Imaging telescopes or lenses: Astro-Physics Riccardi-Honders 305mm
Imaging cameras: Finger Lakes Instruments ML16200
Mounts: 10 Micron GM3000 HPS
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Stellarvue F050G
Guiding cameras: ZWO ASI178MM
Filters: Astrodon SII 3nm · Astrodon Ha 3nm · Astrodon OIII 3nm
Dates:Nov. 16, 2020 , Nov. 18, 2020 , Nov. 20, 2020 , Nov. 28, 2020 , Nov. 29, 2020 , Dec. 2, 2020 , Dec. 3, 2020 , Dec. 9, 2020 , Dec. 10, 2020 , Dec. 11, 2020
Frames:
Astrodon Ha 3nm: 50x600" -25C bin 1x1
Astrodon OIII 3nm: 52x600" -25C bin 1x1
Astrodon SII 3nm: 50x600" -25C bin 1x1
Integration: 25.3 hours
Darks: ~25
Flats: ~5
Bias: ~25
Avg. Moon age: 14.67 days
Avg. Moon phase: 50.33%
Astrometry.net job: 4085011
RA center: 0h 3' 37"
DEC center: +67° 7' 57"
Pixel scale: 1.103 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 179.255 degrees
Field radius: 0.864 degrees
Resolution: 4404x3516
Locations: Mathias, Mathias, WV, United States
Data source: Own remote observatory
Remote source: Non-commercial independent facility
LBN 581, also known as NGC 7822 and Cederblad 214, is an emission nebula in Cepheus. It's not one of the most popular targets but it is large, and especially in hydrogen alpha, very interesting.
The OIII and SII are very faint compared to the hydrogen alpha but still present.
Processing was straightforward:
On the h-a, oIII and sII masters:
dynamic crop
DBE
MLT (noise reduction)
Linear fit to h-a
combined:
channel combination (HSO)
histogram transformation
local histogram equalization (2 scales)
curves (contrast & color)
adv sharpening script
The biggest challenge was DBE since the field is full of nebulosity. I used only about 6 points and scrutinized the background model to make sure it looked like gradient. Actually the only significant gradient was in SII where about half the subs were captured during fairly bright moonlight.
Overall, this was a fun project and I enjoyed getting to know one off the lesser known jewels of the night sky!
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