Soul Nebula (IC1848) in Narrowband with RGB Stars

[Mike Lewis]

So this one came out better than I was expecting, and this version is believe it or not a little desaturated from my original result. This nebula is a relatively bright target, but even so I think using long 10 minute subs for the narrowband data has really brought out some extra detail. I processed it primarily in PixInsight, with extra processing in Photoshop and finishing in Lightroom which is my usual workflow. I took separate short 30 second subs in RGB for the stars which were processed separately and added back in in Photoshop.

The Soul Nebula is near the Heart Nebula, located in Cassiopeia, about 6,500 light years distant from us.

This is the result of 6 hours and 45 minutes worth of total data, combined in a modified SHO palette with the green contribution (Hα) matched more closely to the other 2 narrowband channels that are shown in red (SII) and blue (OIII).

All comments, questions, and critiques welcome. EDIT: capture data now added below...

Edit #2: Full resolution version here: https://www.astrobin.com/9luuao/

Equipment:
QHY268M Camera @ -5C and
Gain:56 Offset:20 / Gain:0 Offset 20
Software Bisque MyT Mount
Stellarvue SVQ100 Astrograph Refractor, 580mm @ f/5.8
Antlia Pro Filters (3nm narrowband plus LRGB)
QHY OAG-M/ASI290MM

Software:
Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8
Lightroom CC
Photoshop CC
N.I.N.A. Control Software
BlurXTerminator (Russell Croman)
StarXTerminator (Russell Croman)
NoiseXTerminator (Russell Croman)

Light Frames:
Gain 56 / Offset 20
Ha: 15 x 600 secs (2 hrs 30 mins)
OIII: 12 x 600 secs (2 hrs )
SII: 11 x 600 secs (1 hr 50 mins)

Gain 0 / Offset 20
Red:19 x 30 secs (9 mins 30 secs)
Green: 15 x 30 secs (7 mins 30 secs)
Blue: 16 x 30 secs 8 mins)

6 hrs 45 mins total

Dark Frames:
10 x 30 secs (5 mins)
10 x 600 secs (1 hr 40 mins)


ML

 

[AlanLichty]

Beautiful result - I love the colors in this image.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Stunning image Mike. The colors and textures are top notch. Lovely result.

 

[JimFox]

Super cool Mike!

This has a really 3D feel to it. Like the OIII is a cavern we are looking into. Your background is darker then usual, so I wonder if that's helping to give it that illusion of depth?

You know, I am not sure I have seen the edges of the Soul showing so much detail before. That is super detailed!

 

[Comet Hunter]

Nicely done, wonderful image

 

[Mike Lewis]

Thanks everyone! It does have a 3D feel to it I think, particularly with the way the OIII blended in. It is quite a fun target and one that I have been wanting to revisit, since I only had a very short Hα image of it previously that was from many years ago.

ML