Target : NGC 1499 - California Nebula 

Location:
Kuwait - Alhejen Farms - Camel Hangars 

Description:  

Processed as HaSiiSii 

Finally! I got to image the beautiful California nebula! this target has been on my wish list for a long time and due to its low surface brightness was a difficult target to get with the one shot color camera for me. thankfully with the mono camera and filters I managed to get part of the nebula and hopefully I will be able to make a mosaic in the coming weeks to get the rest. 
The red color actually comes from a blue star, known as Xi Persei. The star is so hot that it emits lots of ultraviolet radiation. Some of this energy strikes atoms of hydrogen gas that make up most of the nebula. That rips the hydrogen’s proton and electron away from each other. The two may later rejoin. As the electron settles into position, it emits red light — the glow that colors the nebula. 

Equipment:
° Mount: Ioptron Cem40 with iPolar 
° Main Imaging: ZWO ASI2600mm
° Filter wheel: ZWO ASI Electronic Filter wheel 7x36mm
° Focuser: Pegasus Focus cube 2 
° Filters: Antlia Lrgb - Baader Sii, Ha, Oiii 
° Guiding: ZWO mini guide scope with ZWO ASI 120mc mini
° OTA: Skywatcher Esprit 100ED F5.5 
° Aquisition Device: Stellarmate Raspberry PI with Ekos and K-Stars planetarium
° Filter: Optolong L-pro filter on the guide camera  

Integration:

HA - 20 x 300s - 0°c - Gain 100 - Offset 15
Oiii - 20 x 300s - 0°c - Gain 100 - Offset 15
Sii - 20 x 300s - 0°C - Gain 100 - Offset 15 

30 x 2s flats HA 30,000 ADU
30 x 0.9s flats Oii 30,000 ADU
30 x 4s flats sii 30,000 ADU 

50 x 300s - Gain 100 - Offset 15 Darks
200 x 0.00035s - Gain 100 - Offset 15 Bias 

total integration:  5 hours (however Oiii was later removed so total integration is 3.33 hours) 

Software: 


Pixinsight 
Adobe Photoshop 

Process: Initial stack and calibration of all files in Pixinsight ,then I integrated all images where i preformed dynamic background extraction, photometric color calibration, deconvolition and noise reduction with the Jon Rista method and then the first stretch. Further edits include sharpness, noise reduction, channel combination using HSS pixelmath method, hdr, color saturation and finally moving into photoshop to add the finishing touches and contrast adjustments.