M78_RGB_19-01-2020

Well the weather hasn’t improved in the UK since my last post and this is only the second image that I’ve managed since late September.

This image was bitch to process and I have been working on it on and off for over a week. To try and keep the noise down as much as possible and bring out the dark dust lanes I’ve added the red, green and blue data to my luminance to create what some call a “super luminance”, this is an idea I got from @Bogdan Borz.

I’m still not happy with the noise but this is about as good as I’m going to get without going to a dark site.

 

Object Description:-

M78, also known as NGC 2068, is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion. This is a bright diffuse reflection nebula belonging to the Orion B molecular cloud complex and lies at a distance of about 1,350 light-years distant from Earth with a visual magnitude of 8.3.

 

EQUIPMENT:-

Telescope Meade 6000 115mm and AZ-EQ6 GT

ZWO ASI1600mm-Cool cmos camera

Orion Mini Auto Guide

ZWO RGB Filters

Chip Temp Cooled to -20 degC

 

IMAGING DETAILS:-

M78 (Orion)

Gain 139 (Unit Gain)

25 Red subs@180sec (1h 15min)

29 Green subs@180sec (1h 15min)

34 Blue subs@180sec (1h 15min)

48 Lum subs@60sec (48min)

+++Plus 75 Red, Green & Blue subs creating a Super Luminance

Total imaging Time 3h 45min

Dithering

20 Darks

No Flats

 

PROCESSING/GUIDING SOFTWARE:-

APT "Astro Photograph Tools"

DSS

PS CS2

Done