M78 finally

[MartinB]

When the celestial sculptor created the constellation of Orion he was in supreme form but he needed an old dusty store room to keep his spare stuff, this is the M78 region, a mish mosh of glowing hydrogen, dust and stars scattered in an untidy heap. Well that's my impression after spending a few hours processing the data!

This was captured over several nights in January and February.

Scope: Tak FSQ 106

Camera@ QSI 532 wsg

Baader LRGB filters all through an IDAS LP filter

Lum 18x10mins RGB 5x10mins unbinned and 5x3mins binned x2

Captured, calibrated and stacked in Maxim and completed in PS

At first I thought the red glow at the bottom right was light from an LED and removed it with gradient exterminator. It's actually the edge of Barnard's Loop!

[SkyJamie]

I don't think i've seen this before, awesome image Martin

Jamie

[Tom OD]

Lovely Martin,

Smooth..

This is my favourite object. I think it looks like a Dragon, the dark head even has whiskers! The tail has a curved shape too (The dark nebula stretching off into the edge of frame).

Tom.

[foundaplanet]

Delightful.

[Yoddha]

Stunning image, Martin!

[harry page]

Hi

Very excellent work on a difficult object

Harry

[Steve 1962]

That's a new one on me too.

Very, very nice image indeed.

Steve

[Nadeem Shah]

Damn Fine if you ask me, but I can see myself spending ages on this object...

[Shibby]

Very nice! Great depth. I guess this would be a nightmare without good flats.

[Coco]

How very interesting, a veritable box of interest indeed.

Superb image Martin

[symesie04]

Amazing, i feel like i could reach out and touch the dust.

[James]

At first I thought the red glow at the bottom right was light from an LED and removed it with gradient exterminator.

Classic

Fantastic image too

James

[Zul]

Stunning!!

[MartinB]

Thanks everyone. Yes I can see the dragon Tom!

[nytecam]

Nice one Martin - can't spot the 'Dragon' but can see you've recorded the variable McNeil Nebula ;-)

[chr1s]

beautiful

[astro mick]

Fabulous image.

Mick.

[AndyUK]

A stunning image Martin - Like many, I had no real idea this was there (or indeed how interesting it is!)

[JCJC]

Really great Martin! So many subtle colours and gradients going on in this area that could be so easily suppressed bu accident. Smooth too!

Jordan

[ollypenrice]

I missed this but it is excellent. This is one of the strangest objects and the colour here is superb.

Olly

[morimarty]

What a beautiful image this is martin. excellent razor sharp detail in the dust regions with lots of lovely vibrant colour too.

[RobH]

This has come out very nicely indeed Martin.

Do you think you'd have been able to go so deep without the IDAS filter, being close to Chesterfield?

Cheers

Rob