M20 - First LRGB and First Light on Target

[AdamJL]

Hi all

A fun first attempt at LRGB imaging and a new target for me. I know it's a popular target, but I've never shot it before.

A little noisier than I'd like, and not as much detail as I'd hoped. Thankfully, stars don't go anywhere and I'll add to this over the coming years. This would be fun to shoot with a much longer f/l scope.
As it stands, this is a relatively heft crop of the 268M + Esprit 120 FOV.
I've got loads of tilt to sort out though, but heck it's still fun to get a final image.

total 4 hours integration from a B6 backyard (parents house!)

L = 30 x 180
R = 17 x 180
G = 17 x 180
B = 16 x 180

QHY268M, Antlia Pro 3nm LRGB
Captured with NINA (2.0 release is utterly incredible)
Esprit 120 + 1x flattener on EQ6-R

Processed almost exclusively in PixInsight and finished in PS.

PI: (WBPP > Star Alignment > channel combination for RGB -> Dynamic Crop -> DBE -> PCC -> Denoise and Decon on Lum, Denoise only on RGB > EZ Stretch > Curves Transformation on RGB > EZ Star Reduction on L > LRGB combination > EZ Star Reduction on LRGB final)
PS: Black levels.

Thought about Topaz, but it didn't do a great job with this image (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't)

As always, a link to a bigger version can be found here (https://adamlawler.smugmug.com/Astrophotography/Deep-Sky-Objects/i-3TzSBQx/A)

And as I've created an Astrobin account, I'll link to it when this image is up for those of you who prefer that.

edit: Astrobin link (https://www.astrobin.com/jjzwi0/)

[Dave882]

That’s a really lovely result! Beautiful colours and I reckon the stars are pretty good even so. It’s definitely such a fun target, with so much to offer at both long and short fl (and even through the eyepiece I might add). I think the noise is so hard to deal with in our suburban shooting locations, but I think we all feel your pain there. You’ve done extremely well!!

[AdamJL]

Thanks David :)
Yes, we'd all love those B1/2 skies, hey?

[Nikolas]

Great result mate nice work

[AdamJL]

Thanks very much, Nik!

[AstroViking]

Great image, Adam - love the colour depth you've captured there.

Cheers,
V

[Startrek]

Adam,
Excellent M20 , you should be very happy with this one
Love the Star field too
Well done !!
Martin

[AdamJL]

Thank you Steve! (sorry, weird submission there, half my message vanished)



Thanks Martin :) I was on the fence with the star field. I've seen this target presented with the starfield quite muted in other pictures and nearly did the same thing, but thought in the end, I also like to see it "in it's place" as it were.

[CoolhandJo]

Nice blue which is hard to pull out to that extent. More subs would complete this good image. Well done

[AdamJL]

ha, thanks Paul. I went to shoot it last night but instead went after the Eagle Nebula. I'll revisit this during the new moon if we get clear skies and go after more LUM and blue.

[strongmanmike]

With the Trifid the wonderful contrasting colours are beautiful and it is the stars that complete the scene, deffinitely shouldn't be muted , really nice result :thumbsup:

Mike

[Retrograde]

Really nice rendition Adam. You're off and running with mono. :thumbsup:

[AdamJL]

Cheers Mike :) Glad you liked the starfield as well



Thanks Pete! Lots more work to do with mono though, gosh. Editing takes forever!

[Shiraz]

excellent M20. nebula, stars all really good.

[AdamJL]

thanks, Ray. The stars were a pleasant surprise after some bad tilt issues I've had recently!

[AdamJL]

I've also edited the original version with an Astrobin link.

[LKD]

Very Nice, its a tough field at that f.l. Thanks for posting you IP steps

[AdamJL]

Thanks, Luke!
Very true. When I've shot the Lagoon before, even at longer focal lengths, that starfield can intrude a lot. More so at this focal length, as you say.

[Dilsh]

Awesome image Adam. Great true colour, detail and processing. Backyard astro is really hard. I have really enjoyed EZ scripts as well.

Look forward to your next image.

Dilshan

[AdamJL]

Cheers Dilshan, I’m pleased you like it!

[Addos]

great colours and contrast! well done!

[AdamJL]

Cheers Adam!

[YawRate]

For 4 hours from Bortle 6 I'd be very very happy with this level of detail, well done!

[AdamJL]

Thanks Guy. Indeed, I think I need a lot more time on this one. Might wait until next year's season.. hopefully by then the rain will have gone away :rain::whistle: