The Lagoon Nebula

M8 The Lagoon Nebula

 

M8 in Narrowband with RGB stars

 

This was probably one of the first nebula I captured using my DSLR when I started astrophotography a couple years ago. I'm glad to see this target back in our southern skies this season. I only got a mono camera since January this year and this Nebula does not disappoint. Similar to Orion it can be quite tricky to processed as the luminosity in the core of the nebula is quite intense compared to the rest of the nebula. Great target to practice narrowband imaging as Ha, Sii and Oiii signal are quite strong.

 

The Lagoon Nebula was discovered in 1654 by astronomer Giovanni Battista Hodierna.

This star forming cloud of gas in located in the constellation of Sagittarius and is visible to the naked eye in dark skies.

M8 is home to a star cluster NGC 6530 which ionise the oxygen at the centre of the nebula.

It is located approximately 5200 light years from earth. In Australia we like to nickname this object "mate" due to its Messier number M8 ;)

 

 

Astrobin: www.astrobin.com/wtzs85

 

 

Imaging Telescopes:

William Optics Zenithstar 73

 

Imaging Camera:

ZWO ASI 1600MM-Pro

 

Mount:

Skywatcher EQ-6r Pro

 

Software:

Nina, PHD2, Photoshop, Pixinsight, StarXterminator, NoiseXterminator

 

Frames:

 

Antlia Pro 3nm Ha: 28x600" (4h 40') (gain: 139.00) f/5.9 -10°C bin 1x1

Antlia Pro Oiii 3nm: 28x600" (4h 40') (gain: 139.00) f/5.9 -10°C bin 1x1

Antlia Pro 3nm Sii: 28x600" (4h 40') (gain: 139.00) f/5.9 -10°C bin 1x1

Antlia Pro Blue: 45x15" (11' 15") (gain: 76.00) f/5.9 -10°C bin 1x1

Antlia Pro Green: 45x15" (11' 15") (gain: 76.00) f/5.9 -10°C bin 1x1

Antlia Pro Red: 45x12" (11' 15") (gain: 76.00) f/5.9 -10°C bin 1x1

 

Integration:

14h 33’ 45”

 

 

Done