NGC 6960 - The Western Veil in SHO: A First Mono Journey

This image marks a significant milestone in my astrophotography journey – my very first monochrome image! Captured a couple of weeks ago, it showcases the magnificent NGC 6960, more commonly known as the Western Veil Nebula. This celestial tapestry is part of the Cygnus Loop, a supernova remnant located about 1,400 light-years away. I've chosen to present it in the SHO (Sulphur, Hydrogen, Oxygen) narrowband palette, which reveals incredible detail and color contrast in such objects.

Acquisition Details:

Capturing this image involved meticulous planning and execution, even with the challenges of a Bortle 7 environment and a 30% moon.

• Light Frames:
  • Ha (Hydrogen-alpha): 20 frames x 180 seconds
  • Oiii (Oxygen-III): 20 frames x 180 seconds
  • Sii (Sulphur-II): 20 frames x 180 seconds
• Calibration Frames:
  • Flats: 20 per filter
  • Dark Flats: 20
  • Darks: 100

Equipment Used:

My setup for this endeavor included:

• Telescope: WO Zenithstar 73
• Camera: Asi533mm
• Mount: HEQ5 pro
• Guide Scope: WO uniguide 50mm
• Guide Camera: Asi120mm mini
• Filters: Antlia edge 4.5nm SHO filters
• Filter Wheel: ZWO efw mini
• Focuser: ZWO eaf
• Capture Software: ASIair

Processing Workflow:

The journey from raw data to this final image involved several powerful tools:

• Stacking & Initial Processing: Siril
• Cosmic Ray Removal & Artifacts: Cosmic Clarity Suite
• Star Removal: Starnet++
• Further Enhancement: graXpert

A Glimpse into the Process:

This project was particularly exciting as it was my first foray into monochrome imaging with narrowband filters. The SHO palette allows us to isolate specific atomic emissions within the nebula, creating a visually stunning representation of its composition. While this is my initial monochrome output, I'm already working on more advanced images that I'm eager to share.

There was a minor challenge with a satellite trail from a Starlink satellite passing through during some of the SII subs, a common hurdle for astrophotographers. For future stacks, I might explore techniques to mitigate such artifacts or selectively reject affected frames.

I also noted the resolution might not be ideal here, and I'll consider linking to an Astrobin post for higher-resolution versions of my work in the future.