Capturing the Iris Nebula under Bortle 7 Skies
Even with significant light pollution, the universe reveals its wonders. This image of the Iris Nebula is a testament to that, taken with a DSLR over two nights in early July under Bortle 7 conditions.
The Challenge of Light Pollution
Bortle 7 skies are notoriously challenging for astrophotography, presenting a significant amount of ambient light that can wash out faint deep-sky objects. However, with careful planning and processing, it's still possible to achieve remarkable results.
Equipment Used:
- Telescope: AT80ED
- Mount: EQM-35 Pro
- Camera: Unmodified Canon T7 (DSLR)
Acquisition Details:
- Exposure: Approximately 5 hours (composed of 30-second subs)
- ISO: 800
- Conditions: Bortle 7
Processing Workflow:
Even though I've recently upgraded my equipment, I was eager to process this final image taken with my DSLR. The process involved:
- Stacking: DeepSkyStacker (DSS) was used to stack the individual sub-exposures.
- Processing: Siril was employed for critical processing steps including Color Calibration (PCC), stretching to bring out faint details, and star removal to enhance the nebula's clarity.
- Denoising: Further denoising was applied to clean up any remaining noise introduced by the long exposures and challenging skies.
The result is a beautiful rendition of the Iris Nebula, demonstrating that passion and skill can overcome less-than-ideal observing environments.
