NGC1909 - The Witch's Nose

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #1 08-12-2021, 09:06 PM

I've always wanted to image the Witch Head! I love the dreamy cloud-like structure, it just has such a 'spacey' vibe!

My FOV doesn't cover the entire face and I didn't want to do a mosaic so I chose this framing which I really like. I think it kinda looks like one of the Nazgul riding a fellbeast in Lord of the Rings🐉

This was a long 20 hours HaLRGB total, with almost half of that being Ha from home. There was barely anything in individual subs and I nearly quit, but I'm glad I didn't, it definitely adds a punch! The LRGB was acquired at the Bortle 2 LMDSS

Full res on Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/y9halc/

🔭EQUIPMENT🔭
SharpStar HNT F2.8
ASI183MM-Pro
6nm Astronomik MaxFR Ha filter
Chroma LRGB filters
NEQ6

📷EXPOSURE📷
TOTAL = 19.5h
Ha: 54x600s (gain: 150) -15°C
L: 90x180s (gain: 50) -15°C
R,G,B: 24x300s (gain: 50) -15°C each

Kuz · #2 08-12-2021, 09:18 PM

Nice effort . The white over the red makes it pop .

JA · #3 08-12-2021, 09:54 PM

That's a great image Stefan

Best
JA

strongmanmike (Michael) · #4 08-12-2021, 10:14 PM

An excellent processing job on this Stefan, you have blended the Ha in with the LRGB very nicely, it looks really lovely, it's such a cool object the O'l Witchy head

Lovely scope too BTW, is it easy to collimate and use?

Mike

Andy01 (Andy) · #5 08-12-2021, 10:27 PM

Very nicely done Stefan!

Great processing & well done on an intriguing, dynamic, original composition

gregbradley · #6 09-12-2021, 10:28 AM

Love it. Great framing and I like the colour balance picking up the red Ha background as well as the witch.

Is the witch made of dust or gas? I am assuming dust but its not brown.

I just looked it up, its gas possibly a supernova remnant:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=witchh...fe62a7b81f51fe

Greg.

multiweb (Marc) · #7 09-12-2021, 10:30 AM

+1 Beautiful shot.

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #8 09-12-2021, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuz

Nice effort . The white over the red makes it pop .

Thanks a lot! I'm glad I didn't stop with the Ha, it was well worth it in the end

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #9 09-12-2021, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JA

That's a great image Stefan

Best
JA

Thanks a lot JA!

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #10 09-12-2021, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

An excellent processing job on this Stefan, you have blended the Ha in with the LRGB very nicely, it looks really lovely, it's such a cool object the O'l Witchy head

Lovely scope too BTW, is it easy to collimate and use?

Mike

Thanks so much Mike! Means a lot!

It's been a great scope, it does have a very low tolerance for miscollimation and tilt, but collimation isn't too bad with the right tools, and seems to hold collimation well for quite a while. I checked after driving it up to LMDSS and it was still bang-on

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #11 09-12-2021, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy01

Very nicely done Stefan!

Great processing & well done on an intriguing, dynamic, original composition

Thanks so much Andy! Really glad you like it

And I definitely took tips from the pros! Your talk on TAIC last year really convinced me to try out different compositions

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #12 09-12-2021, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Love it. Great framing and I like the colour balance picking up the red Ha background as well as the witch.

Is the witch made of dust or gas? I am assuming dust but its not brown.

I just looked it up, its gas possibly a supernova remnant:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=witchh...fe62a7b81f51fe

Greg.

Thanks a lot Greg!

Thanks for the info, it's such an interesting object, I haven't seen much that has such beautiful puffy structure

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #13 09-12-2021, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

+1 Beautiful shot.

Thanks! glad you like it

Mickoid (Michael) · #14 09-12-2021, 08:38 PM

Stefan, a very interesting take on this one, you have managed some vivid colours with your processing and the tight crop has changed the traditional captures of this object. Well done for thinking outside the box and displaying a totally different aspect to this well loved nebula. I shot the Witch last Friday from Bortle 2 skies as well but mine is the typical view so many have done before. Incorporating the Ha into your 20 hours of data has paid off here.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #15 10-12-2021, 08:57 AM

I've come back for a look at this a few times Stefan, really is quite a compelling image

Mike

Bassnut (Fred) · #16 10-12-2021, 05:26 PM

thats pretty deep and really pops!. excellent processing.

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #17 11-12-2021, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickoid

Stefan, a very interesting take on this one, you have managed some vivid colours with your processing and the tight crop has changed the traditional captures of this object. Well done for thinking outside the box and displaying a totally different aspect to this well loved nebula. I shot the Witch last Friday from Bortle 2 skies as well but mine is the typical view so many have done before. Incorporating the Ha into your 20 hours of data has paid off here.

Thanks a lot Michael! I'm glad my composition worked out, and I'm glad you like it!

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #18 11-12-2021, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I've come back for a look at this a few times Stefan, really is quite a compelling image

Mike

Thanks a lot Mike! Really glad you like it

Stefannebula (Stefan) · #19 11-12-2021, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

thats pretty deep and really pops!. excellent processing.

Thanks a lot!

Paul Haese · #20 16-12-2021, 09:40 AM

Lovely image, great colour balance, detail is sharp and crisp. Thanks for the view Stefan.