Capturing the Cygnus Constellation: A Backyard Astrophotography Gem
From the comfort of my back terrace, I have a clear view of the north-east sky. This time of year, the magnificent Cygnus constellation aligns perfectly, offering a canvas for capturing celestial light.
Unexpected Results with Basic Gear
I admit, I was hesitant about the results I'd achieve with only a stock DSLR and basic lenses. However, to my absolute amazement, I managed to capture more H-alpha signal than I ever anticipated. The image revealed the North American Nebula and the Sadr region with remarkable detail. Even a portion of the Veil Nebula was visible on the right side of the frame!
My Backyard Observatory (and its Limitations)
These shots were taken from southern Spain, in a Bortle 5 area, right from the center of my hometown. Despite the light pollution, the Skywatcher StarAdventurer 2i proved its worth. I managed a total of 1 hour and 20 minutes of exposure time. Unfortunately, obstacles arose when Cygnus climbed higher in the sky, preventing longer individual exposures. The light pollution also limited me to ISO 1600 and 20-second exposures, as anything more was simply impossible.
The Gear and Processing Pipeline
Here's a breakdown of the equipment and processing steps:
- Camera: Canon EOS 1300D (Stock)
- Lens: Canon 50mm at f4.0
- Mount: Skywatcher StarAdventurer 2i
- Exposure: 240 x 20-second lights at ISO 1600
- Total Exposure: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Processing:
- Stacking, Background Extraction, Colour Calibration, and Green Noise Removal: Performed using Siril.
- Stretching and Post-Processing: Done in Photoshop.
- Star Removal: Utilized Starnet++ to separate stars from the background for further stretching and processing.
The Future of My Astrophotography Adventures
This experience has fueled my passion even further. My next step is to venture out to a Bortle 4 area near my town. I'm eager to see what I can achieve with longer exposures and more integration time, aiming for even greater detail in future celestial captures.
