PacMan chasing ghosts in HaLRGB

[Catanonia]

Well probably the best night yet in my imaging time with crystal clear moonless skies from 8pm till dawn.

So after a strip down from the widefield setup, I configured the trusted Skywatcher ED120 Diamond black refractor and pointed it at the Pacman nebula.

I was surpirsed how much extra Nebula has come out of the image and I can actually see loads more than a Pacman, there is definately a face in there

The resulting images is HaLRGB with

1.5 hours per LRGB channel in 8 minute subs

2.5 hours for Ha 8nm in 10 minute subs

Giving a grand total of 8.5 hours.

Combined with DSS, MaximDL and CS5,

Imaged on the QHY9 (-30 degrees) with off axis guiding QHY5 / PHD / EQ6 Pro mount from Sandbach Cheshire.

Flats per channel added with bias and darks.

Hopefully I have managed to get the nebula and star colours without going too pink with the Ha. I used the Red / Ha combined with lighten layer method to do this.

I hope you like it.

[Catanonia]

Done a little colour correction on the background stars.

[Tim]

Now that's your best pic to date Steve. Looks like you've really caught the bug

It would be interesting to see how you got on processing this with the stars on a separate layer, or using a star mask, to bring out the fainter stuff and yet leave the stars untouched, the bright stars dominate the view a little bit perhaps.

The colour of the nebula looks good, loads of detail in there.

[Catanonia]

Thanks mate. I didn't use a star mask as I haven't got around to working that one out. Any tutorials you know of that can help.

Definately caught the bug, want a bigger scope now, much bigger

[glennbech]

Look at that bok globule!: -) Nice. I agree with TJ here about the stars. Looks like the stars got a bit of a rough beating during processing .-)

[Shibby]

Thanks mate. I didn't use a star mask as I haven't got around to working that one out. Any tutorials you know of that can help.

MartinB's excellent tutorial did the trick for me!

Very nice image by the way, I love the detail around the bottom of the nebula; TJ is right, the nebula will stand out much better with the stars reduced a little bit.

[Catanonia]

MartinB's excellent tutorial did the trick for me!

Very nice image by the way, I love the detail around the bottom of the nebula; TJ is right, the nebula will stand out much better with the stars reduced a little bit.

top notch, will have a play with that method and see if it helps.

[adamsp123]

A cracking image sir! I also need to get to grips with a star mask.

[Catanonia]

A cracking image sir! I also need to get to grips with a star mask.

Just playing with it now, the star mask and works lovely. A bit of practice needed, but having a play with it now