30 hrs on The Cave Nebula in SHO

[cfinn]

This was a slog. The Cave Nebula is a surprisingly faint target and I acquired the OIII data under particularly unfavourable conditions, with a nearly full moon and passing high cloud. Nevertheless, I was able to make the 30 hours worth of data I acquired work hard in processing and am really quite satisfied with the result. I would like to get some RGB data next time I get a clear moonless night or two to make a natural colour equivalent.

Full capture details can be found on Astrobin. Enjoy!

CS

Charles

[simmo39]

Brilliant, luv the colour and depth.

[Catanonia]

Wow, that some dedication there, nice image, love the colours

[Mr Spock]

You won't see many better than that - fabulous image 👍

[ollypenrice]

Super. I never think of this as a purely narrowband target but you've shown that it can be. Lovely restrained use of colour, too. No shouting.

Olly

[cfinn]

Many thanks! @ollypenrice I personally think it looks better in RGB, with all the dust and reflection nebulosity close by. The plan was to combine the Ha data with R and L in an HaLRGB composite. Alas, clear moonless nights can be a rarity, so narrowband it was, but I still may get to it.

[ollypenrice]

26 minutes ago, cfinn said:

Many thanks! @ollypenrice I personally think it looks better in RGB, with all the dust and reflection nebulosity close by. The plan was to combine the Ha data with R and L in an HaLRGB composite. Alas, clear moonless nights can be a rarity, so narrowband it was, but I still may get to it.

I wouldn't put too much Ha in the L but the project is sound.

Olly

[gorann]

That is just great Charles! A lot of detail, great palette in my view (=no green), and perfect star control (no magenta).

[Richard_]

Wowee, that was certainly worth the effort. Awesome image Charles!

[alan potts]

Maybe the best image I have seen this year, very well done.

Alan

[cfinn]

Many thanks all!