Sh2-264 (Angelfish Nebula) (JDJ)

Sh2-264 (Angelfish Nebula)

Imaged Sh2-264, the Angelfish Nebula, on the nights of March 15 & 20, 2023. I like the combination of the hazy red nebulosity of Sh2-264 and the distinct orange color of Betelgeuse and the blue color of Bellatrix.

Per Wikipedia (Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh2-264) - "Sharpless 264, also known as the Lambda Orionis Ring, is a molecular cloud and H II region, which can be seen in the northern region of the Orion molecular cloud complex (OMCC), in the constellation of Orion. The OMCC is one of the best-known star formation regions and the closest sector of the Milky Way to the Solar System where high-mass stars are born. The nebula is named after its main star, λ Orionis, a blue giant responsible for the ionization of the surrounding material.=reference[1] It is also sometimes called the Angelfish Nebula due to its resemblance as to its lighter areas (pink to peach colour) to an angelfish."

Imaged using a 50 mm F/1.8 Nikon lens at F/4, UVIR cut and Optolong L-Enhance dual narrowband filter filters, and ZWO ASI 533MC Pro. For the UVIR cut filter, 30 subs at gain=100 and 30 seconds exposure. For the L-Enhance filter, 38 subs at gain =100 and 180 seconds exposure.

All images pre-processed using Pixinsight's weighted batch pre-processing script (WBPP) to perform calibration, debayering, registration, local normalization, and integration. Background removed using GradXpert. Initial post-processing in Pixinsight: spectrophotometric color calibration, blur x terminator, and noise x terminator.

UVIR cut filter image: stretch using masked stretch. Star isolated from background using StarXterminator for later comnination with the narrowband nebula image.
Dual narrowband Lehance image: Stretched with masked stretch and then generalized hyperbolic stretch, curves adjustment, HDR transformation using EasyHDR script, and local histogram transformation. Starless version of the nebulosity generated using StarXterminator.
Final image generated by combining RGB stars with narrowband nebulasity using PixelMath (rescreened stars).

Original version: Final image consisting of RGB stars and narrowband nebulosity

Rev B: Narrowband starless image

Rev C: RGB stars

Final
Original
B
C

B

Description: Narrowband starless image

Uploaded: ...

C

Description: RGB stars image

Uploaded: ...

Starless Images
ASI533MC Pro
Cloudy Nights
Optolong L-eNhance filter
Suburban Astrophotography
Camera Lens Astrophotography

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Status	Advanced success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	8598233
PixInsight job	OKE29CZ9J5K8F9LFOGZ38DBAATJOO2RR
PixInsight queue size	n/a
PixInsight stage	TASK_LOG

RA (center)	05h37m55s.2
RA (top/left)	05h59m33s.3
RA (top/right)	05h13m34s.2
RA (bottom/right)	05h17m05s.2
RA (bottom/left)	06h01m24s.4

Dec (center)	+10°07′39″
Dec (top/left)	+16°25′49″
Dec (top/right)	+15°49′08″
Dec (bottom/right)	+03°43′17″
Dec (bottom/left)	+04°19′45″

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