One of my favorite images that I captured back in 2020 was the Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula, NGC 2264. Back then I used my ASI1600mm camera and WO GT102 telescope. The result was pretty awesome with lots of color and good detail.
Well, it was time to try again, this time with my new ASI2600mm, a more sensitive camera sensor, deeper full well and wider field of view. Below is a redo using the ASI2600, capturing 24 hours of NB and 30 minutes of RGB stars. I've learned a lot more about the techniques in post-processing, so that has come to bear here as well. The 'extra' challenge this time was the 31mm filters in my image train. With a nebula that fills the entire sensor the vignetting was very prominent and it took some extra processing to minimize the effects. I didn't have this issue with the 1600 as it has a narrower FOV. It's time to buy larger filters!
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| NGC 2264 - Feb 5,9,10,19 and 20, 2022 WO GT102 f/5.5; ASI2600mm Camera 8 hours each Ha, Oiii, Sii |
