Capturing the Veil Nebulae: A Color Exploration with Untracked Gear
This past capture focused on the intricate beauty of the C33 and C34 regions, commonly known as the Veil Nebulae. For this endeavor, I utilized a Canon T6i paired with an 85mm f/1.8 lens. The challenge was to capture this target with untracked equipment, pushing the limits of what's possible with shorter exposures.
Acquisition Details:
- Camera: Canon T6i
- Lens: 85mm f/1.8
- Exposures: 1.6 seconds each
- Total Integration Time: 35 minutes (with additional 20 minutes added for a subsequent stack, totaling 50 minutes)
- Conditions: Bortle 4 sky
While 35 minutes of integration time provides a good starting point, I'm aiming for even more detail by increasing the total exposure time. My goal with this image was to experiment with bringing out more color from the nebula, and I'm excited about the results so far. The untracked nature of the setup means shorter individual exposures, but stacking them allows us to gather more light and detail.
Processing:
Post-processing was performed using Siri and Graxpert, tools that are instrumental in bringing out the subtle details and colors in deep-sky astrophotography. I'm continuously refining my color balance and am eager to see the results of the extended integration time in the next stack.
It's always rewarding to see these celestial objects come to life, especially when working with less-than-ideal equipment. The feedback on initial attempts has been encouraging, and I'm looking forward to sharing the improved version soon!
