Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) Captured Over Three Nights

Behold the majestic Fireworks Galaxy, officially known as NGC 6946, beautifully rendered over a three-night observation period. This deep-sky marvel was captured using the SeeStar S50, a testament to modern accessible astrophotography.

A Dedication to Detail

This particular endeavor involved dedicating three hours of data acquisition each night. While the observation itself was a rewarding experience, the processing and stacking of the data proved to be quite the undertaking, with the script taking a considerable amount of time to run.

After a thorough rejection of any suboptimal frames, the final stacked image consists of an impressive 2800 exposures, each lasting 10 seconds.

Processing with Precision

All the intricate editing and stacking of this data were expertly handled using Siril, a powerful and free astrophotography processing software. The goal was to extract the maximum detail and bring out the subtle nuances of this distant galaxy.

A Glimpse into the SeeStar S50

For those curious about the technology behind this capture, the SeeStar S50 operates via a smartphone app. While it does offer manual focus control, the automated focusing mechanism was employed for this observation, simplifying the acquisition process.

The Result

Here is the stunning final image of the Fireworks Galaxy:

This project was a first for multi-night observations, and while there's always potential for further refinement and detail extraction, the results achieved are truly captivating. The journey from observation to final image highlights the dedication and patience required in capturing the wonders of our universe.