Flaming Star Nebula 35MB HA, OIII and RGB Master FITS files for this image were previously available for download via my website.

The download included 5 extremely clean, stacked, aligned and calibrated 35MB H-Alpha, Oiii, and RGB Master FITS files from Dropbox for use in your astrophotography projects with attribution.  Total integration time = 24 hrs. 30 min.

This processed color image shows an interior closeup of a portion of the Flaming Star Nebula that was processed by stacking, calibrating, and aligning 310 H-Alpha, Oxygen and RGB sub images. It shows the distinctive blue color of a reflection nebula near the star AE Aurigae and the pink color of ionized gas elsewhere in the image. According to the “Annals of the Deep Sky” by Jeff Kanipe and Dennis Webb, one of the discoverers, Max Wolf, set the stage for the naming of the nebula. “In a paper he described AE Aurigae as ‘a burning body from which several enormous curved flames seem to break out like gigantic prominences.’ He urged spectroscopists to observe this ‘flaming star . . ., which seems physically connected with the nebulous matter.'”

An H-Alpha image (Revision B) is especially detailed and stunning when taken with long exposures and an ultra narrowband filter.  I have to say that this has to be one of the finest sets of sub images that I have ever taken. The sub images were taken at the Astro La Vista Observatory in Prescott,AZ. with an APM 152mm 1200mm focal length ED APO refractor mounted on an Astro Physics 1100GTO mount with encoders. The imaging camera was a QSI 690wsg with a Lodestar guider. The imaging field of view was only .366 degrees and the pixel scale was .626 arc seconds per pixel. 

Frames were taken in October and November of 2020 as follows:

Astrodon Gen2E Red: 90x60" 1 hr. 30"   bin 1x1
Astrodon Gen 2E Green: 90x60"1 hr. 30"   bin 1x1 
Astrodon Gen 2E Blue: 90x60" 1 hr. 30"   bin 1x1
Astrodon Tru-Balance 3nm OIII: 20x1800"   bin 1x1
Astrodon Tru-Balance 3nm Ha: 20x1800"   bin 1x1


As you might be aware, Astrodon filters have been the gold standard for astro imaging. The ultra narrow band filters are expensive and often not readily available.

It takes a very robust imaging setup to achieve the precision necessary to get 1800 second subs with a 6 inch 1200mm refractor. I hope you can utilize these exquisite images to produce your own work of art with attribution.

Images acquired by Jim Matzger, Astro La Vista Observatory.

www.astrolavistaobservatory.com