NGC 7000 (North America) and IC 5070 (Pelican Nebula): A Bortle 4 Triumph

I'm thrilled to share one of my best captures yet: the majestic NGC 7000, also known as the North America Nebula, and its celestial neighbor, IC 5070, the Pelican Nebula. These iconic deep-sky objects were captured over the nights of August 20th and 21st, under the incredibly dark Bortle 4 skies.

North America and Pelican Nebula

The Journey to Capture These Nebulae

Achieving this result involved meticulous planning and execution, utilizing some dedicated equipment:

Equipment Used:

Camera: Canon T6i (IR cut removed, L2 filter)
Lens: Canon 70-200mm @ 135mm, f/3.2
Mount: EQM35 Pro
Accessories: Dew heater

Acquisition Details:

Lights: 236 frames at 210 seconds each (DFB)
Total Integration Time: A remarkable 13 hours!
Software: NINA for capture, PHD2 for guiding, and SharpCap for initial polar alignment.

Processing the Celestial Canvas

Bringing out the details from such a vast amount of data is a process of refinement. Here's a breakdown of the steps I took:

Stacking and Calibration: Using Siril, I stacked all the light frames and performed background extraction to minimize unwanted gradients. Calibration frames (darks, flats, biases) were essential for this stage.
Color Calibration: Siril's color calibration tools were applied to ensure accurate representation of the nebulae's colors.
Stretching: In Photoshop, I used Arcsinh10 curves to carefully stretch the data, revealing the faint details without blowing out the highlights.
Star Removal: Starnet was used to isolate the nebulae from the stars, allowing for more focused processing.
Enhancement and Compositing: Back in Photoshop, I applied the Raw filter for color adjustments, enhanced contrast and texture, and finally reintroduced the stars to complete the image.

Refining the Result

I've received some valuable feedback suggesting the image might be a bit too dark. While I aimed for a slightly darker, more subtle look, I agree that some adjustments to brighten it would be beneficial. I also received a question about gradient removal. While I used background extraction in Siril, further refinement might be needed to completely eliminate any lingering gradients. I typically use the auto-grid feature in Siril for background extraction as it tends to be more effective on larger, more complex images.

This project was a significant undertaking, and I'm incredibly proud of the outcome. I hope you enjoy gazing upon these cosmic wonders as much as I enjoyed capturing them!