3 Years of the East Veil Nebula: A Journey in Astrophotography
Astrophotography is a journey of patience, dedication, and continuous learning. One of the most rewarding aspects of this hobby is seeing how our skills and equipment evolve over time. I've been captivated by the East Veil Nebula, and I decided to document my progress by capturing it year after year. This GIF showcases my attempts to capture this celestial wonder since 2023, and I'm thrilled with how much more detail I've been able to reveal.
The Evolution of Detail
This latest capture, completed just before some storms rolled in, involved 15 hours of integration time. The result is a much more pronounced outer gas shell that was previously hidden. Seeing this progression makes all the hours under the stars incredibly worthwhile.
A Look Back: My Astrophotography Rig and Processing
It's fascinating to see how the equipment and techniques have changed with each iteration:
2025: The Latest and Greatest
- Telescope: Askar 80PHQ (0.76x reducer)
- Camera: ZWO 533MC Pro
- Mount: Skywatcher EQ6R Pro
- Guiding: 174MM mini guidecam, ZWO EAF and OAG
- Integration: 15 hours total, 180 x 300s lights (-10C)
- Calibration: 15 flats & dark flats
- Processing Software: PixInsight
- Processing Steps: DBE, SCNR, SPCC, gradient correction, arcsin stretch, curves, starx, noisex, blurx.
2024: Stepping Up the Game
- Telescope: Askar 80PHQ (0.76x reducer)
- Camera: ZWO 533MC Pro
- Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
- Integration: ~5 hours integration of 180s lights
- Calibration: No calibration frames.
2023: The Beginning
- Telescope: Redcat51 refractor
- Camera: ZWO 533MC Pro
- Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
- Integration: ~3 hours integration of 180s lights
- Calibration: No calibration frames.
The Power of Persistence
As many of you know, astrophotography is a challenge that rewards persistence. Comparing these images, you can clearly see the benefits of longer integration times and more refined processing techniques. The extra data gathered allows for finer details and subtle structures within the nebula to emerge, like the stunning hydrogen-alpha shell that is so prominent in the latest version. It's a testament to the magic of stacking and the continuous pursuit of improvement in this captivating hobby.
I encourage you to revisit your older targets and see how far you've come. The journey itself is as beautiful as the images we capture.
