Horsehead 28/30 Jan

[MarkS]

Horsehead Nebula.

Taken over two nights: 28/30 Jan.

This is 3.5 hours of data taken in 30sec subs.  Modified Sony A7S on Celestron C11 with Starizona LF 0.72x Flattener/Reducer.



Full size version here:  http://www.markshelley.co.uk/Astronomy/2019/Horsehead_20190130.jpg

Altinak is out of control as always - the only way I could control the artifacts was to include the star just inside the frame during the shoot.

Mark

[Carole]

Beautiful result Mark.  Lovely detail in  NGC2023, as well as some really nice dust and very little noise.

I'd say a real success.

Carole

[RobertM]

That's really lovely Mark and I think that combination works really well.  I especially like the way NGC2023 looks like a three dimensional tunnel with excellent detail.

Robert
PS. Hope you've got over your bout of Flu.

[JohnP]

Mark - that full size image is immense - very smooth result & superb detail - would look superb printed A3 or A2... John

[ApophisAstros]

Stunning image , Mark.
What was your processing train?
Roger

[MarkS]

Beautiful result Mark.  Lovely detail in  NGC2023, as well as some really nice dust and very little noise.

Thanks!

That's really lovely Mark and I think that combination works really well.  I especially like the way NGC2023 looks like a three dimensional tunnel with excellent detail.

Thanks Robert - I always value your opinion.

Mark - that full size image is immense - very smooth result & superb detail - would look superb printed A3 or A2... John

Cheers, John!

[MarkS]

Stunning image , Mark.
What was your processing train?
Roger

Thanks Roger.

The main processing steps were as follows:
1) 200% scale Bayer Drizzle stacking in PixInsight
2) Re-register R&B channels to G channel to deal with atmospheric dispersion
3) Dynamic Background Extraction and BackgroundNeutralisation in PixInsight
4) White balance using PhotometricColorCalibration in PixInsight
5) Apply Sony A7S sRGB colour correction matrix (from DXOLab) in PixInsight
6) Apply gamma 2.2 in PixInsight
7) ArcsinhStretch in PixInsight
8 ) Save as 16bit TIFF with embedded sRGB ICC colour profile
9) Apply Camera Raw Filter noise reduction in Photoshop CC
10) Apply slight blur and reduce image scale to 100%
11) More Camera Raw Filter noise reduction in Photoshop CC
12) Back to PixInsight to split luminance and chroma
13) Apply enhancements to the luminance to highlight structures (a DIY variety of unsharp masking)
14) Recombine luminance and chroma
15) Back to Photoshop for minor curves adjustments and further noise reduction

Mark

[ApophisAstros]

OK  , thanks Mark,
Roger

[julian]

Mark you make it sound so easy.
Great image as always.

Julian

[The Thing]

Seems like all the time you've spent on that C11 has paid off, what a lovely image. I'm taking note of the colours!

[MarkS]

OK  , thanks Mark,
Roger

Well, you did ask 

Mark

[Hugh]

Wow!  That just about says it all.

Hugh

[JohnP]

Out of interest Mark can we see an unprocessed 30 sec raw? John

[ApophisAstros]

If i had PI i would have been able to relate a bit more but still interesting the amount of steps.
Roger

[MarkS]

Out of interest Mark can we see an unprocessed 30 sec raw? John

Sure, here's an out-of-camera JPEG, reduced in size:



I used 420 of those!

Mark