Caldwell 34: A Glimpse of the Eastern Veil Nebula in Bortle 4 Skies

As an astrophotographer, there's a unique thrill in capturing the faint, ethereal beauty of deep sky objects. This time, I turned my lens towards Caldwell 34, a section of the magnificent Eastern Veil Nebula, under the pristine conditions of Bortle 4 skies. The result is a silky ribbon of ionized gas that truly showcases the wonders of our universe.

The Eastern Veil Nebula: A Cosmic Tapestry

The Eastern Veil Nebula, also known as NGC 6992/6995, is a supernova remnant, the expanding debris from a star that exploded millennia ago. Its delicate filaments of glowing gas are a testament to the powerful forces at play in the cosmos.

Capturing the Celestial Silk

Achieving this shot required a carefully selected setup and precise execution. Here's a breakdown of the technology and techniques employed:

Tech Stack:

• Telescope: 8" SCT (Celestron NexStar 8SE) with a 0.63x reducer for a wider field of view.
• Camera: Sony a6400 (uncooled), a versatile camera for capturing deep sky objects.
• Filter: A 2" UHC (Ultra High Contrast) filter was crucial for enhancing the visibility of the OIII-rich filaments.
• Guiding: ASI120MM Mini guide cam on PHD2 for accurate tracking.
• Mount: Guided with an alt-az wedge setup, enabling precise celestial tracking.
• Acquisition Software: NINA was used for capturing the data.
• Stacking Software: Siril (using the OSC script) for initial image stacking and calibration.
• Exposure: 125 x 60-second light frames, along with 30 darks, 30 flats, and 50 bias frames for noise reduction and calibration.
• Post-processing: Siril and Adobe Photoshop were used for the final image processing.

Processing Notes: Bringing Out the Details

The UHC filter played a vital role in accentuating the delicate, glowing filaments of the nebula. My primary focus during processing was to preserve the intricate structure of these gas clouds while ensuring the star field remained visible and not overly suppressed. Noise was managed through meticulous curve stretching and careful gradient removal, resulting in a clean and detailed final image.

This capture of Caldwell 34 is a reminder of the breathtaking beauty that awaits us when we look up at the night sky, especially from a location blessed with dark skies. The universe is full of wonders, and astrophotography allows us to share these glimpses with everyone.