Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

CCD vs Film? Lots of time vs no patience? Alright, this is your place to discuss all the astrophotography what's and what's not. You can discuss about techniques, accessories, cameras, whatever....just make sure you also post some nice photos here too!
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celeron787
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Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 2:30 pm

Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by celeron787 »

Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky even in light polluted Singapore!

View plate-solved version here: http://nova.astrometry.net/annotated_full/4709831

Three bright stars Zeta (Alnitak), Epsilon (Alnilam), and Delta (Mintaka) make up the asterism, Orion's Belt. Just to the south of Alnitak, the easternmost star of Orion's Belt, is the Flame Nebula (NGC2024) and the fainter Horsehead Nebula (IC434).

Orion's Sword is another compact asterism south of the Orion's Belt. It comprises three stars (42 Orionis, Theta Orionis, and Iota Orionis) and M42, the Orion Nebula, which together are thought to resemble a sword.

Multiple nebulae are located here which include the Running Man Nebula (Sh2-279) and M43.

Sony A6000
Samyang 135mm F2.0
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Tripod

Bortle 8
ISO400
Light frames - 218 x 15secs (manually dithered in RA and DEC)
Dark Frames - 30 x 15secs
Flat Frames - 30
Bias Frames - 50

Deep Sky Stacker
StarTools - 71% Bin, Autodev, Crop, Wipe, Super Structure, Decon, Color, Denoise
Lightroom - Purple defringe, Vibrance, Highlights

Image
Last edited by celeron787 on Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
hhzhang
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Re: Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by hhzhang »

Nice composition! A6000 looks a good cam for astrophotography.
celeron787
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Re: Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by celeron787 »

hhzhang wrote: Sat Nov 14, 2020 2:50 pm Nice composition! A6000 looks a good cam for astrophotography.
Haha yes, i'm quite happy with it. Except the fact that image acquisition software doesn't support Sony cameras. I'm considering getting a modded nikon.
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Airconvent
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Re: Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by Airconvent »

Wow...impressive especially you managed to catch the faint Horsehead in the same frame :)
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celeron787
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Re: Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by celeron787 »

Airconvent wrote: Sat Nov 14, 2020 6:35 pm Wow...impressive especially you managed to catch the faint Horsehead in the same frame :)
Thanks! Super stoked to get the horsehead too, all credits to the samyang 135mm f2 lens, sucks in so much light.
Using the same data set but with 2x drizzle, I also did a heavily cropped image of M42.
Image
rifleman175
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Re: Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by rifleman175 »

Here's an old Ha image of M42 I tool last year with the ASI1600MM, with improved processing to further enhance the nebulosity.

Total exposure: 43 x 2min
William Optics GT71 with ASI1600MM, Optolong 7nm H alpha filter

Image

I should definitely revisit this target this year hopefully when the skies are clear, and go for 5min exposures with improved tracking, more precise polar alignment and auto-guiding.
Last edited by rifleman175 on Sun Nov 22, 2020 6:03 pm, edited 3 times in total.
celeron787
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Re: Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by celeron787 »

rifleman175 wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 1:05 am Here's an old Ha image of M42 I tool last year with the ASI1600MM, with improved processing to further enhance the nebulosity.

Total exposure: 43 x 2min
William Optics GT71 with ASI1600MM, Optolong 7nm H alpha filter

Image

I should definitely revisit this target this year hopefully when the skies are clear, and go for 5min exposures with improved tracking, more precise polar alignment and auto-guiding.
Hey not sure if it's me but i think the picture isn't working [smilie=confused.gif]
rifleman175
Posts: 81
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2018 5:16 pm
Favourite scope: Skywatcher Esprit 100ED

Re: Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by rifleman175 »

Ooops seems like the link expired, could you check if it works now?
celeron787 wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:41 am
rifleman175 wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 1:05 am Here's an old Ha image of M42 I tool last year with the ASI1600MM, with improved processing to further enhance the nebulosity.

Total exposure: 43 x 2min
William Optics GT71 with ASI1600MM, Optolong 7nm H alpha filter

Image

I should definitely revisit this target this year hopefully when the skies are clear, and go for 5min exposures with improved tracking, more precise polar alignment and auto-guiding.
Hey not sure if it's me but i think the picture isn't working [smilie=confused.gif]
celeron787
Posts: 113
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 2:30 pm

Re: Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by celeron787 »

rifleman175 wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 5:59 pm Ooops seems like the link expired, could you check if it works now?
Yup it's working. Nice image! Can't wait to see it in color!
rifleman175
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Re: Orion's Belt and Neighboring Nebulae

Post by rifleman175 »

Actually I just processed another stack of 17x 3min Ha images taken also from last Nov with the same setup, enjoy!

Image

I guess the lack of clear skies can help improve one's processing skills somewhat haha! :mryellow:
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