The Heart of the Heart. (Melotte 15, Sh2-190). For several weeks this fall I used every clear night to gather data on
a faint and somewhat exotic target, Sh2-174 (The Valentine Rose), but it was slow going. After the primary target escaped from view, I gathered data on some secondary targets of convenience, like this one. I was so focused on the Rose that I didn't realize how quickly and beautifully this one was coming together! Turns out, after about 10 hours of integration, I was thrilled the initial stack, and after stretching it and slightly reducing the stars, I debated doing nothing else. But of course, I couldn't help myself, and I ended up using the Blanshan/Cranfield Narrowband Normalization script to create several alterative interpretations. I'm very pleased with this one--well, all of them, actually--and I hope you enjoy it/them.
(Captured: Askar FRA500, AM5, ASI183MC Pro, Optolong L-eNhance Filter. Processed: AstroPixelProcessor, PixInsight, StarXterminator, NoiseXterminator, Blanshan/Cranfield Star Reduction Script)
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