NGC 6960 Wide Angle: Capturing the Witch Head Nebula from a Bortle 8 Sky

This captivating wide-angle image showcases the NGC 6960, more commonly known as the Witch Head Nebula. What makes this capture particularly impressive is that it was taken under a Bortle 8 sky, a testament to the power of modern astrophotography equipment and processing techniques.

The Gear Behind the Image

Achieving such detail from a light-polluted environment requires a well-thought-out setup. Here's the equipment used:

• Telescope: Redcat 61
• Mount: EQ6-R
• Camera: ZWO 2600MC
• Controller: ASIAir Pro
• Guiding: ZWO MiniScope + ASI 1200MM Guide Camera
• Accessories: EAF (Electronic Autofocus) and Filter Wheel

Capturing the Light

The acquisition involved a total of 190 sub-exposures:

• Ha/OIII (Askar C1): 98 x 120 seconds
• SII/OIII (Askar C2): 92 x 120 seconds

All subs were captured at a gain of 100.

The Processing Pipeline

Transforming raw data into this stunning image involved several key processing steps, all performed using Siril:

1. Stacking: Initial stacking was performed using Siril.
2. Color Mapping: PixelMath was employed to map the different filtered data to colors. Specifically, Ha and SII were mapped to Red, and OIII was mapped to Green and Blue, creating a false-color representation that highlights the nebula's structure.
3. Background Extraction: A crucial step for any deep-sky image, especially from light-polluted skies, to remove unwanted gradients.
4. De-starring: Starnet++ was used to remove stars, allowing for more focused processing of the nebula itself.
5. Stretches and Curves: Various stretching and curve adjustments were applied to bring out the fainter details and enhance contrast.
6. Star Recomposition: After processing the nebula, the stars were carefully recomposed back into the image to complete the final composition.

This image is a fantastic example of what can be achieved with dedicated equipment and a meticulous processing workflow, even when faced with challenging observing conditions. The Witch Head Nebula truly comes alive in this detailed wide-field view.