The jewel in the sky - NGC7023 - Iris Nebula

[Elp]

This is my first ever real LRGB project but ever since I saw a picture of this i've been wanting to image this for months. Earlier this year with few DSOs high in the sky I finally got around to imaging this one, the jewel in the sky NGC7023 the Iris Nebula.

It took a fair few sessions from March up until June and I had to bin (disregard) around 1.5 hours each of R, G, B due to the flats not calibrating out the dust motes, so in total around 20 hours exposure at F5.9. Imaging from the back garden over newly installed LED street lights...

I was hoping to get more of that precious dust out of it, there's some still in it but I haven't got the software or any more patience to spend on this so I'll leave it as is, subtle as it is I like it that way.

Maybe sometime in the future I'll revisit this target...

Edited June 29, 2022 by Elp

[teoria_del_big_bang]

Very nice image, especially if you now have added light pollution and your issues with flats.
Not one I have tried yet but now on my list.

Steve

[Mr Spock]

Nice result for Bortle 7. There's no doubt the iris is one of the better looking nebulae and is always a favourite.

[Elp]

Thanks all, I would say it is quite a dark target, you can get the initial area around the central star quite quickly, any other details I would say is aperture dependent as well as needing more truly dark skies. Processing software plays a big part on this one too.