Target Details
The Gamma Cas Nebula, also known as IC 63, is around 0.6 Lye from Earth. The nebula is slowly dissipating due to ultraviolet radiation being emmitted from the hot nearby star gamma Cas, this star is just 3-4 light years from the nebula.
I framed my image so that the star wasn't in it as it extremely bright, it would be just above the upper right. You can see it's effect on my image as the upper right corner is brighter than the rest.
Capture Details
Data captured 24 November, 2017.
40x 3 minute exposures with Ha filter.
35x 3 minute exposures with Sii filter.
45x 2 minute exposure with Oiii filter.
Equipment Details
Skywatcher Quattro 200 CF
NEQ6 Pro
Starlight Xpress SX-674 Mono
Skywatcher ST-80
QHY5L-II
Processing Details
This image was processed in Pixinsight & Lightroom.
Calibration and Stacking in Pixinsight using Batch PreProcessing
Dynamic Crop - To remove black edges & integration artifacts. (Each Channel)
Dynamic Background Extraction - To remove gradients. (Each Channel)
Deconvolution - To bring out some fine detail & tighten stars. (Each Channel)
Multiscale Linear Transform - Noise reduction. (Each Channel)
Masked Stretch - To stretch the image and bring out the data. (Each Channel)
SHO-AIP Script - To combine the channels using the SHO Palette.
Curves Transformation - To increase Contrast. With starmask in place.
Local Histogram Equalisation - To improve contrast. With starmask in place.
Multiscale Linear Transform - To Sharpen. With starmask in place.
UnsharpMask - To sharpen. With starmask in place.
SCNR - To neutralise green and shift nebula toward gold. With starmask in place.
Curves Transformation - To increase Saturation. With starmask in place.
Export as JPEG and import into Lightroom.
Enhance Contrast (+25)
Clip Shadows (-50)
Clip Blacks (-25)
Boost Saturation (+25)
Export final JPEG for upload.