Sh2-157 in HST palette

[Paramount]

Hi All
I've been working on this for the last few weeks in between work and weather, it is of Sh2-157 (also known as the lobster claw nebula), I managed to get 12x30 minutes Ha, 14x30 minutes OIII and 9x30 minutes SII (would have got more SII but the whole sky misted up in the space of five minutes, reminiscent of the film "The Fog"). These were then colour combined according to the wavelength ordered palette so SII:Ha:OIII = R:G:B.
It was taken with a FSQ106ED at f5, FLI ML8300 on a Paramount ME using a lodestar to autoguide with dithering. Processing consists of levels, curves, colour balancing and contrast adjustments.
The Ha and Ha/OIII versions can be seen in the image gallery on my website http://www.imagingtheheavens.co.uk along with a much wider field version
Below is a link to the full size version
http://www.pbase.com/imaging_the_heaven ... 4/original
Thanks for looking
Best wishes
Gordon

[shirox]

[cloud_cover]

Hmmm..... looks like just a mess of dust and fireballs....

[cloud_cover]

*grin*
Great shot! Really appreciate your work and your inspiring story of the hard work put in building your observatory!
I only wish I had the land and the skies that would justify replicating what you do!