20211208 - NGC2237 (Mon) Rosetta Nebula - Desperately seeking Rosetta … for 12 minutes
What’s in the picture(s) -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosette_NebulaQuote: “The Rosette Nebula (also known as Caldwell 49) is an
H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the
Monoceros region of the
Milky Way Galaxy. The
open clusterNGC 2244 (Caldwell 50) is closely associated with the nebulosity, the
stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula's
matter.”
What was the experience
With cloud cover blanketing the sky for weeks now, I had 2 choices: either go to AA-sessions (Astrophotographers Anonymous), or shoot at every clear patch in the sky that presents itself … Although the latter doesn’t make any sense at all, it does provide for some psychological comfort (“Well, I did go through the motions of setting up the scope … 😳🙄”)
So happened last Wednesday night. The weather-apps continuously telling me “it’s going to rain in 20min time”, while a lonesome clear patch kept enticing me to go outside and set up scope. Eventually I broke, dragged the TS94 outside, went through the motions (PA, focus, planning), and pressed the “START” button on the plan … only to see that clouds moved in after a mere 12 minutes 😱
So, this is what it is …
Is this what I wanted as an image … no 😢
Is this what Rosetta is supposed to look like … no 😢
Is this image worth posting … to me it is … it’s cathartic … 😂
Not giving up … Just hoping for a White Christmas … not 😉
How it was done
Scope: TS94 APO (FL 414mm)
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Camera: ASI2600MC Pro
Filter: L-Pro
Photons: 120s 6x (Only 6? Really? ... oh yes)
Darks/Flats/Bias
Processing: PixInsight (Mac)
What have I learned from this
With cloud cover preventing us from enjoying the clear nights, the cold night air breezing over your face, the scope gradually freezing over, your fingers turning numb from frost-bite in the cold clear night, dew freezing over on the lens … I see a lot of people reaching out to ‘imported’ photons. As a stubborn die-hard, I still want to nurture my own local brew of photons, and sink down sobbing to my knees when that cloud of muck turns up in the image …
Ah well … at least I’m processing … there’s always a little bit of fun in the write-up to save the day/night 😉
Clear Skies everybody! 🤩✨🔭
Follow me @astrowaut
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