Horsehead, Flame and NGC 2023

[Benjamin]

A bit of an average, short-integration-time image (an acronym might be appropriate - a Sh(ort)I(integration)T(ime) image!) but personally very happy to finally have an LRGB image of the Horsehead, Flame and NGC 2023. My old ED80 doublet and ASI1600MM-Pro did not play well together (micro-lens reflections) but the 8” Newt seems to work a treat. Massive diffraction spikes of course but happy to be able to pluck out STF 774. Lum was layered as an HDR image, and all processed in PixInsight. Bigger images and details here https://www.astrobin.com/full/7hc09m/D/ here https://www.astrobin.com/full/o4li1w/B/ and here https://www.astrobin.com/full/2odt46/0/

[PKay]

Total s h i t ben :)

Seriously, the wider field image is very good and Alnitak looks superb.
It has to be one of the nicest stars out there.

Well done mate!

[Benjamin]

Thanks Peter. I couldn’t help myself with the acronym: more integration time the better it is, and with with less integration time the more short integration time it is :-D ...,Except maybe with Diego Colonnello’s 12” f4 home crafted beast!

Very happy to have something to process and examine :-)

[multiweb]

Great pics Ben. Gorgeous colours and details. You've tamed Alnitak. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

That looks terrific. You got some great colour there in the Flame Nebula. I wonder why it is that colour. No other nebula is that yellowish orange colour.

Greg.

[Benjamin]

Thanks Marc and Greg. I’m not sure about the colour of the flame either. I’ve probably made it slightly less orange/pink than it might normally be, but not by a lot, or that seems out-of-step with other RGB images of it. Have seen some very intense orange versions that certainly sell the flame idea a lot more!

[multiweb]

I read somewhere once that there is a cluster of massive OB stars behind that dark central dust lane and the light shining through the brown dust looks orange on the edges but not strong enough to pierce through the thicker central part.