NGC7293 Helix Nebula

[joshman (Josh)]

I finally got around to processing the 55 hours of exposure I took earlier in the year. I had tried previously to process this, but my skill in Pixinsight wasn't up to the task. Fortunately, I knuckled down and learnt how to properly stretch my images using GHS, and boy, what a difference it made.


Taken with the Saxon 102 Triplet, ASI2600MM and Antlia Filters all on the AM5.

The processing stack was pretty simple:
Stars:
DBE > LinearFit > ChannelCombination > SPCC > StarX > GHS Stretch the Stars

NB:
LinearFit > BlurX > NoiseX > StarX > GHS to taste > PixelMath into HOO Palette > CurvesTransformation to flavour the colours



I've also included a comparison against my previous attempt at imaging and processing this target. I Like to think this attempt is much better.


Check it on Astrobin to see it big.


Thanks for looking and clear skies!

[Spookyer (Brett)]

Definitely got more signal this time Josh.

[captcha (marcel)]

Amazing result. Love that contrast.

[Dave882 (David)]

Great work. You’ve revealed some lovely deep detail in the surrounding Ha, and also the cometary filaments.

[joshman (Josh)]

Originally Posted by Spookyer

Definitely got more signal this time Josh.

absolutely. much better go at processing as well.

Originally Posted by captcha

Amazing result. Love that contrast.

Thank you very much. I think I could do a bit better at the contrast in the core, But I'm pretty content with it for now.

Originally Posted by Dave882

Great work. You’ve revealed some lovely deep detail in the surrounding Ha, and also the cometary filaments.

Thanks. I absolutely love the cometary filaments in the centre of the helix. I'm thinking of getting a scope with a heap more reach, and i think the centre of this and the cometary filaments will be very high on my list of targets if i decide to follow through.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Very nice work Josh, nice improvement too

Mike

[joshman (Josh)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Very nice work Josh, nice improvement too

Mike

Thanks Mike! I'm pretty happy with how this turned out. It's definitely an object that I'll be revisiting over time.

[jaleung (Jason)]

That’s pretty good considering your focal length!