TheSkySearchers

SH2-115 (Sharpless 115 )(Final Edit) SH2-115 is a good size nebula needing about a 100 by 70 arc minute field of view to capture the entire nebula. SH2-116, the small round planetary nebula, is also seen in this image. This Sharpless image is faint but does well with the hydrogen-alpha filter. You will want to shoot the RGB long enough to get the color you need to create a nice image. The H-Alpha filter may be needed because of how dim the object is, but you could get a color image with a clear filter as the luminance. However, you will need to give it the time it needs. This object also makes a great black and white image using just an H-Alpha filter.

I thought I was finished until I learned some new editing techniques that allowed me to really bring out the detail and color. I'm real happy with how this turned out. The image below was my original editing. Kind of blah if you ask me. I thought I'd post it here along with the final to show the difference. Scope: Explorer Scientific 152ED CF
Camera: ASI 2600MM
55 Subs each, Ha, Oiii, Sii @ 180"s each
Stacked and process 100% in Pixinsight. (Finally setting Photoshop to the side)

Full Resolutions can be found on Astrobin at: https://www.astrobin.com/ap0aa3/B/
Hope you enjoy my version of Sh2-115, Keep an eye out for Sh2-112 to be processed next in my list of unfinished work.

Very nice details in the new version!

best,
Bernhard

Congratulations Mark on having your image selected as todays TSS APOD!

app.php/article/7-20-2021-tss-astrophot ... of-the-day

Congrats on the TSS APOD. Beautiful image.

Hello Mark. I really enjoyed your reprocessed version with the enhanced colors and details, especially on the astrobin site. Thanks for sharing your reworked capture with us Mark, and congratulations on winning the TSS APOD Award today.

Wonderful! Great job!! Congrats for TSS APOD!

Lot more depth in the final edit.

Congratulations on the APOD.

Regards

Graeme

superb details and colors , thx .

That is a beautiful capture. Well deserved award. Congratulations.

BABO

Excellent, Mark!!

Any issues with halos around bright stars using the Antlia OIII filter?

Bruce

umasscrew39 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:25 am Excellent, Mark!!

Any issues with halos around bright stars using the Antlia OIII filter?

Bruce

Unfortunately I do and they are a real pain to get out. I have a set of the 1st Generation of the 3nm Pro's They have supposedly corrected that issue. Something about the coating. If you were to go and look at my M16 you will see that I wasn't able to process them out completely. I have learned a couple of time consuming steps to help with them by the time I completed work on this image.

lostone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:48 pm

umasscrew39 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:25 am Excellent, Mark!!

Any issues with halos around bright stars using the Antlia OIII filter?

Bruce

Unfortunately I do and they are a real pain to get out. I have a set of the 1st Generation of the 3nm Pro's They have supposedly corrected that issue. Something about the coating. If you were to go and look at my M16 you will see that I wasn't able to process them out completely. I have learned a couple of time consuming steps to help with them by the time I completed work on this image.

Thanks- I was afraid of that. I have Chroma filters and they work great. I wanted to get a second set of NB filters for my piggybacked scope since my scopes are 10 ft above the observatory floor and such a hassle to keep changing them. Chroma prices have skyrocketed and even though I can still afford them, those prices are ridiculous. I might buy their OIII filter and buy more budget-friendly filters to go along with it and just deal with the non-parfocal issue.

umasscrew39 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:53 pm

lostone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:48 pm

umasscrew39 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 9:25 am Excellent, Mark!!

Any issues with halos around bright stars using the Antlia OIII filter?

Bruce

Unfortunately I do and they are a real pain to get out. I have a set of the 1st Generation of the 3nm Pro's They have supposedly corrected that issue. Something about the coating. If you were to go and look at my M16 you will see that I wasn't able to process them out completely. I have learned a couple of time consuming steps to help with them by the time I completed work on this image.

Thanks- I was afraid of that. I have Chroma filters and they work great. I wanted to get a second set of NB filters for my piggybacked scope since my scopes are 10 ft above the observatory floor and such a hassle to keep changing them. Chroma prices have skyrocketed and even though I can still afford them, those prices are ridiculous. I might buy their OIII filter and buy more budget-friendly filters to go along with it and just deal with the non-parfocal issue.

I purchased a set of Chroma filters not too long ago, Had to send them back because the threads were too long and they wouldn't work in either of my filter wheels, The filter housing would scrape/rub the filter housing. I think they screwed up on the filter mounts. I tried like hell to get a hold of Chroma but they would not return calls or emails about the issue. I also played hell returning them to OPT. I finally got a hold of a supervisor at OPT and did a return. Needless to say Chroma leaves a bad taste with me over that for the time being.

lostone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:37 pm

umasscrew39 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:53 pm

lostone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:48 pm

Unfortunately I do and they are a real pain to get out. I have a set of the 1st Generation of the 3nm Pro's They have supposedly corrected that issue. Something about the coating. If you were to go and look at my M16 you will see that I wasn't able to process them out completely. I have learned a couple of time consuming steps to help with them by the time I completed work on this image.

Thanks- I was afraid of that. I have Chroma filters and they work great. I wanted to get a second set of NB filters for my piggybacked scope since my scopes are 10 ft above the observatory floor and such a hassle to keep changing them. Chroma prices have skyrocketed and even though I can still afford them, those prices are ridiculous. I might buy their OIII filter and buy more budget-friendly filters to go along with it and just deal with the non-parfocal issue.

I purchased a set of Chroma filters not too long ago, Had to send them back because the threads were too long and they wouldn't work in either of my filter wheels, The filter housing would scrape/rub the filter housing. I think they screwed up on the filter mounts. I tried like hell to get a hold of Chroma but they would not return calls or emails about the issue. I also played hell returning them to OPT. I finally got a hold of a supervisor at OPT and did a return. Needless to say Chroma leaves a bad taste with me over that for the time being.

That is interesting because the same thing happened to me about 1 year or so ago- the threads were too long. They sent me a replacement set immediately with no questions asked. They also said they were "painfully aware" of the problem and it was being corrected. Obviously, they did not which sucks. They pride themselves on being a employee-owned company and great service but I have noticed a change ever since the hiked up their prices. When I inquired about a discount if I would buy a set of Ha, SII, OIII- 3nm 2" mounted filters, they said..... "we usually don't discount our astronomy filters but will give you a 5% discount if you purchase the set". So, 5% is nothing given we are talking over 3k and the attitude about specifically not discounting astronomy filters sounds like they really don't care about these users. Frankly , they almost sound like they want to get out of the astronomy filter business. And all this after I had bought both NB and BB filter sets in the past- talk about leaving a bad taste in your mouth.

umasscrew39 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:48 pm
That is interesting because the same thing happened to me about 1 year or so ago- the threads were too long. They sent me a replacement set immediately with no questions asked. They also said they were "painfully aware" of the problem and it was being corrected. Obviously, they did not which sucks. They pride themselves on being a employee-owned company and great service but I have noticed a change ever since the hiked up their prices. When I inquired about a discount if I would buy a set of Ha, SII, OIII- 3nm 2" mounted filters, they said..... "we usually don't discount our astronomy filters but will give you a 5% discount if you purchase the set". So, 5% is nothing given we are talking over 3k and the attitude about specifically not discounting astronomy filters sounds like they really don't care about these users. Frankly , they almost sound like they want to get out of the astronomy filter business. And all this after I had bought both NB and BB filter sets in the past- talk about leaving a bad taste in your mouth.

If I could get them, I'd get a set of Astrodoms, but they are also turning into a rare quantity. Another filter that I and playing hell trying to find is a NIR (Near Infrared Filter) Great for LUM's on emissions nebula. As for Chroma, at least you were able to get in touch with them.

Beautiful image and a well deserved TSS APOD!

Excellent image. Congrats on the APOD.