M8 Ha only

[Benjamin (Ben)]

Flip flopping on how much contrast to draw from this Ha image. I think it should probably still be swirling and luminous with the detail present, but the higher contrast image makes the detail more obvious, if a little ‘etched’…

Anyway, glad to have the scope out again after a lot of time under clouds and being busy with life…

Note: Have redone both to keep the core region a bit brighter, although the sharper version has less of this aspect

Sharper Astrobin:https://www.astrobin.com/full/58otqv/I/
Softer Astrobin https://www.astrobin.com/full/58otqv/J/?mod=&real=

Scope: Skywatcher 8” f4 Quattro CF Newt
Mount: EQ6-R
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro (Gain 200, -10°)
Filter: Astrodon 1.25” 5nm Ha
99x180s and 88x60s subs
Processed in PixInsight

[RyanJones]

Isn’t it amazing the detail you can see in a single bandwidth ? I feel the first image’s detail is just a touch too “ brushstrokey “. Both incredible though. Nice work

Cheers

Ryan

[Benjamin (Ben)]

Thanks for the reply Ryan. I think I know what you mean with the first verision: perhaps it starts to lose its sense of a nebulosity or the processing looks a bit obvious and ‘painted’? There’s parts of the image I’m really excited about that I’m hoping more data (rather than a better scope!) might show. Thinking of the bands of light streaming from behind some of the bigger ‘clouds’ and the texture of the area under the dark bulge on the right. Also trying not to overdo things like Deconvolution.