I've done M78 once before but wasn't happy with the result. This one is better framed, sitting inside Barnard's Loop and it shows the dust better.
Shot using H-alpha enabled Sony A7S on Tak Epsilon. 340x30sec at ISO 10000.
(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2017/m78_20170126_small.jpg)
There's also quite a nice open cluster (NGC 2112) sitting on Barnard's Loop.
Larger version here:
http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2017/m78_20170126.jpg
Mark
That is looking great Mark, lovely colour, especially with Barnard's loop and you've managed to get the dark nebula showing really well.
I bet you are pleased with it.
This is my next target to finish once I can get imaging again, hope it will still be in the sky by then, I did not manage to get much colour when I have tried it before, probably because it was pre-dawn.
Carole
Very nice Mark, open cluster a surprise!
Fay
Here's another version of the same data that demonstrates the power of Bayer Drizzle:
(http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2017/m78experiment_small.jpg)
Full size version is here: http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2017/m78experiment.jpg (make sure you view at full scale)
The full size version is actually 133% of the original camera scale. But although I've increased the scale, the stars are still looking very tight. Obviously the image appears a lot noisier because there isn't quite enough data to support that large scale. But once I've improved my noise reduction techniques it could be quite a credible image in it's own right. Two images for the price of one! I would guess that presented with both images, no-one would guess it was exactly the same dataset that was used for both - they look as if they have come from two entirely different imaging rigs.
I've also given this second image a subtle but worthwhile dose of PixInsight HDRMultiScaleTransform to enhance the detail in the brighter areas.
Mark
Very nice Mark. I actually think 2nd (larger) image looks smoother despite up-scaling... John
The clever thing is that I didn't upscale anything. The drizzle happily produces an image twice the size of the original and I then downscaled it by 2/3.
Mark