NGC 891: A Glimpse into an Edge-On Spiral Galaxy
Behold the majestic NGC 891, a captivating spiral galaxy presented to us in all its glory from an edge-on perspective. This remarkable deep-sky object reveals a stunning display of galactic structure, including prominent dust lanes that sculpt its disc and hint at the ongoing processes within.
Behind the Lens: The Acquisition Process
Capturing this celestial panorama was no small feat, requiring meticulous attention to detail and advanced equipment. The image was acquired on November 4th, 2024, from the Bortle 5 skies of Nagano City, Japan. The setup featured a robust Celestron EdgeHD 8" SCT telescope, equipped with a 0.7x reducer to broaden the field of view. This optical marvel was mounted on a stable Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro equatorial mount, ensuring precise tracking of the night sky.
The image itself was captured using a Player One Saturn-C SQR cooled camera, chosen for its sensitive sensor and ability to minimize thermal noise during long exposures. A total of 50 exposures, each lasting 120 seconds at a gain of 150, were collected. To ensure sharp and guided images, a Svbony 60 mm guide scope was paired with a ZWO ASI290MM Mini camera, diligently working to keep the main telescope perfectly aligned with the target.
From Raw Data to Finished Masterpiece: The Processing Pipeline
The journey from raw light data to this polished image involved a sophisticated processing workflow. Initial calibration and stacking of the numerous sub-exposures were expertly handled by Astro Pixel Processor. This crucial step involved the integration of 20 dark frames, 20 flat frames, and 20 dark flat frames to correct for sensor noise and optical imperfections.
Following the stacking process, the data was further refined using Siril, a powerful open-source astronomical image processing application. Finally, the image was brought to its full potential through careful enhancements and adjustments in Adobe Photoshop, bringing out the intricate details and subtle beauty of NGC 891.
