The Pacman Nebula

[Gmetric]

This image is a widefield shot of the Pacman Nebula taken through the ED72 reduced and flattened with a WO 0.8 reducer/flattened in a bottle 7 area with a 60% moon. It's a stack of 33 x 150 secs at ISO400 with calibration frames. Of course, the camera was running at a cool 32 deg C, lol. TBH, I don't think my setup has done this object justice. So, I've included a super cropped version which required some bashing to beat the noise into submission. Nevertheless, warts and all, I hope you can enjoy these images for what they are. C&C is always welcome

[messier 111]

nice take , thx .

[Gmetric]

nice take , thx .

Thanks

[MariusD69]

Looks great! Well done!

[STEVE333]

Pretty nice image considering everything was working against you! The nebula is clearly visible. Hope you get some more time on this with better conditions.

Steve

[Gmetric]

Pretty nice image considering everything was working against you! The nebula is clearly visible. Hope you get some more time on this with better conditions.

Steve

Thanks Steve, indeed, the nebula is visible but lacking in any real detail. Guiding was super tight as one can see by the pinpoint stars but whether it’s the conditions, limitations of the scope (resolving power) or my processing skill that has produced an image lacking in detail I’m not sure. I suspect the latter but could be all three lol. Well, they are my excuses .

Looks great! Well done!

Thank you, Marius

[STEVE333]

Thanks Steve, indeed, the nebula is visible but lacking in any real detail. Guiding was super tight as one can see by the pinpoint stars but whether it’s the conditions, limitations of the scope (resolving power) or my processing skill that has produced an image lacking in detail I’m not sure. I suspect the latter but could be all three lol. Well, they are my excuses .

I would suspect that noise was what prevented you from stretching the image to bring out more details.

Bortle 7 + 60% moon + DSLR at 32C = LOTS OF NOISE!!!! Plus you didn't have any filters to help with the LP.

More time on target will help as would a filter like the L-eNhance to block LP while passing Ha and O3. I used a dual band filter similar to the L-eNhance with a Canon DSLR and it definitely improved my nebula images. Just a thought.

Steve

[Gmetric]

Thanks Steve, indeed, the nebula is visible but lacking in any real detail. Guiding was super tight as one can see by the pinpoint stars but whether it’s the conditions, limitations of the scope (resolving power) or my processing skill that has produced an image lacking in detail I’m not sure. I suspect the latter but could be all three lol. Well, they are my excuses .

I would suspect that noise was what prevented you from stretching the image to bring out more details.

Bortle 7 + 60% moon + DSLR at 32C = LOTS OF NOISE!!!! Plus you didn't have any filters to help with the LP.

More time on target will help as would a filter like the L-eNhance to block LP while passing Ha and O3. I used a dual band filter similar to the L-eNhance with a Canon DSLR and it definitely improved my nebula images. Just a thought.

Steve

I agree, Steve. I’ve been looking at the L-eNhance and L-eXtreme filters, along with the Sightron quadBP filter, too. It’s a bit of a toss up between the quadBP and L-eNhance, I’m not sure which will be best for me, as of yet. I will get one of them soon and maybe the L-eXtreme later.

[Juno16]

Very nice image!

Pleasing soft approach to processing! Noise might have been the reason to "tone" things down, but even at that, your rendition is very nice considering the conditions.

I haven't tried the L-eXtreme, but I own and shoot with the L-eNhance and it is truly a game changer. I can obtain decent data on targets under a 90-95% moon (as long as there is some separation). Even moonless nights under a Bortle 7-8 sky is not an issue. Truly amazing and I wish that I could shoot all targets with it!

Fine work and thanks for sharing!

[Gmetric]

Very nice image!

Pleasing soft approach to processing! Noise might have been the reason to "tone" things down, but even at that, your rendition is very nice considering the conditions.

I haven't tried the L-eXtreme, but I own and shoot with the L-eNhance and it is truly a game changer. I can obtain decent data on targets under a 90-95% moon (as long as there is some separation). Even moonless nights under a Bortle 7-8 sky is not an issue. Truly amazing and I wish that I could shoot all targets with it!

Fine work and thanks for sharing!

Thank you, Jim ...I've been edging towards the L-eNhance as there are more reviews of which most are very positive. Your input has just sealed the deal. I'll give it a couple of weeks and then I'll grab one.

[Juno16]

Thank you, Jim ...I've been edging towards the L-eNhance as there are more reviews of which most are very positive. Your input has just sealed the deal. I'll give it a couple of weeks and then I'll grab one.
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You won’t be disappointed G!