More Image Processing

After a good deal of research (and lots of trial and error), I think I have finally got the knack of the new post-processing image process nailed down - at least for now. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are three more DSOs (Deep Space Objects) that I imaged a few months ago and just reprocessed.

First up is the Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula. Imaged back in February of 2020, this is the result of 15 hours of integration time (60 subs, each 300 seconds, of each filter). Processed in the Hubble Palette (Ha, Oiii, and Sii).

NGC 2264 - Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula
WO GT102 APO f/5.6 with ASI1600mm Camera
60x300sec each filter

Next is a small reflection nebula near the open cluster NGC 6823 in Vulpecula. The reflection nebula and cluster are embedded in a large faint emission nebula called Sh 2-86. The whole area of nebulosity is often referred to as NGC 6820 (Wikipedia).

NGC 6823
WO GT102 APO f/5.6 and ASI1600mm Camera
20x300sec each filter

Finally, the famous 'Cygnus Wall'.  This is actually a small section of the larger North America nebula (NGC 7000). This image is a combination of the standard SHO palette but with RGB stars added. In the previous two images, the stars appear basically the same color (mostly white) and with a slight purple tint as the narrowband data does not reproduce the star colors correctly. To eliminate this problem I take an additional set of subs in the standard Red, Green and Blue filters with much shorter exposure times to just capture the stars. I then remove the stars from the SHO image leaving just the nebula and add in the stars captured in the RGB data.

The result is a narrowband nebula with correct colored stars. It turns out that I actually overexposed the stars and so they are a bit bloated and not as colorful as they could have been. Later this year I'll retake the stars, add more data to the NB image and recreate the final.

The Cygnus Wall
WO GT102 f/5.6 / ASI1600mm
26x300sec NB;  20x60sec RGB