Wizard Nebula Captured in Stunning SHO Detail
This is a truly spectacular capture of the Wizard Nebula, also known as NGC 7380. At an impressive distance of 8,500 light-years, this celestial wonder has been brought to life through the dedicated efforts of an astrophotographer.
The Technicals Behind the Magic
The astrophotographer utilized a robust setup to achieve this level of detail. Here's a breakdown of the equipment and acquisition process:
Target: Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380) Distance: 8,500 Light Years
Equipment:
- Telescope: Celestron EdgeHD 8"
- Reducer: Celestron 0.7x
- Camera: ZWO ASI2600mm-pro (cooled to -14°C)
- Filters: Antlia 2" SHORGB 3nm on ZWO EFW
- Mount: ZWO AM5 with 200mm extension
- Tripod: William Optics 800 Mortar Tri-pier
- Tracking Scope: Celestron OAG
- Tracking Camera: ZWO ASI290mm mini
- Control System: ZWO ASIAir Plus
Acquisition Details:
The capture involved a significant investment of time and effort, focusing on the SHO (Sulfur II, Hydrogen Alpha, Oxygen III) color palette for the nebula and separate RGB data for the stars:
- SHO Frames: 300" exposures, totaling 20 hours and 45 minutes.
- 88 x Ha
- 88 x OIII
- 78 x SII
- RGB Frames (for stars): 180" exposures, totaling 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- 15 x Red
- 15 x Green
- 15 x Blue
Calibration frames, including Darks, Flats, and Bias, were acquired for both SHO and RGB datasets to ensure optimal image quality.
Processing:
The collected data was meticulously processed using PixInsight and Lightroom, bringing out the intricate details and vibrant colors of the Wizard Nebula.
This image truly showcases a rare level of detail, and the chosen color palette is exceptional, resulting in a truly great image. You can follow more of their incredible astrophotography work on Instagram:
