Journey to the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae
This image showcases the magnificent Horsehead and Flame nebulae, captured from a Bortle 4 location. It's a testament to the power of accessible equipment and meticulous processing.
The Gear
- Camera: Nikon Z50 (unmodified)
- Lens: Nikkor 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 kit lens
- Mount: IEXOS-100 goto tracking mount
Acquisition Details
The goal was to capture the intricate details of these celestial wonders. The imaging session consisted of:
- Exposure: 300 frames at 1 minute each (totaling 5 hours)
- Location: Bortle 4 skies
Processing Workflow
Bringing out the subtle beauty of these nebulae involved a multi-step process:
- Stacking: DeepSkyStacker (DSS) was used to align and stack the individual frames, significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio.
- Processing: Siril was employed for initial processing, including calibration and stretching the data.
- Star Removal: Starnet was utilized to remove stars, allowing for focused enhancement of the nebulae structures.
- Gradient Reduction: Graxpert was applied to address any gradients in the image, further refining the final result.
This dedicated effort resulted in a stunning view of Alnitak and its celestial companions. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into the cosmos!
Clear skies!
