Observation by Martina McGovern: Pillars of Creation

Uploaded by

Martina McGovern

Observer

Martina McGovern

Observed

2021 May 10 - 23:30

Uploaded

2021 Jun 17 - 17:56

Objects

The Eagle Nebula (M16)

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Constellation

Serpens Cauda

Field centre

RA: 18^h18^m
Dec: -13°47'
Position angle: -99°07'

Field size

0°30' × 0°20'

Equipment

Celestron Edge HD 8” on HEQ5 PRO, ZWO ASI294MC Pro, ASIAir Pro, EAF & 60mm guide scope + ASI120MM mini & Optolong L-Pro filter

Exposure

Approx 4hrs of data. Exp: Subs of 120sec x ~70, 180sec x ~20 & 2 off 300sec + Darks, Flats & Dark flats. Main Cam Gain 225 L-Pro & T -15C.

Location

Near Cambridge city UK, Bortle approx 4

Target name

The Pillars of Creation within M16, the Eagle Nebula in the Constellation of Serpens.

Title

Pillars of Creation

About this image

The Pillars of Creation, an amazing section within M16, the Eagle Nebula in the Constellation of Serpens. It’s approx 7,000 Light yrs from Earth, so closer than most objects that I have imaged.

Way back in 1995 NASA’s Hubble space telescope imaged this object in incredible detail, NASA named it “Pillars of Creation” – as they are star forming regions.
I thought it was a stunning object way back then. I never in my wildest dreams thought that one day I would see/image it for myself – I feel so lucky to have done so. I know my image is not as good a quality as NASA’s but I’m chuffed with it :)

Hopefully one day I will create a Hubble SHO coloured image, need more pocket money first though :)

I have been working on this one over the last two months (weather conditions are a big factor! Plus, the really short nights this time of year).

Processing; Deep sky stacker, PixInsight with final tweaks in Photoshop and Topaz DeNoise.

Clear skies.

Files associated with this observation

M16 Eagle neb - Pillars 10+31May + 14Jun21 BAA.jpg (1.6 MB)

Like this image

David Strange, Tim Haymes, Grant Privett, Eric Watkins, Mike Harlow, David Basey, Andy Wilson, Peter Mulligan, Manolo_Rodriguez, Callum Wingrove, Graham Winstanley, Philip Masding, David Swan, Mike Greenhill-Hooper, Philip Jennings, Chris Hooker, Kevin Gurney, Andrew Paterson, Alan Thomas

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