The Cygnus Wall, NGC 7000: Backyard Astrophotography Triumph
It's a triumph of perseverance and passion when you can pull off breathtaking images of deep-sky objects from a light-polluted backyard. After weeks of wrestling with a stubborn mount, a faulty motor replacement, and countless hours spent fine-tuning backlash, this astrophotographer is back in action and has delivered a truly remarkable view of the Cygnus Wall, also known as NGC 7000.
This stunning capture represents 5 hours of integration time, all taken from the challenging environment of a Bortle 9 backyard. The dedication required to overcome such light pollution is immense, making the resulting image all the more impressive.
Technical Details Behind the Capture:
The image was meticulously crafted using the following equipment and processing techniques:
- Lights: 100 x 180 seconds
- Darks: 100 frames
- Flats: 50 frames
- Dark Flats: 50 frames
- Camera: Sv405cc (imx 294)
- Gain: 145
- Offset: 20
- Cooling: 0°C
- Filter: Sv220 dual narrowband filter
- Guide Camera: Sv305 pro guide camera
- Mount: Iexos 100
Processing Pipeline:
The journey from raw data to the final breathtaking image involved a sophisticated processing workflow:
- Stacking: Sirilic was used for the initial stacking process.
- Stretching & Pixel Math: Siril handled the pixel math and initial stretching.
- Cosmic Clarity: Seti Astro Suite was employed for its cosmic clarity enhancements.
- Finishing Touches: Affinity Photo, augmented with RC Astro plugins, was used for the final touches and color correction.
This image is a testament to the power of modern astrophotography equipment and processing techniques, even when battling less-than-ideal observing conditions. It's a reminder that with enough dedication, the wonders of the universe can be revealed from almost anywhere.
