p.1 #1 · Trifid Nebula (M20) in RGB with H-Alpha Added - A Close Up View
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The Trifid Nebula is located in the constellation Sagittarius, approximately 9,000 light years away. The object was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764 as the 20th object in his catalogue. The regions contains an emission nebula (the reddish pink area), a reflection nebula (the blue regions), and some dark nebulae (the tendrils wafting through the central star forming emission region and also contained in portions of the reflection nebula as well).
I originally was thinking I might need more data on this, but after starting to process what I had I changed my mind. Sometimes things come together even better than you had hoped for. One interesting optical illusion is the area in the blue reflection nebulosity to the left of center - my brain wants to see a single 'eye' peering out through the twisted blue clouds of gas - do you see it as well?
This image was made using RGB filters for the main image with Hα data added in, and shorter RGB exposures used for the stars.
Equipment:
ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -10C and Gain:139 Offset:21 (LRGB)
Gain:200 Offset:50 (H-alpha)
Software Bisque MyT Mount
Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 SCT with 0.7x reducer, 1645mm @ f/7
Software:
PHD2 Guiding Software
NINA Astroimaging Software
Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8
Software Bisque TheSkyX
Lightroom CC
Photoshop CC
Russell Croman BlurXterminator
Russell Croman StarXterminator
Russell Croman NoiseXterminator
Light Frames:
Hα: 9 x 420 secs (1 hr 03 mins)
Red: 19 x 300 secs (1 hr 35 mins)
Red: 18 x 30 secs (9 mins)
Green: 22 x 300 secs (1 hr 50 mins)
Green: 21 x 30secs (10 mins 30 secs)
Blue: 19 x 300 secs (1 hr 35 mins)
Blue: 23 x 30 secs (11 mins 30 secs)
6 hrs 34 mins total
Dark Frames:
10 x 420 secs, Hα (1hr 10 mins)
10 x 300 secs, RGB (50 mins)
10 x 30 secs, RGB (5 mins)
p.1 #5 · Trifid Nebula (M20) in RGB with H-Alpha Added - A Close Up View
Excellent image!
The work of skilled astro photographers is always a pleasure to see.
Yes, I see the eye and the brow. Looks like a primate or maybe a dog. Just to the left of that is a cat, looks like my cat Gus.
I see lots of other stuff, but if I describe it all I'm afraid someone will send the welcoming committee from the local funny farm.
p.1 #9 · Trifid Nebula (M20) in RGB with H-Alpha Added - A Close Up View
Outstanding work! It's amazing to me what civilians like you can achieve with commercially available tech now-a-days. Seems like just yesterday images such as this were only achievable from government tech such as the hubble and other large land based telescopes.
And yes, I see the eye/cheek and can't un-see it from the very first moment I viewed this image. Crazy how our brains constantly try to "see" something familiar such as faces no matter how complex something is.
- I know what you mean, it is amazing what the brain can find in random shapes to make one see something significant.