Capturing the Cosmos: The Cygnus Wall in Stunning HOO
Astrophotography enthusiasts, prepare to be mesmerized! I'm thrilled to share my latest capture of the magnificent Cygnus Wall, rendered in the vibrant HOO (Hydrogen-alpha, Oxygen-III, Oxygen-III) color palette. This image represents a significant leap forward in my deep-sky imaging journey, thanks to the incredible performance of my new cooled mono camera.
A New Era of Imaging
My previous attempts, like the "North America + Pelican Nebulae" with a stock DSLR, were good, but this new setup is a game-changer. The efficiency of my ATR533M cooled mono camera is truly remarkable, allowing for cleaner stacks and a level of detail I could only dream of before. The "Cygnus Wall" nebula, a prominent feature within the Milky Way, truly shines with this enhanced capability.
The Technical Details
Here's a glimpse into how this image came to life:
- Equipment: AT80ED telescope, EQM-35 Pro mount, ATR533M cooled mono camera, Touptek 6.5nm 1.25" SHO filters with filter wheel, ZWO ASI120MM Mini guide scope.
- Acquisition: 5-minute subs at gain 101.
- Hydrogen-alpha (Ha): 4 hours (Incredible results, with almost no noise in the stack!)
- Oxygen-III (Oiii): 4 hours 40 minutes (Interestingly, this band contributed about 90% of the noise in the final image, a testament to the challenge of capturing this emission).
- Processing: Stacked in DeepSkyStacker (DSS), with processing handled in Siril and enhanced with Setiastro Cosmic Clarity. I employed a custom pixel math formula to achieve natural-looking colors:
- Red channel: Ha
- Green channel: Oiii
- Blue channel: Oiii + 0.1*Ha
Looking Ahead
While I'm incredibly pleased with this HOO rendition, I'm already planning the next iteration. A "SHO" version, incorporating Sulphur-III data, is in the works and should be ready once I can gather sufficient SII data, likely next weekend. Stay tuned for more cosmic wonders!
