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 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.