Heart Nebula

Gear

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

 

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