My Best Orion Nebula Capture

I'm thrilled to share my latest deep-sky capture: the magnificent Orion Nebula! This image represents a significant step forward for me, achieved with a combination of a well-tuned telescope and careful processing.

Technical Details:

• Telescope: 130mm f5
• Camera: Modified Canon t2i
• Location: Bortle Scale 7-9
• Acquisition:
  • 108 Lights (4-5 seconds exposure each)
  • 41 Darks
  • ISO 800
  • Dual-band ZWO filter used on half the images
• Tracking: Celestron Logic Drive Motor

Processing:

The captured data was stacked and processed using Siril, with StarNet employed for star removal to enhance nebula details. Final retouching was performed in Adobe Lightroom.

A Word on Processing Workflow:

I've received some excellent feedback regarding the inclusion of dark frames, which I did use. I'm still refining my workflow, particularly with managing time for acquiring all necessary calibration frames like flats and bias frames. These are definitely on my radar for future sessions, and I'm eager to see how they further improve the image quality.

Despite the ongoing learning process, I'm incredibly pleased with how this Orion Nebula image turned out. The details in the nebula, the colors, and the overall clarity are a testament to the power of dedicated astrophotography and post-processing.

Clear skies!