M20: The Trifid Nebula Captured in Stunning Detail

This spectacular image of M20, the Trifid Nebula, is a testament to the power of modern astrophotography equipment and processing techniques. Captured using a WO Zenithstar 80 fluorite doublet telescope and a host of advanced accessories, this deep-sky marvel reveals its intricate structure and vibrant colors.

The Capture Process

The data for this image was gathered with the following setup:

• Telescope: WO Zenithstar 80 fluorite doublet
• Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G
• Camera: 533mc pro
• Control: ASIair
• Guide Scope: Zwo 30mm uniguide scope
• Autoguide Camera: ZWO 120mm mini
• Focuser: Zwo eaf
• Filter: Uv/ir cut

The imaging session consisted of 5 hours of 120-second exposures at gain 100. Bias and flats were meticulously applied during the calibration process.

Advanced Processing Workflow

The post-processing of this image was a sophisticated journey, primarily undertaken in PixInsight. The workflow included:

• WBPP (Weighted Batch Pre-processing): For initial calibration and stacking.
• Crop: To refine the framing.
• GraXpert: For gradient removal.
• Image Solver: To solve for astrometric data.
• SPCC (Super Pixel Color Calibration): For accurate color calibration.
• SCNR (Subtracting Common Noise): To reduce green noise.
• BlurX: For deconvolution.
• Noisex: For noise reduction.
• StarX: To isolate stars.
• STF Stretch and Curves: For non-linear stretching and tonal adjustments.

Remarkably, final touches for tint, exposure, brightness, and contrast were skillfully applied on a smartphone, demonstrating the accessibility of advanced editing even on mobile devices.

Viewer Impressions

The resulting image has been met with widespread admiration. Commenters praised its natural look, balanced colors, and lack of over-processing, a common pitfall with targets like the Trifid Nebula. The innovative approach of finishing the edit on a phone was also highlighted as particularly impressive.

There was also a fascinating discussion about the 'natural' colors of celestial objects and how our perception is influenced by distance and instrumentation. The use of SPCC in PixInsight was noted as a key tool in attempting to achieve scientifically accurate color representations by referencing star color data.

This image not only showcases a beautiful celestial object but also inspires by illustrating the creative possibilities in astrophotography processing.