Overview
A star-forming nebula spanning 100 light-years. The star cluster within the nebula is officially known as IC 1848.
Background
This image was an experiment in two main ways, and I’m happy with how it turned out. First, it’s a combination of Optolong L-Ultimate and Askar Colour Magic D2 data. If you’re interested in this then I recommend you read my Askar D1 D2 review here, but the short version is that those two filters allow for SHO imaging with OSC cameras. My Optolong L-Ultimate filter is like an upgraded version of the Askar D1 (3nm instead of 6nm), so I wanted to see if I could get a good result by swapping out my Askar D1 for an Optolong L-Ultimate. It worked perfectly well.
Second, this is the first image narrowband image for which I’ve shot “real colour” stars. Dualband filters like the Optolong L-eXtreme or L-Ultimate wipe star colour, so this time as a final step during image acquisition I gathered three hours of data with no filter. I then integrated that and used the image just for its real-colour stars, which I added in very late during processing.
Due to my Askar 130PHQ‘s focal length of 1000mm, this is really half of the Soul Nebula! This is why it looks very different to the wide-angle Askar FRA400 images I took earlier. Scroll down to see these. I could have taken a mosaic but I’ve too many other imaging projects I’m itching to start.
Imaging details
| Date | January 2023 |
| Location | Bristol, UK (Bortle 8) |
| Telescope | Askar 130PHQ Flatfield Astrograph |
| Camera | ZWO ASI 2600MC-PRO |
| Mount | Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO |
| Guide | William Optics 50mm Guidescope with 1.25″ RotoLock; ZWO ASI 120MM Mini |
| Control | ASIAIR Plus |
| Software | PixInsight, Lightroom |
| Filters | – Optolong L-Ultimate (Ha / OIII): 300 x 120 seconds (10 hours) – Askar Colour Magic D2 (SII / OIII) : 420 x 120 seconds (14 hours) – No filter (for RGB stars): 90 x 120 seconds (3 hours) |
| Total exposure time | 27 hours |
| Image credit | Lee Pullen |
Processing
I’m still working out the best way of incorporating Askar D2 data to get SHO images. This image took almost a whole day to edit, but that’s mostly because I was experimenting. Once I’ve refined my technique maybe I’ll write it up as a guide.
Source data
Previous version
I first imaged the Soul Nebula back in January 2021, using my wide-field Askar FRA400 telescope.
* January 2021
* Bristol, UK (Bortle 8)
* Telescope: Askar FRA400 f/5.6 Quintuplet APO Astrograph
* Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MC-PRO
* Filter: Optolong L-eXtreme
* Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G
* Guide: William Optics 32mm; ZWO ASI 120MM Mini
* Software: PixInsight and Lightroom
* Control: ASIAIR PRO
* 72 x 300 seconds
Total integration time: 6 hours
By Lee Pullen
Seestar S50
Here’s an image of the Soul Nebula taken from my city centre location using a ZWO Seestar S50 smart telescope.
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