Veil Nebula with ASKAR FRA 300

[iantaylor2uk]

Good clear night yesterday in the Northwest of England. 

Managed just over 3 hours of imaging on the Veil Nebula with the ASKAR FRA 300. Camera used was a ZWO 071 MC Pro (gain=200, sensor cooled to 0 C) and I used two minute exposures, and took 100 subs, and stacked the best 90 of them with DSS. I also used an L-Enhance filter for this target. 

Full image is below with some close ups of the Eastern Veil, Western Veil and Pickering's Triangle. I do like the wide field view from the ASKAR FRA 300. 

 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Very nice indeed. I would do some background removal so you get a darker, and colour neutral background, which increases contrast on those images.

[iantaylor2uk]

1 hour ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

Very nice indeed. I would do some background removal so you get a darker, and colour neutral background, which increases contrast on those images.

Thanks for the comments Michael , I'll have a further play around with the image - I must admit a personal preference of having a more "natural" image. I find if you darken the background too much the final image can look over-processed - although I appreciate there is a bit of a fine line and some personal judgement involved, and also different people may have different views. I am reasonably happy with the final image although it could maybe do with the red dialled down slightly. I also much prefer to leave the stars in rather than do starless images. 

[iantaylor2uk]

I had another go at processing this, and think the version below is slightly better. Let me know what you think.

[Mark2022]

I just popped in to have a look Chester since I am yet to capture the Veil at all (I'm a newbie re photography anyhow)  but  had to say, this latest processed pic is a huge improvement since you have a far more natural sky colour and the veil 'pops' with such a background.

[iantaylor2uk]

9 minutes ago, Mark2022 said:

I just popped in to have a look Chester since I am yet to capture the Veil at all (I'm a newbie re photography anyhow)  but  had to say, this latest processed pic is a huge improvement since you have a far more natural sky colour and the veil 'pops' with such a background.

Thanks for the comment Mark - by the way I'm not called Chester, that is where I live. 

[Ouroboros]

Yes, tricky isn’t it knowing how much to dial down the background?  My preference is for the second version, although possibly at the expense of some extremely faint red nebulosity. I guess you’d only really be able to pull that out with hugely more subs. 

It’s very nice to see a wide field of these nebulae though.  You’ve captured them very well. 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Ouroboros

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Really like the new version, background dark enough and contrast looks natural

[Mark2022]

5 hours ago, iantaylor2uk said:

Thanks for the comment Mark - by the way I'm not called Chester, that is where I live. 

That's what happens when you're in a rush! LOL Nice part of the world, Chester, however, Ian!