Reaching for the 'Hand of God' - Deep Space Astrophotography

[@ziggyfrnds]

That's a beautiful image Luke! This video reminded me why I love your content, your geniune love for astronomy and the amazing images you capture! Thanks for sharing mate!

[@lukomatico]

Glad you enjoyed it my friend, thanks so much for the lovely comment! :-) Clear skies!!

[@josephluciani5531]

Hey Luke, seeing you outside brings back memories of your early days, hoping to one day reach 1K subscribers. As wonderful as the observatory has been for you and your videos, I kind of miss watching you lug your rig onto the patio, putting up with the cold, and savoring the night sky. Ah, nostalgia!

[@lukomatico]

I'm kinda nostalgic for it too Joe mate!! Well, at least until I'm thoroughly frozen and then I get nostalgic for my observatory warm room again 😂😂 Clear skies!

[@MatthewHolevinski]

Nice fireside chat, well, without the fire :-) Beautiful image!

[@lukomatico]

Thank you so much Matthew!! That's incredibly kind of you, it was great to be able to share that evening so I'm happy you enjoyed it my friend :-) Clear skies!

[@MatthewHolevinski]

@@lukomatico I'm traveling around Wyoming, US right now, so clear skies I have, scopes I don't though :( I'm glad I get to vicariously live through you awesome youtubers. Thank you for sharing your time and stories with us, pleasant journeys to you buddy.

[@peterschmitz4308]

Beautiful! Can't believe you can already see your breath in the evening, we were still at 97F today in Texas and 84F at 10:45 pm.

[@lukomatico]

Texas has such nice weather by the sound of it, I'd probably struggle in the middle of one of your summers though! 👍 Clear skies my friend

[@peterschmitz4308]

@@lukomatico Yup, summer is brutal but of the rest of the year is good. Getting old now so further south in winter and north in summer 😜

[@billmurphypenguins3774]

The Mellow Scotsman, mate you are so chill hats off to you. Dedicated and professional one of my favourites. Clued up too.

[@lukomatico]

You're too kind mate!! :-D thanks so much for watching & clear skies to you! 👍👍

[@holbunch]

Beautiful image as always. Thanks for sharing. Clear Skies!

[@lukomatico]

Many thanks! Clear skies my friend 👍👍

[@Mrbengjii]

Inspirational ! Thanks

[@lukomatico]

Wow!! Thank you so much for your support mate, that's really kind of you!! :-) I'm happy to hear you enjoyed sharing this session with me! 👍 Clear skies!!

[@christobaliancantu7112]

Holy wow! Clicked on your video from scrolling through for camping and going this jem! I'm going to watch some more of your videos! Thank you for sharing 😊

[@lukomatico]

Awesome to hear that!! :-D thanks so much for watching mate!

[@robinhoward6447]

Wow! Stunning image Luke! I like the way you set the scene not just for this particular video, but for the coming autumn and winter. Clear skies!

[@lukomatico]

So glad you enjoyed this one Robin!! Thanks very much indeed for watching mate 👍👍

[@kaseyleavell7524]

Loved the video! Very relaxing to listen to. Also excited to learn about new targets with you Luke!

[@lukomatico]

Awesome to hear that mate! Thank you for watching! 👍👍

[@alfredterrence6112]

Greetings Luke, good to see you back again. Glad the nights are starting to get longer.

[@SimonsAstro]

Great video Luke! Really nice to see you outside again mate, takes me back to before you had the obsey! Nice scope!! Edge HD11! Great target and excellent image, those little galaxies were brilliant 😀 Clear skies Luke👍

[@lukomatico]

Thanks ever so much Simon mate!! It felt good to get out there again, haha! Clear skies! 👍👍

[@astroshooter1960]

Love those little galaxies popping out... love the video, Luke.

[@lukomatico]

Thank you so much!! Really glad you like it mate 👍👍

[@paulholdsworth2502]

That's an unbelievable image Luke !! 👏 Incredible that you've captured that from a bortle 7 sky. Kind of felt like I was watching a video from 3 years ago and where it all started I guess.....out in back garden, no doubt freezing cold but adds something atmospheric. Great video Luke !

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Paul mate!! It feels good to be back outside doing some astro again, very good for the soul!

[@Astrobloke]

Fantastic work Luke, love that image mate

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Glenn mate!! So glad you like it 👍👍

[@nightscapejournals]

There’s nothing like sitting out under the stars! Great to see you at work, Luke - an impressive set of rigs there. 👍

[@lukomatico]

Couldn't agree more mate! It's really nice just spending time outside like that 👍👍

[@AstroIsland]

Damn good capture from a Bortle 7 🤩 You inspire me to attempt those from my Bortle 7 as well!

[@lukomatico]

Thanks mate!! Give everything a try, sometimes it'll fail, sometimes you'll be surprised by what you caught! :-D Clear skies!

[@andywilliams3692]

Beautiful image Luke….again ! 😉 Love seeing you out underneath it all …… I don’t have an observatory …. Yet !….but even if I did, I would still have to hang out under the stars….its my place 😊 As a famous philosopher once said ‘sub specie aeternitatis’ ……’under the gaze of eternity’ Clear skies, Andy

[@lukomatico]

Thank you Andy!! That's a beautiful quote, love it! :-) clear skies mate!

[@carvrodrigo]

Yeahhh I’m capturing this target too. First with narrowband and then will blend in broad. Great shot my friend!!!

[@lukomatico]

Excellent to hear that my friend!! Good luck 👍👍

[@richardchurch4137]

Lovely to see you back to old school out in the garden ! First thing is it is surprising how much of that sky you can see compared to in a dome or obsy ! I find when I sit outside time just flys buy ! & and you find yourself saying hello my old friend to target you’ve not seen for a year such as m45 & Orion etc 👍

[@lukomatico]

Oh mate I loved seeing the 'old familiar' objects rising again, like you said it's like seeing a friend again haha! :-) what a pleasant way to spend an evening 👍 Clear skies my friend!

[@Astro_Shed]

Cracking video mate, and superb image too…👍🏻

[@lukomatico]

Many thanks bud!! Always a pleasure to share an evening :-) clear skies!

[@PRASTRO]

WOW, WOW mate beautiful image 😲 amassing !!!!!

[@lukomatico]

Glad you enjoyed it mate!

[@sevenskiesastro]

Lovely target Luke. I always like to see the faint background galaxies pop out too. Clear skies my friend

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Rob mate!! It's one of the best bits for me, I love seeing the tiny little galaxies in the field 👍👍

[@Tony-Elliott]

Hi Luke nice yo see you out under the stars mate, feel sorry for you with that horrible light pollution 😢 great final image again, thanks for sharing

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Tony mate!! It's a bit of a rough situation with the LP here but I make do, haha :-) clear skies mate!

[@tomdaigon8707]

The weather is also doing a dramatic change here in Las Vegas as well. After a summer of clouds and 110°F, cold clear weather has rolled in. I haven't had a chance to use the new rig for three months and in the last week I've used it every day. It is such a joy to be imaging again!

[@lukomatico]

Hey Tom! Hope you're well, it's good to see you on the channel again :-) Glad to hear you're enjoying some clear skies! Good on you for making the most of it 👍

[@nicktonkin9207]

Nice to see you using Sharpcap's Livestack to do a little EAA while you capture. I always think this allows you time to explore the image as it develops and maybe readup on the target and other objects that are in the frame as well.

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Nick mate!! I totally agree, using SC live stacking is a great way to get a sneaky peek at the data and perhaps even plan your processing approach a bit too :-) clear skies bud!

[@Darren_71]

Cracking image. 👍 My favourite scope too

[@lukomatico]

Thanks matey!! 👍

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

That's pretty impressive Luke, nice one.

[@lukomatico]

Thank you! Cheers mate! 👍👍

[@seventhsun1]

Great photo dude, plus I really like your music taste :) nice track selection

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much mate!! :-D really glad you liked it

[@petesastrophotography]

Excellent video and great image Luke. I managed to get outside myself on Tuesday/Wednesday to image the Supermoon/eclipse and also do a bit of solar during the day. Definitely something I'll be doing again as it was nice just to sit outside and chill for a while🙂

[@lukomatico]

Really fantastic to hear that Pete mate!! I found spending some time out there decompressing really set me up for a nice evening too 👍 something to be said for it! Clear skies my friend

[@tichwykes]

Very nice image Luke my RASA is laid up at the moment I don't know when I'll be using it again, yeah I'm definitely noticing a chill in the air now so hoping to get back out soon. Clear skies

[@lukomatico]

Hope you're doing well mate!! Sorry to hear the RASA is taking a break, but hopefully you've got your newt going now!

[@PhoenixNightsAstro]

Class that mate!

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much mate!!

[@christopheguigot841]

Excellent encore..!. C’est cool 👍…

[@lukomatico]

Thank you so much my friend!! :-D 👍👍

[@ross1972]

Amazing being able to capture such faint objects considering how generous your neighbours are with their lighting.

[@lukomatico]

Haha, I love that term :-D they certainly are very giving with the stray light! 😅 Clear skies mate!

[@briankotak403]

Beautiful image Luke. Cheers from Bortle 1 at 59o 59’ 36” in northern Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦. Dr B

[@lukomatico]

Hello there Dr. B! Hope you're well mate 👍👍

[@Astrolavista]

Great target to go for Luke! No clue why it's called the Hand of God, I'd be more tempted to go with your sandworm from Arrakis. It even has that Dune orange sand tone to it. It's good to see you chilling (literally) out side under the stars with a cuppa. I've given up on the obsy for the time being because I prefer to be outside, but I know this isn't practical with some of those monster rigs you have. C11 Edge!!! How did I miss that, congrats man! My dream scope right there. I'm not jealous, honest :D

[@poruatokin]

As far as I know, it's not "The Hand of God", that is PSR B1509-58 in the southern hemisphere which looks like an X-ray of a hand. This target, LBN 438 shot by Luke is sometimes known as the Lizard Pillar.

[@lukomatico]

Thank you Chris mate!! We're very similar like that I think -I love my observatory but blimey it was nice to get outside with the intent of astro, it's much more of an experience that way I feel :-) Re: the edge - thank you! It's a super scope :-D pity my reducer seems to be broken however so I'm always using it at F10! 😅 Clear skies!

[@lukomatico]

It seems to have a few names! 'god's hand' crops up regularly though so I went with a minor riff on that 👍

[@walterhaase]

I love this one!

[@lukomatico]

So glad to hear that my friend!! 👍👍

[@N4GW]

Awesome session

[@lukomatico]

Glad you enjoyed it mate!!

[@Oamaruastro]

I’ve shot this from my place in New Zealand-lovely target!

[@poruatokin]

That would be a different "Hand of God" PSR B1509-58. I do hate it when people refer to the common names of objects, the catalog number should be included in the title. This is LBN438 - Sometimes known as the Lizard Pillar

[@lukomatico]

Thanks for watching mate!!

[@lukomatico]

I take your point mate! This is referred to as 'god's hand' among other names, just makes for a much better and more eye-catching/search friendly title than the object catalog designation I felt 👍

[@spacepunch72]

Beautyful! The astronomer’s nightmare of backgrounds, a tree in the view and three massive floodlight 😱😱😱 Can you „Hey Alexa lights off“ them? Greetings from Germany and CS!

[@lukomatico]

Thanks mate!! :-D I really need to speak with the owners of that building and see if I can get the lights angled down, haha - it's pretty intrusive! I hope the skies are clear for you in Germany my friend!

[@longhornastro]

Another great video. I really liked the touch at the beginning where you were outside doing it old school out under the stars. One question, I see that you have SharpCap and NINA both open and you are doing live stack in SharpCap and capturing subs in NINA. How do you setup doing both at once. Do you have a video of how to do that, if not that would make a great video for those of us just getting started in the hobby.

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much mate! It's lovely to hear you enjoyed it :-) On the note of SC live stacks with the Nina output - I do have a video on it! 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYinlGdpipmbaMk Hope that helps, Clear skies!

[@AstroFarsography]

Really nice result with that mate, were you using a light pollution filter? Man those RASAs do so much work. Nice image and video

[@lukomatico]

Thanks bud!! No LP filter on this, just plain old brute force 😅 I love the RASA but I'm actually letting it go soon, it's gonna be too much of a handful when my son is born I think! Clear skies my friend!

[@stevenholt824]

Just see something, Very feint target ! What cameras on each of these scopes ? The final is fantastic, you make it look so easy lol

[@lukomatico]

Thanks mate!! On the RASA was the player one Poseidon (imx571/2600 colour) An ASI2600 colour on the 80 apo, and the player one Zeus on the Askar 120, full frame imx455 colour 👍👍

[@CDigata]

its our testing/cleaning time of the year,. as we get ready for the icy scopes

[@lukomatico]

I'm excited for the season to come mate, summer has been a bit of a bust really! 😅

[@stephenlast1897]

What a fantastic evening! Nice to Run 3 scopes . I don’t know that object can you give me the cat number . Is it in Puppis ? Thanks for the video

[@lukomatico]

Thanks mate!! It's LBN 438 👍👍 Hope you have a go at it!

[@stephenlast1897]

Thanks I certainly will nice and high and moons gone until late

[@elbass0]

Cool target. Didn't know it yet. Qurstion: I notice that your offset is set to 100, which is fairly high. Any particular reason for not sticking with the usual 30 or 50?

[@lukomatico]

Well noticed mate! I remember setting my offset values a long time ago, probably on much older drivers and have just kept it the same since, potentially I could lower it but I don't see any issues in my images so never felt the need to worry! :-D Clear skies!

[@DamienBoath]

A friend and i sunk nearly 70 collective hours on this target! Must revisit it now i have an even better setup.

[@lukomatico]

Now that's a project, whoa!! Clear skies mate 👍👍

[@jesuschrist2284]

How did you tell nina to find it? Psr b1509-58 or typing in ra dec manually or from stellarium ?

[@lukomatico]

I manually entered the RA & DEC into NINA after finding the object in stellarium :-)

[@jesuschrist2284]

@@lukomatico i can only find something with -46d dec :( any tips? Not that my gear likely good enough :)

[@seanod42]

Hi Luke. I hope everything goes well mate i would like to see your final image

[@lukomatico]

Thanks for watching Sean!! - I ended up settling in on the shot at the end of the video, it's a hard target for these skies! 👍👍

[@l.m2517]

4:32 This isn’t the effect of coffee; it’s more likely the hot wine you have in that thermos 😂

[@lukomatico]

Darn, caught red handed! 😂😂

[@JonnyBravo0311]

What video games are you into?

[@lukomatico]

Just lately I've been back into WoW, but I enjoy quite a lot of games really! Diablo, Baldurs Gate, The Witcher, I'd go on but it's a long list! :-D

[@JonnyBravo0311]

@@lukomatico some classic titles in that list! I played the OG WoW. MC and BWL were the end-game content. 40-man raids. I spent SOOOOO many hours playing that game. Not sure I want to get sucked back in LOL.

[@jesuschrist2284]

Broadband in full moonlight?

[@lukomatico]

It was partial moon earlier in the evening but it set after only 40 mins or less 👍

[@Lee-p2g2v]

What is that target called?

[@lukomatico]

Lbn 438 'God's hand' 👍

[@BobJohnsonSince1970]

Dang Luke, your neighbors have some horridly polluting lighting. Call the IDA! ;-)

[@lukomatico]

It's pretty bad isn't it mate!! 😅 Thanks for watching!