IC2118 Witches Head Nebula from Coonabarabran

[CoolhandJo]

I was delighted to have spent 5 nights at Australia's premier Dark Sky Park at Coonabarabran NSW. this faint target was my sole focus and I managed to get 14 hours of RGB and 1 hour Ha with ASI 533MC pro and Samyang 135mm.

The Starless version shows the galaxies within this massive nebula!

Hi res Astrobin https://astrob.in/hqvcl6/0/

[jahnpahwa]

I really like it! And great to have so much clear sky on a trip for a specific target... great stuff :) Did you camp out there, or have a place to retreat to for sleep during the day?

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks! Yes stayed in motel which backs up onto some seriously dark sky. Just ran a cord out of my room!)

[MortonH]

What an awesome image!

[Leo.G]

Amazing images!
So I don't need the telescope out to capture this nebula?
I'm sure I have a decent lens with close focal length and easier than ...
Oh, I still need the mount set up I guess to get great images?
A great image to me is 100th of the quality of what you've captured.

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks Morton


Thanks Leo. It's a camera lense but it's basically known to be good for astro. You need an adaptor to mount onto your camera. :)

[atalas]

Yep totally agree with the guys Paul......awesome work and some nice little galaxies showing detail around the field :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Anth10]

Super cool!
😎

[CoolhandJo]

thanks!!



Thanks! Yes the starless shows up the galaxies which I didn't even know were there until i processed it

[Spookyer]

Nice work Paul

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks Brett! And Merry Christmas everyone!

[theodog]

Cracker images Paul.
Looks like your time out our way was very productive.
Well done.:thumbsup:

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks Jeff and it was great catching up with you again. See you soon!:thumbsup:

[telecasterguru]

That is a cracking image.

[CoolhandJo]

Everyone hates a repo except when there's so many clouds!!!

Here's one I just did on my WitchHead with a stars extracted technique and spectophotometric colour calibration

Higher res here https://astrob.in/hqvcl6/E/

[Dave882]

Wow what a striking image. I think by reducing the stars you’ve really accentuated the witch head. Beautiful background detail as well. Well done!!

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks Dave. I learnt to apply background neutralisation instead of Linera fit and it popped the background out! Then reduced stars Pixinsight.

I'm definitely now happy with the final.image. :thumbsup:

[Startrek]

An excellent image from your trip
Must have been a sight looking up at Milky Way
You can’t beat dark skies in any form of the hobby
Well done !!
Martin

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks Martin. To be honest I felt at home under the dark sky. Days gone by there were many more people alongside but due to technology advances in LP filters less and less people make the journey. I for one will always go to dark skies every opportunity I get because as you said the milky way is unbelievable

[petershah]

Beautiful shot