Messier 27 - The Dumbbell Nebula
Messier 27, also known as the Dumbbell Nebula, is a striking planetary nebula located about 1,200 light-years away in the constellation Vulpecula. Formed by the outer layers of a dying star, this glowing cloud of gas surrounds a faint white dwarf at its center. In this image, the nebula appears to stretch out like wings, with delicate structures flowing outward from the core. I captured it using the Optolong L-eNhance filter and processed the image in the HOO palette to highlight the rich Hydrogen Alpha and Oxygen III emissions. The result is a vibrant and detailed view of one of the most iconic planetary nebulae in the night sky.
Acquisition details:
Calibration frames:
20 Darks
20 Flats
20 Biases
Bortle: 5
Optolong L-Pro lights:
4hr 45min
57x 300sec
Gear used:
🔭 Askar 103APO
⚙️ Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
📸 ZWO ASI294MC Pro
🌌 Optolong L-eNhance
Messier 42 - The Great Orion Nebula
Each year since 2021, I have tried to capture at least one night of exposures of the Orion Nebula, but the final image I created this year is by far the best one I've ever made. It's also the first time I have been able to see the four main Trapezium Cluster stars in the core, as well as a small protoplanetary disk (106-427) slightly to the south of them (between the two larger stars). This result motivates me to take an ever better picture next year, perhaps with at least 10 hours of data? Maybe also using my dualband filter as well? Let's see what happens!
Acquisition details:
Calibration frames for each stack:
20 Darks
20 Flats
20 Dark flats
Bortle: 5
Optolong L-Pro lights:
1hr 30min
36x 180sec
0hr 02min
126x 1sec
Gear used:
🔭 Askar 103APO
⚙️ Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
📸 ZWO ASI294MC Pro
🌌 Optolong L-Pro
Messier 45 - The Pleiades, also known as The Seven Sisters
Messier 45, also known as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters, is one of the most striking and well-known open star clusters in the night sky. Located around 440 light-years away in the constellation Taurus, it consists of hundreds of stars, though only a few are visible to the naked eye. But you can see it on a clear night. The cluster is filled with hot, young blue stars, formed less than 100 million years ago, and is beautifully surrounded by a dusty reflection nebula. This glowing effect comes from starlight reflecting off interstellar dust. Interestingly, the dust doesn’t originate from the cluster itself, but from a passing cloud drifting through the region. The Pleiades has been admired by cultures around the world for thousands of years, and it continues to inspire everyone today.
Acquisition details:
Calibration frames:
20 Darks
20 Flats
20 Biases
Bortle: 5
Optolong L-Pro lights:
4hr 30min
90x 180sec
Gear used:
🔭 Askar 103APO
⚙️ Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
📸 ZWO ASI294MC Pro
🌌 Optolong L-Pro