COLOR / FOCUSCOLOR / FOCUS

ENHANCED ENHANCED HYDROGENHYDROGENGALAXY IMAGINGGALAXY IMAGING

ByBy

Chris SchurChris Schur

IntroductionIntroduction What is Enhanced Hydrogen Imaging?What is Enhanced Hydrogen Imaging? Reasons for obtaining images this way:Reasons for obtaining images this way:

Highlights a wealth of normally unseen detailsHighlights a wealth of normally unseen details Can be done with standard CCD equipment and telescopesCan be done with standard CCD equipment and telescopes Produces images complimentary ultra deep remote observatory shotsProduces images complimentary ultra deep remote observatory shots Demonstrates the dynamics of galaxies in a dramatic fashionDemonstrates the dynamics of galaxies in a dramatic fashion

Additional acquisition time is minimalAdditional acquisition time is minimal Tremendous Visual Impact with small additional effortTremendous Visual Impact with small additional effort The Process Revealed…The Process Revealed…

Process Example: Standard LRGB NGC2903Process Example: Standard LRGB NGC2903

Process Example: Enhanced LRGB NGC2903Process Example: Enhanced LRGB NGC2903

The Process:The Process: An OverviewAn Overview

First make a standard LFirst make a standard LRRGGBB Take additional Take additional HaHa frames frames Subtract Subtract RedRed data from data from HaHa data data Add difference to Add difference to Red, Red, Green, Green, BlueBlue Recombine color imageRecombine color image

Step 1: Create Standard LRGBStep 1: Create Standard LRGB

Final LRGB imageFinal LRGB image

Step 2: Take Ha FramesStep 2: Take Ha Frames

Step 3: Isolating the Hydrogen Step 3: Isolating the Hydrogen

Step 4: Combining Hydrogen with the LRGBStep 4: Combining Hydrogen with the LRGB

Final M82 imageFinal M82 image

Details of the Combining Process: M101Details of the Combining Process: M101Standard LRGB initial image

Raw Hydrogen Data 4hRaw Hydrogen Data 4h

Extracted Red Channel from LRGBExtracted Red Channel from LRGB

Subtraction of Red from Hydrogen DataSubtraction of Red from Hydrogen Data

Nearly Isolated Hydrogen ImageNearly Isolated Hydrogen Image

Differentiation of Stars from NebulaDifferentiation of Stars from Nebula

Hydrogen Data with Stars RemovedHydrogen Data with Stars Removed

Final Image after addition to RGB ChannelsFinal Image after addition to RGB Channels

Enhanced Enhanced HydrogenHydrogen Images Images

GalleryGallery

NGC 6946 in Cepheus NGC 6946 in Cepheus

NGC 6946 in CepheusNGC 6946 in Cepheus

IC 342 in CamelopardalisIC 342 in Camelopardalis

IC 342 in CamelopardalisIC 342 in Camelopardalis

NGC 2403 in CamelopodarusNGC 2403 in Camelopodarus

NGC 2403 in CamelopodarusNGC 2403 in Camelopodarus

M 51 in Ursa MajorM 51 in Ursa Major

M 51 in Ursa MajorM 51 in Ursa Major

M 31 in AndromedaM 31 in Andromeda

M 31 in AndromedaM 31 in Andromeda

NGC 6822 – Barnard’s GalaxyNGC 6822 – Barnard’s Galaxy

NGC 6822 – Barnard’s GalaxyNGC 6822 – Barnard’s Galaxy

NGC 6822 – Barnard’s GalaxyNGC 6822 – Barnard’s Galaxy

M33 in TriangulumM33 in Triangulum

M33 in Triangulum in M33 in Triangulum in HydrogenHydrogen Light Light

M33 in Triangulum Enhanced M33 in Triangulum Enhanced HydrogenHydrogen Image Image

The Finally: M33 in TriangulumThe Finally: M33 in Triangulum

M33 in Triangulum with M33 in Triangulum with Enhanced HydrogenEnhanced Hydrogen

ConclusionsConclusions Additional time spent very Additional time spent very worthwhileworthwhile Galaxy dynamics revealed Galaxy dynamics revealed graphicallygraphically Here is a Here is a freshfresh approach to astroimaging approach to astroimaging Home results rivaling the ultra long exposures Home results rivaling the ultra long exposures

done at remote observatoriesdone at remote observatories