The Lion Nebula -- OSC, Bortle 8

[Lee_P]

Presenting The Lion Nebula (Sh2-132), taken with a small refractor and OSC camera plus L-eXtreme filter, from Bristol city centre. This is the latest in my series trying to push what can be achieved with my kit under such light-polluted skies. I might do one more faint target before moving onto the brighter delights of Winter!

 

 

More info on my website, but if you just want the capture details:

* October to November 2021
* Bristol, UK (Bortle 8 )
* Telescope: Askar FRA400 f/5.6 Quintuplet APO Astrograph
* Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MC-PRO
* Filter: Optolong L-eXtreme
* Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G
* Guide: William Optics 32mm; ZWO ASI 120MM Mini
* Control: ASIAIR Plus, ZWO EAF
* Software: PixInsight, Lightroom, Topaz DeNoise AI
* 840 x 120 seconds
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Total integration time: 28 hours
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By Lee Pullen

 

 

[Ouroboros]

Remarkable.  It’s a really good image. It just shows what can be done from light polluted sites doesn’t it? Mind you, 28 hours is a long time. I’m wondering how many years of occasional astrophotography I’d need to do to get 28 hours in total, let alone on one object. Sorry I might have asked you this before. Do you have a permanent set up? 

[Lee_P]

7 hours ago, Ouroboros said:

Remarkable.  It’s a really good image. It just shows what can be done from light polluted sites doesn’t it? Mind you, 28 hours is a long time. I’m wondering how many years of occasional astrophotography I’d need to do to get 28 hours in total, let alone on one object. Sorry I might have asked you this before. Do you have a permanent set up? 

Thanks, I appreciate the comment   I have a pier in my garden, but I keep the telescope in the house when I'm not imaging. So fairly permanent, but not to the level of a dome or roll-off roof shed. As a point of interest, I'm in Bristol, so not far from you, and collected the 28 hours over 15 nights. Actually I collected a lot more, but weeded out the low quality subs. I've written an article with tips on getting long integration times here.

Edit to clarify: those were 15 consecutive nights, and most of them were cloudy!

Edited November 19, 2021 by Lee_P

[Allinthehead]

Amazing what you can do with a colour camera from bortle 8.

[Ouroboros]

6 hours ago, Lee_P said:

Thanks, I appreciate the comment   I have a pier in my garden, but I keep the telescope in the house when I'm not imaging. So fairly permanent, but not to the level of a dome or roll-off roof shed. As a point of interest, I'm in Bristol, so not far from you, and collected the 28 hours over 15 nights. Actually I collected a lot more, but weeded out the low quality subs. I've written an article with tips on getting long integration times here.

Yes. I think technology has changed to the extent that good deep sky astrophotography is much more possible in light polluted areas in ways it wasn’t a few years ago. Inspired by photos like yours  I am beginning to get a basic rig together for AP here in Oxfordshire. 

[Stuf1978]

Nicely done on a pretty dim target. I don't think I've had 28 hours of clear skies in the North east in the past 6 months 😂

[turbotim]

Wow!

[Ags]

Great picture! Also, enjoyable website. I agree with all your controversial opinions!

https://urbanastrophotography.com/index.php/2021/12/09/10-controversial-opinions/

[Lee_P]

6 hours ago, Ags said:

Great picture! Also, enjoyable website. I agree with all your controversial opinions!

https://urbanastrophotography.com/index.php/2021/12/09/10-controversial-opinions/

Thanks very much! Maybe those opinions aren't as controversial as I thought 😂