Gear
- Telescope – Meades 70mm Series 6000 Refractor
- Main Camera – ZWO ASI294MC Pro
- Filter – Optolong 2″ L-Enhance
- Mount – HEQ5
- Guide Scope – ZWO 30mm f/4 mini guide scope
- Guide Camera – ZWO ASI290MM
- Controller – ZWO ASIAir Pro
Acquisition
- 41 Light Images at 120 gain, 300s exposure
- 30 Dark Images
- 200 Bias Images
- 124 Flats (First time using flats!)
The Heart Nebula. AKA IC 1805. AKA S2-190. Looking to be around 7500 light years away.
I captured the most light images so far with the Heart Nebula. 41 light images at 300 seconds or 5 minute exposure. That’s 3.4 hours of capturing.
I was really able to bring out the heart shape during processing of the image.
Processing Steps in Photoshop:
- Color Balance
- Curve adjustments
- Gradient correction using GradientXTerminator
- Saturation Boost
- Vibrance Boost
- Noise Reduction using Astronomy tool – Space Noise Reduction action
- Noise Reduction using Astronomy tool – Deep Space Noise Reduction action
- Sharpening
- Noise reduction and curve adjustment in Camera Raw Filter
- Minimized stars in Photoshop, 3 rounds
- Minimized stars using Astronomy tool – Make Stars Smaller action
- Astronomy tool – Enhanced DSO and Reduce Stars action
- Astronomy tool – Less Crunchy More Fuzzy
- Smart Sharpen filter