Capturing the Cosmic Majesty: My First Serious Orion Nebula Shot in Bortle 4

Hello fellow stargazers and astrophotography enthusiasts!

I'm absolutely thrilled to share my first serious attempt at imaging the iconic Orion Nebula (M42), captured under the pristine skies of a Bortle 4 rating. This was a passion project, and seeing the autostretch come to life after stacking brought a genuine tear to my eye – a moment of pure astronomical joy!

The Setup and the Journey

For this capture, I opted for a surprisingly accessible setup. The image was taken untracked, utilizing 120 individual 1-second exposures. My trusty steed for this endeavor was a Sony A7rIV paired with a TTartisan 500mm F6.3 lens, shot wide open at its maximum aperture.

Processing and Feedback

The data was stacked and processed using Siril, a fantastic free and open-source software. I then made some minor tweaks using the built-in images app on my phone (I know, I know, the shame! But it's a learning process!).

I'm incredibly eager to hear your thoughts and feedback on the edit. As a newcomer to serious deep-sky imaging, constructive criticism is invaluable. What could I have done better? Are there any particular areas where you see room for improvement in the processing?

This project has been an incredible learning experience, and I can't wait to continue exploring the wonders of the night sky. Stay tuned for more celestial adventures!

Clear skies,

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