Is it Airglow? Decoding the Mysterious Colors in a Big Sur Milky Way Shot
As a nature photographer venturing into the captivating world of astrophotography, I recently captured what I believe to be a spectacular view of the Milky Way over the Pacific Ocean from the iconic Highway 1 in Big Sur, California.
This shot was taken in a Bortle 2 area, known for its dark skies. The conditions were unusually clear, though still humid, with the moon having set early, creating an ideal environment for stargazing. I traveled specifically for this opportunity.
The image is a 15-frame stacked composite designed for starry landscapes. My processing workflow involved denoising the raw files in DxO PhotoLab, followed by processing the stack in Starry Landscape Stacker. I then used StarXTerminator in Photoshop to isolate the nebulae, allowing for contrast and curves adjustments before reintroducing the stars. It's important to note that I avoided any selective color editing, hue shifts, or excessive saturation/vibrance.
Despite my best efforts to keep the processing natural, the image displays a significant amount of color. I've been researching phenomena like airglow and suspect this might be the source of these vibrant hues. Given the high humidity and the common occurrence of marine layers in Big Sur, I'm curious to hear from more experienced astrophotographers if these factors could be contributing to the colors I'm seeing.
While I'm pleased with the overall result, I want to ensure I haven't inadvertently misrepresented the scene. Your expert opinions on the potential presence and influence of airglow in this shot would be greatly appreciated!
