Sh2-113: Capturing the Majestic Flying Dragon Nebula
This image showcases the awe-inspiring Sh2-113, affectionately nicknamed the "Flying Dragon Nebula." This target was a delightful discovery, stumbled upon while updating Stellarium. What makes this capture even more special is the inclusion of a smaller planetary nebula, KN 26, serendipitously located in the upper left portion of the frame.
The Journey to Capture:
Bringing this celestial spectacle to your screens involved a dedicated setup and meticulous processing. Here's a look at the equipment and techniques employed:
Equipment:
- Telescope: Askar 80PHQ with 0.76x reducer
- Mount: Skywatcher EQ6R Pro
- Imaging Camera: ZWO 533MC Pro
- Autoguiding: ZWO 174MM mini guidecam, ZWO OAG and EAF
- Filter: Optolong L-Ultimate dualband filter
- Acquisition Software: APT on a laptop
Image Acquisition & Processing:
- Lights: 165 frames x 600 seconds (totaling 27.5 hours)
- Calibrations: 15 flats & dark flats, 10 darks
- Stacking & Processing: Pixinsight
- DBE (Dynamic Background Extraction)
- SPCC (Super Pixel Color Calibration)
- Starx
- Arcsine Stretch
- Histograms & Curves adjustments
- Noisex (Noise Reduction)
- Blurx (Deblurring)
- Final Touches: Photoshop (cropping and further tweaks)
The result is a stunning portrayal of the Flying Dragon Nebula, a testament to the capabilities of modern astrophotography equipment and the dedication of those who pursue these cosmic wonders.
