A Celestial Symphony: Lagoon, Trifid, and Webb's Cross Under a Bortle 6 Sky

This post chronicles my first attempt at capturing the magnificent Lagoon Nebula, Trifid Nebula, and the intriguing Webb's Cross using my Seestar S50. For fellow stargazers operating under Bortle 6 skies, this project was an exciting exploration of the capabilities of integrated EQ and Mosaic modes, all brought to life with the power of free processing software.

The Tools of the Trade

The Seestar S50, with its integrated equatorial mount and mosaic capabilities, proved to be an excellent companion for this endeavor. It allowed for seamless operation and the capture of a wider field of view, essential for showcasing these expansive nebulae.

For the post-processing magic, I relied on a suite of powerful, yet entirely free, software:

• Siril: For initial stacking and calibration, essential for bringing out faint details.
• GraXpert: Used to tackle gradient removal and enhance the overall image.
• AstroSharp: My go-to for sharpening and noise reduction, refining the subtle textures within the nebulae.
• GIMP: The final frontier for color correction, touch-ups, and bringing the image to its full glory.

The Capture Process

With 10-second exposures and a cumulative integration time of approximately 6.5 hours, the Seestar S50 diligently collected photons from these distant celestial wonders. This significant integration time is key to revealing the intricate structures and vibrant colors hidden within the nebulae.

Witnessing the Spectacle

Results and Reflections

The result is a stunning view of the Lagoon Nebula (M8), a vast stellar nursery where new stars are born, alongside the intricate Trifid Nebula (M20), known for its distinctive three-lobed appearance caused by dust lanes. The inclusion of Webb's Cross, a fascinating asterism, adds another layer of interest to this celestial tapestry.

It's truly incredible to witness these objects so clearly from a moderately light-polluted sky, a testament to both the equipment used and the power of modern processing techniques. The journey from raw data to this final image was incredibly rewarding, and I'm thrilled to share it with the astrophotography community.

This project demonstrates that stunning deep-sky astrophotography is achievable, even with accessible equipment and free software, provided you have patience and a passion for the cosmos.