My First Light: Chasing the Eastern Veil Nebula

As a burgeoning astrophotographer, the pursuit of capturing the universe's wonders is a constant thrill. My latest adventure involved tackling the magnificent Eastern Veil Nebula for my very first narrowband imaging session. It was a journey filled with learning curves, but the results, even with initial challenges, were incredibly rewarding.

The Setup and the Struggle

My journey began with the Omegon 71f/490 telescope (a rebranded Askar 71f) mounted on a SkyWatcher GTI mount. While the GTI served its purpose, the weight and balance of my setup quickly pushed its limits, prompting an upgrade to an EQ6R Pro in the works. The imaging train consisted of an ASI2600MC camera paired with a svbony 220 Dual Narrowband filter (Ha/OIII), a combination that promised stunning detail. Guiding was managed by an ASI220Mini guide camera and a WO Uniguide 32mm guide scope, all controlled by a MeLe4c mini PC. Power was supplied by a Pegasus Astro Powerbox gen2, and flats were handled by a DeepSkyDads FP2 Askar 71f Flat Panel. And yes, a generous amount of mosquito repellent was essential!

Imaging Conditions and Workflow

I managed to secure three nights of imaging in a Bortle 4 zone. The process was orchestrated using NINA, with the camera cooled to -10c and dithering every three frames to minimize noise. My manual focusing skills, or rather lack thereof, were put to the test. Hitting focus with just my eyes proved to be a significant challenge, highlighting the immediate need for an Electronic Automatic Focuser (EAF) for future sessions.

My acquisition plan involved the following subs:

• Night 1: 5x300s
• Night 2: 19x300s
• Night 3: 30x300s

Processing the Celestial Canvas

Post-acquisition, the data was stacked using Sirilic. From there, I moved to Siril 1.4.3 Beta for processing. This involved applying Graxpert for background and denoising, followed by Photometric Color Calibration. Star recomposition and a GHS stretch on the starless image were crucial steps. Finally, I adjusted color saturation – a particularly delicate step for someone who is a bit colorblind – and performed a bit more stretching before reintroducing the stars. The result is an image that, while perhaps not technically perfect, represents a huge leap forward in my deep-sky imaging journey.

Reflections and the Road Ahead

Capturing the Eastern Veil Nebula was an immensely satisfying experience. While the manual focusing was a hurdle, the acquisition of three consecutive nights of data was a blessing, given my limited opportunities for extended imaging sessions. Every frame captured felt like a victory.

This first narrowband result has ignited a passion for exploring the universe in a new light. I'm incredibly eager to refine my techniques and am always open to constructive advice from the astrophotography community.

Gear Used:

• Scope: Omegon 71f/490 (Askar 71f)
• Mount: SW GTI (Soon to be EQ6R Pro)
• Camera: ASI2600MC
• Filter: svbony 220 Dual Narrowband (Ha/OIII)
• MiniPC: MeLe4c
• Guide Camera: ASI220Mini
• Guide Scope: WO Uniguide 32mm
• Power Delivery: Pegasus Astro Powerbox gen2
• Flat Panel: DeepSkyDads FP2 Askar 71f Flap Panel

Processing Workflow: Sirilic (Stacking) -> Siril 1.4.3 Beta (Graxpert, PCC, Star Recomposition, GHS Stretch, Color Saturation, Final Stretch) -> Star Addition