IC434_BiColour_26-12-22

This was originally going to be a HaRGB but I didn’t like the result so I went for a Ha/Oiii version.

Originally I image the Horsehead Nebula on the 16th December but I got interrupted by the clouds. On the 26th I went to add some more data but ended up replacing 50% of the Ha and all of the Oiii of the original data as the sky was far more transparent. The only down side was that the atmosphere was quite turbulent which made guiding a bit problematic and some subs had to be discarded.

 

Information:-

IC 434 nebula is located just to the south of the star Alnitak, the eastern one in Orion's Belt. The dark cloud of dust and gas is part of the Molecular Cloud Complex where star formation is taking place. The glowing hydrogen gas is predominantly behind the nebula and ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. Magnetic fields channel the gases leaving the nebula into streams. The Horsehead Nebula is estimated to be 1500 light years from Earth.

 

EQUIPMENT:-

Explore Scientific 102mm F7 APO Carbon

Explore Scientific 0.7 Focal Reducer

Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 GT

ZWO ASI1600mm-Cool cmos camera

Orion Mini Auto Guide

Astronomik 6nm Ha Filter

Astronomik 6nm Oiii Filter

Chip Temp Cooled to -20 degC

 

IMAGING DETAILS:-

IC 434 Horsehead Nebula (Orion)

NGC 2024 Flame Nebula

Gain 139 (Unit Gain)

Dithering

36 Ha subs@240 (2h 24 min)

30 Oiii subs@240sec (2h min)

Total imaging Time 4h 24min

20 Darks

25 Flats

 

PROCESSING/GUIDING SOFTWARE:-

APT "Astro Photograph Tools"

StarNet++

DSS

PS CS2

Done