A Quick M20 Trifid Nebula

[Startrek]

Captured M20 Trifid Nebula a week ago on a night with average seeing and passing cloud
Managed to gather 18 x 3 minute reasonable subs with my 2600MC ( no filter ) discarded about a dozen subs

NexDome Obs
8” f5 GSO newt
Skywatcher EQ6-R pro mount
ZWOASI2600MC set in Ascom to highest dynamic range Gain 0 , cooled to -10C
No filter
Goto and tracking EQMOD and Ascom Stellarium
Framed focused and captured with APT
PHD2 Multistar guiding ( 1.00 to 1.20 are sec error total) poor seeing
Stacked in DSS
Processed in Startools V1.7 OSC Linear data set
I’d like to capture M20 again on a better night with more data
It’s a great little target with emission , reflection and dark nebula plus an interesting star field

Comments welcome
Thanks

[RyanJones]

That’s an absolute cracker Martin. Arguably one of the best Trifids I’ve seen. Lovely subtlety in the reflection parts of the neb. Well done. Very nice indeed.

Cheers

Ryan

[Startrek]

Ryan,
Thanks mate for the generous comments
Conditions were pretty poor for AP ( stop start ) but struggled on , kept the best subs I could find
Turned out ok in the end
Cheers
Martin

[astronobob]

Nice going considering conditions and subs Martin, good data and feel some further processing may benefit, not familiar with star-tool although somehow may be room to apply some contrasts to the Neb & make it pop, being careful not to blow the stars within any ?
Just my thoughts with best intention.
Good show none the less...

[Startrek]

Bob,
Thanks for your comments
Startools has a couple of modules that can make your image “pop” like Super Structure and Entropy just to name a couple. I kind of like that transparency look with the red and blues but certainly take your point. I find when you apply these algorithms to make it “pop” you lose some fine detail in the nebula
Thanks again
Martin

[xelasnave]

A wonderful photo Martin. It is such a pleasure to follow your journey.
Alex

[Startrek]

Thanks very much Alex
Its also a pleasure to follow your new venture with the RASA too
Best
Martin