Observation by Geof Lewis: M57 (LHaRGB) - Sept/Oct 2019

Uploaded by

Geof Lewis

Observer

Geof Lewis

Observed

2019 Oct 20 - 22:21

Uploaded

2019 Nov 03 - 13:12

Objects

The Ring Nebula (M57)

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Constellation

Lyra

Field centre

RA: 18^h53^m
Dec: +33°01'
Position angle: -177°40'

Field size

0°23' × 0°17'

Equipment

C14 XLT
Optec Telecompressor (x0.7)
QSI583wsg-5
Astronomic Ha+LRGB filters
AP1200 GTO

Exposure

L=107x120s; RGB=45x120s each; Ha=15x900s. All Bin2x2; -10C

Location

Norfolk, UK

Target name

Messier 57 (Ring Nebula)

Title

M57 (LHaRGB) - Sept/Oct 2019

About this image

This is my first attempt at capturing the outer halo of the Ring Nebula (M57). The data was captured over several nights during Sept 2019 and Oct 2019. I was unsure how to process and combine the data so pretty much it was trial and error with me making it up as I went.
My initial capture of Ha data in Sept was using too short (5 min) subs, so even though I had over 30 of them, I still struggled to show the halo and blending with the RGB data was not successful. After taking advice I increased the exposures to 15 mins and shot 15 new Ha subs in October. The halo was more clearly defined, but the combined HaR overwhelmed the core of the nebula, so I processed the L and combined RGB separately and used layers to retain the blue core.

Files associated with this observation

M57_LHaRGB_IP_PS(v2).jpg (624.1 kB)

Like this image

Dr Andrew Smith, Jeremy Shears, Graham Winstanley, Ray Emery, Andy Wilson, David Basey, Dr Paul Leyland, Nick Hewitt, Andrew Dumbleton, Paul Whitmarsh

Comments

Geof Lewis, 2019 Nov 07 - 10:41 UTC

Hi Paul, thanks for your comments.

Yes, this one definitely required lots of patience. I initially captured 3 hours of Ha data using 5 min subs at bin 2x2, so actually more like 15 hours in total. I learnt the hard way that I need to shoot much longer subs with the Ha filter for this target and probably always, so I also had to shoot new darks to match. I tried to include the shorter Ha subs data, but it didn't work as well as when I excluded them, which is probably my inexperience in processing complex data sets.

Regards, Geof

Dr Paul Leyland, 2019 Nov 08 - 16:52 UTC

That is a total of 11 hours, 49 minutes. You're much more patient than I am! Perhaps not too surprising after all that the outer portions of the nebula show up so well.

Nice views of the IC 1296 and MASX J18530959+3305385 galaxies too.

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