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David Callejas

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January 20, 2019

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Jeffrey Horne
Nashville, TN

10/11/2021
12:00 am

Photographer's Website

Equipment Details:

Imaging telescope: TPO Ultrawide 180
Imaging camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6R-PRO
Guiding telescope: ZWO Mini Guide Scope
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini

Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInisight, Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor, ZWO ASIAir Pro, Photoshop CC
Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme 2", Optolong L-Pro 2''

Dates: Sept. 28, 2021, Sept. 29, 2021, Oct. 5, 2021, Oct. 8, 2021, Oct. 9, 2021, Oct. 10, 2021, Oct. 11, 2021

Frames:
Optolong L-Pro 2'': 60x60" (1h) (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Optolong L-eXtreme 2": 96x1200" (32h) (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Integration: 33h
Darks: 40
Flats: 40
Flat darks: 40

Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 8.00

Post-processing Details:

Calibrated and stacked in AstroPixel Processor.

Color calibration, stretching, noise reduction, star removal/re-integration in Pixinsight.

Touch up in Photoshop CC.

Image Details:

The Heart, Soul, and Bear Claw Nebulas. Taken over the course of 7 nights from Nashville, TN. A total of 33 hours exposure.

One of my favorite things about astrophotography is "surprises" that show up in images. I lined up the Heart and Soul Nebulas (aptly named) in the frame, and started my exposures. All was going as planned, until about 10 hours into taking this image, when a pale blue smudge started showing up on the bottom/right of the frame. I initially thought it was a blemish/internal reflection that was causing unwanted errors in the image, but after a little research I found that it was another nebula...the Bear Claw Nebula. It's the little things in life, you know? The ones that are hundreds of light years wide! 🙂

I hope you enjoy this image as much as I enjoyed taking it.

Posted

January 20, 2019

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David Callejas

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About the Author:

David Callejas, Marketing Director, helps bring EarthSky's content to the world via online ads and other products. He creates strategies that help people around the world find us and appreciate the work we do. He helps manage the EarthSky Store and bring to you the new products that you love. He's the chief liaison between EarthSky.org and the world of commerce. All that, plus he helps post content and populate our pages on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. Go David!