Lagoon Nebula (M8): A First Untracked DSLR Attempt

Welcome back to the blog! Today, I'm excited to share my very first foray into capturing a deep-sky object using my stock DSLR and an untracked mount. The target? The breathtaking Lagoon Nebula, also known as M8.

The Challenge: Untracked and Untamed

Astrophotography is a journey of patience and learning, and this attempt was certainly packed with both. Shooting with a stock Canon EOS 1100D and a Tamron 70-300mm lens, I faced the common challenges of untracked imaging. This means the Earth's rotation isn't compensated for, leading to star trails if exposures are too long. Additionally, my lens exhibits coma aberration, causing stars to look a bit elongated, especially towards the edges of the frame.

Despite these hurdles, I aimed to gather as much data as possible.

Acquisition Details:

• Camera: Canon EOS 1100D
• Lens: Tamron 70-300mm
• Aperture: f/4.0
• Exposure: 6 seconds
• ISO: 6400
• Focal Length: 70mm
• Total Integration Time: 55 minutes
• Location: Karawang, Indonesia (Bortle 5 sky)

Processing Pipeline:

Turning raw data into a celestial spectacle is an art in itself. For this image, I utilized a robust processing workflow:

1. DeepSkyStacker: To stack all the individual frames, reducing noise and enhancing faint details.
2. Siril: For initial calibration, alignment, and stretching the data.
3. Starnet: To separate the stars from the nebula, allowing for more targeted adjustments.
4. GraXpert: For further detail enhancement and noise reduction.
5. Photoshop: The final frontier for color balancing, contrast adjustments, and bringing out the subtle beauty of the Lagoon Nebula.

The Result:

Here is my first attempt at the Lagoon Nebula:

As you can see, there are indeed issues with coma aberration, giving the stars a slightly "off" appearance. However, for a first untracked attempt with a stock DSLR, I'm quite pleased with how the structure of the nebula has come through. The vibrant colors and the distinct dark lanes of dust within M8 are visible, hinting at the incredible detail that can be achieved with more specialized equipment and techniques.

This experience has been incredibly insightful, and I'm already looking forward to my next imaging session, armed with new knowledge and a burning desire to improve. Stay tuned for more cosmic adventures!

#astrophotography #deepsky #nebula #LagoonNebula #M8 #DSLR #untracked