This started as an experiment in "lucky imaging" for deep-sky objects, where I took about 5,000 1-second images. I've seen some cool results with this technique, but with my high levels of light pollution, I didn't end up getting much out of it.
However, I also collected a fair amount of narrowband data (Ha and OIII) on moonlit nights, and wound up processing that instead, which came out really well! I combined it with the color (RGB) star data I took for more natural-looking stars. This is my first time getting some of that awesome dim stuff surrounding the nebula -- very exciting! I think narrowband imaging will end up being the bulk of the "good" images I produce while living here in the Bay area.
Details:
Date: R: 12, 14, 18 June 2020
G: 18, 28 June 2020
B: 28, 29 June, 19 August 2020
Ha: 3, 6, 9, 29 June, 3, 4, 11, 12 July, 2 August, 4, 6 September 2020
OIII: 7, 8, 9, 29 June, 4, 9, 11 July, 6 September 2020
Location: East Bay area backyard, CA
Object: M27 Dumbbell Nebula
Attempt: 14
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
Telescope: Celestron C8
Accessories: Meade 0.63x focal reducer/flattener, PrimaLuce Lab Esatto focuser, Lumicon OAG, ZWO 7-position
2-inch EFW, Astronomik CLS-CCD 2-inch filter, Astronomik RGB Type 2c filters, Chroma 3nm 50mm Ha and OIII filters
Mount: Paramount MyT
Guide scope: Lumicon OAG
Guide camera: QHY5L-II
Subframes: R: 67x60s (1h7m)
G: 85x60s (1h25m)
B: 96x60s (1h36m)
Ha: 60x600s, 10x300s (10h50m)
OIII: 47x600s (7h50m)
Total: 22h48m
Gain/ISO: 139
Acquisition method: Sequence Generator Pro
Stacking program: PixInsight 1.8.8-6
Post-Processing program: PixInsight 1.8.8-6
Darks: RGB: 80
Ha, OIII: 117x300s, 87x600s
Biases: 0
Flats: 30-50
Temperature: -20C
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