x 152,5 cm. (Large images can be ordered by contacting me directly, astroanarchy@gmail.com )
One Vision Imaging is one of the largest professional photographic laboratories in the UK. For well over 30 years One Vision Imaging have been servicing professional photographers with the very highest standards of processing and finishing.
- Each and every file is colour graded, density and contrast controlled.
- Extensive colour stability and life expectancy on all offered papers.
- Vast range of print options including standard square and panoramic sizes.
- Choice of Lustre, Gloss or Metallic paper finishes.
Available Photo Papers
One Vision Imaging uses Fujicolor Professional TYPE DP paper. The base support and silver halide crystal control technology work together to produce improved whiteness, highlight and shadow depth qualities, making this an all purpose colour print paper for the photofinisher.
You have a choice of Lustre, Gloss or Metallic paper finishes.
Metallic prints give a distinctive look to most colour shots, black & white and sepia images are particularly effective. With its glossy finish and metallic appearance, it represents another dimension for creating images with exceptional interest and depth. Metallic paper adds stunning visual impact and a contemporary flair to your photography.
Price level
Price level is between 21.95€ (20x20cm) up to 853.95€ (101,5x152,5cm) with Glossy or Luster finishing on Fujicolor Professional Type DP paper.To guarantee a top quality photographic printing, ICC-color profiling is used with all images. Metallic paper is little more expencive, all prices and sizes can be seen at Right hand side in my portfolio, when image is clicked large.
My image portfolio, please have a look
You can place your order trough the web-shop in the portfolio, or by leaving an email to me directly.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
An other collection of images, Meade LX200 GPS 12"
My main instrument is an old Meade LX200 GPS 12" telescope. With lots of tweaking, it works as an imaging platform. An original fork mount has a largish periodic error but I'm using the Starlight Express active optics unit, LXV-AO, with it . With an AO-unit, the tracking error is more or less zero. Since I'm using the QHY9, with kind of small diameter CCD-shell, as my imaging camera I have reduced the original f10 scope down to f5 it gives me an effective resolution of about 0.8 arc seconds/pixel. It's done by "misusing" the Celestron f6.3 reducer by adding some extra distance to recommended 110mm. There is some light coma at the corners but I can live with it for now.
A collection of images with the Meade LX200 GPS 12" telescope, Baader narrowband filters and the QHY9 astronomical camera
(Be sure to click the image to see it in full scale)
(Be sure to click the image to see it in full scale)
All the images in this poster can be found from my PORTFOLIO, with some technical details.
A labeled version
The instrumentationA labeled version
(What a mess...)
I'm using two camera lenses, with the Meade, the Tokina AT-X 300mm f2.8 can be seen in the image above. Canon EF 200mm f1.8 is my second camera lens for the astrowork.
Image collections with both lenses can be seen in HERE.
Couple of my favorite images with Meade LX200 12" telescope
A two frame mosaic of IC 1805, the Melotte 15 area
The Bubble Nebula in Cassiopeia
Monday, April 22, 2013
I need more space
I made a small poster, just for a fun.
Couple of versions
Sunday, April 21, 2013
A collection of images, Canon EF 200mm f1.8 optics
I have couple of high quality camera lenses for astronomical imaging, Tokina AT-X 300mm f2.8 and Canon EF 200mm f1.8. Both lenses are wonderful instruments for an astronomical work, I always use them both full open.
Focusing under a fast f-number is very difficult task due to extremely narrow critical focus zone (At f1.8 the critical focus zone is around 7 microns, 7/1000mm) I have build an automatic focusing system for all camera lenses, images of it can be seen HERE and HERE. The system also compensates the temperature drift.
An other challenge is orthogonality between CCD-shell and optics. With slower optics this is not much a problem but with extremely fast optics a micron scale accuracy is needed. I have done hundreds of iterations with the CCDInspector software to have my Canon EF 200mm f1.8 optics perpendicular with QHY9 camera. NOTE! There is nothing wrong with any mechanical part in a camera or the lens, the needed accuracy is just so high, that micron scale errors are seen, for example a protective glass over the CCD-array has a manufacturing tolerance of 1/100mm and that's enough to course problems in orthogonality. (Well... I'm kind of perfectionist and most photographers doesn't see any problems with fast optics, I do.)
A collection of my images with the Canon EF 200mm f1.8 optics
Images are shot between 2009-2012
Images are shot between 2009-2012
Be sure to click the image larger! Note, a large file ~6MB
Canon EF 200mm f1.8
Canon EF lens Modification for the astronomical use
Canon EF lens Modification for the astronomical use
Since the Canon EF 200mm f1.8 lens is electronically focused and I'm using it without Canon camera body, I had to modified the lens to it to work. Be warned, the modification image series, behind the link HERE, is not for a weak minded persons!!!
Lens in use
Largest work with the Canon lens
A 18-panel mosaic of constellation Cygnus
More information and images of this project can be seen HERE.
Cygnus mosaic in frames
More info about the framed photo:
A collection of my images with the Tokina AT-X 300mm f2.8 optics
Images are shot between 2008-2011
Be sure to click the image larger!
I have made a collection of Tokina AT-X 300mm f2.8 image as well. Images are partly over lapping with the canon collection, since I have used both instruments, Canon and Tokina, to collect the data.
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