IC5070 - A Stunning Reprocessing of the Pelican Nebula
Prepare to be mesmerized by a spectacular new view of the Pelican Nebula, officially known as IC5070. This image represents a significant reprocessing effort, bringing out incredible detail and vibrant colors that truly capture the essence of this cosmic marvel.
The Journey to Capture the Pelican
This image is the result of a dedicated acquisition effort, spanning an impressive 13 hours and 40 minutes of pure observation time. The details of the capture are as follows:
- Acquisition: 205 x 240 seconds
- Additional Calibration Frames: 8 Darks, 50 DarkFlats (Bias), 50 Flats
The Tools of the Trade
The meticulous capture was made possible by a sophisticated setup:
- Imaging Telescope: Askar V with an 80mm Field Flattener (495mm focal length)
- Camera: Ogma AP26CC (IMX571 sensor)
- Filters: SV220 Dual band, SV226 Filter holder
- Guiding Telescope: Skywatcher Evoguide 50DX
- Guiding Camera: SV905C (used for the first 35 frames), Player One Uranus C with UV-IR Cut filter
- Mount: Skywatcher Wave 100i
- Software: Synscan Pro, ASCOM, NINA (for acquisition), and PHD2 (for guiding)
The Art of Processing
Transforming raw data into this stunning image requires a carefully orchestrated processing workflow. The journey involved:
- Stacking: Performed in Siril using a modified OSC pre-processing script with true drizzle (1x), astrometry, photometric color calibration, and background extraction using GraXpert.
- Starless Processing: A combination of Statistical Stretch, Curve adjustments, and Blemish blaster for refining the nebula's structure.
- Star Processing: Curves and Star Stretch were applied to enhance the stars.
- Combination: The starless and star layers were combined using an average blend at 50% opacity, followed by sharpening and denoising.
- Post-Processing: Final touches of contrast and detail enhancement were applied using ON1 Raw Max 2025. The image was then resized for web display as a .png file.
This reprocessing highlights the power of dedication and advanced techniques in astrophotography. The Pelican Nebula, IC5070, continues to inspire awe with its intricate details and the vastness of the universe it represents.
