IC 1318 - The Butterfly Nebula

[PhotoGav]

Here is my rendition of The Butterfly Nebula (IC 1318), aka the area around Sadr (the bright star to the right of the image). It seems to have taken me an age to gather the data for this, I started the project at the end of August and collected the final couple of hours last night. It is a total of 24 hours integration time, consisting of 24 x 1800s subs in both Ha and OIII. I used an Esprit 100ED with QSI-683 and Astrodon 5nm filters all on a Mesu-200 mount. Stacking in APP and HOO bi-colour put together in PhotoShop. I couldn't resist a starless version with StarNet++. I hope you like it and thank you for looking. Clear skies to you all...!

 

 

[Chefgage]

I do like the starless version.  I have started processing my images using a starless version in the process. Sometimes I prefer the starless version

[teoria_del_big_bang]

I love both the images but when the stars are so sharp with great colour and no halos it seems a shame to leave them out 🙂 

Steve

Edited October 3, 2021 by teoria_del_big_bang

[Dummy]

Yes very nice indeed. I can't trully say I'm all that excited about nebulae DSO's but this is a beautiful excpetion. Viewing it full size is a real treat. Great Job man 😃

[PhotoGav]

Thank you @Chefgage, @teoria_del_big_bang & @Dummy for your kind comments. 

[peter shah]

Personally I'm not keen on starless shots, but they definitely have their uses with other workflows and do use them myself. The other shot with stars is superb you have controlled Gamma Cyg beautifully.

[Space Hopper]

Captain......the stars ?  They've gone !!

(Pavel Andreivech Checkov)

 

Great image 🙂👍🏼

 

 

[simmo39]

V nice! but I do like to see the stars.

[PhotoGav]

Thank you @peter shah, @Space Hopper & @simmo39 - I'm with you on this, I much prefer the starry version. Starless versions of images are kind of interesting, but, personally, I'm trying to show what an object would be like if we could see it 'properly' with our eyes... that needs stars! Still kind of fun to see the more abstract starless version though.