I’m excited to share my latest astrophotography work, capturing the stunning regions of the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2244) and Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264). This image was taken from my backyard observatory in La Alberca, Murcia, Spain, under challenging conditions with moderate moonlight but clear skies.
The image highlights the intricate details of these stellar nurseries, where new stars are born amidst clouds of hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Using dual-band filters (Ha+OIII and SII+OIII) and over 19 hours of integration time, I worked to bring out the rich colors and delicate structures of these nebulae.
Equipment and Technical Details:
Lens: Sigma 105 mm f/1.4 DG HSM (Art)
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
Mount: ZWO AM5
Filters:
Antlia ALP-T Dual Band 5nm Highspeed 2” (Ha+OIII)
Askar Colour Magic C2 Duo-band Filter (SII+OIII)
Software: PixInsight, APP, Photoshop
Integration Time: 19h 55min
Ha+OIII: 7h 35min + 5h 50min
SII+OIII: 6h 30min
Resolution: 5894 x 3671 pixels
One of the most exciting aspects of this capture was being able to resolve details in the supernova remnant SNR G206.9+2.3 using a relatively wide-field 105 mm lens. This was an unexpected but rewarding result, adding depth to the composition.
Processing:
The image was processed to enhance signal-to-noise ratio while preserving the scientific accuracy of the data. A special focus was placed on balancing the hydrogen-alpha emissions with oxygen and sulfur, resulting in vibrant reds and rich blues.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts, feedback, and any suggestions to improve my work. Sharing and learning with this amazing community is always inspiring.
Clear skies,
Pedro
Link to full-resolution image on AstroBin:
https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/dLh-vAI ... TZ0INm.jpg
