IC 405 HaRGB, up close and personal

Hello all, and Happy New Year!

I ring out 2013 with first full light taken with a 12.5" PlaneWave CDK on a Paramount ME. It took me over a year to get this configuration set up and running, mainly because I set it up at our remote observatory, and could only make progress while there. That, and the PC controlling the setup died during the summer monsoons and was replaced only recently (over the Thanksgiving holidays). Some of you may recall that I did share a quick first light just before the summer monsoons, and that was all that I was able to shoot until now.

Here is IC 405, the Flaming Star Nebula:

http://www.skiesbyafrica.com/Nebulae/IC405.html

75% sized H-alpha/RGB:

http://www.skiesbyafrica.com/Nebulae/Images/IC405/IC405-2013.jpg

H-alpha only:
http://www.skiesbyafrica.com/Nebulae/Images/IC405/IC405Ha-2013.jpg

RGB only:
http://www.skiesbyafrica.com/Nebulae/Images/IC405/IC405-RGB-2013.jpg

I included the RGB data as its own image because in the course of processing some of my prior images, the RGB data as it was could stand on its own, and with this particular target I was having trouble bringing out the blue reflection clouds against the H-alpha details.

Enjoy,
Eric

Attached Image:

Beautiful shot! I'm pondering a PlaneWave scope and you made it more interesting.

Cal

Those images are smooth as a baby's bottom. Great stuff!

Rolando

Thank you very much, Cal and Rolando!

Eric