The Lagoon nebula is a massive cloud of interstellar matter that is roughly 4,000 to 6,000 light years away from Earth.  It is one of only two active star forming regions visible to the naked eye from northern latitudes. It contains numerous Bok Globules which are dense dark clouds of protostellar material undergoing gravitational collapse.   These are thought to be star nurseries and are clearly visible as small dark clouds set against the bright core of the nebula.

This is one of my favorite areas in the night sky.  So much so that even though it was late in the season by the time my rig was up and running in Chile, it was the first target that I went after with the larger scope.  I only had a few hours early each evening to capture data before the target was too low on the horizon. 

This image is actually a byproduct of a more ambitious project.  The telescope that I used to capture this data is mounted piggyback on my much larger 2,800mm focal length RiDK400.  For my first project on the larger scope I set out to create a two panel mosaic of the Lagoon nebula (in hindsight perhaps too ambitious as a first light image, and not yet published).  The data used for this image was captured by the much smaller and reduced 380mm f3.6 FSQ106 that tagged along for the ride on top of the larger RiDK400.  I have not had the time to start working on the mosaic data yet, but hope to soon.

Besides being a beautiful target, I love the challenge that it presents in processing.  This is a very bright nebula.  As a result, whether you are shooting narrow-band or broadband all of the filters produce bright images at the core of the nebula relative to the delicate and dimmer features around it.  That is why most images of M8 that you come across have blown out nebula cores with very little distinction between the different color channels.  It is similar to the Orion nebula in that respect.

My goal was to combine the channels in such a way to maintain colored filamentary features all the way to the bright center of the nebula.   I employed the methods taught by @Adam Block to create color modifiers and careful use of GHS in PixInsight to accomplish this.  The other challenge was to create a 3D feel in the image so that it draws you in.  I tried to accomplish this by using just the right amount of enhancements and managing the very dense star field.  Finally, I decided to choose a color pallet that is closer to its natural appearance even though this is a SHO narrow-band image other than the RGB data used for the stars.

I hope you like it.  Thanks for stopping by.