Sh2-129, Ou4 Widefield + Steven Reyes + L-eXtreme

Sh2-129, Ou4 Widefield

Credit:  Steven Reyes

Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme filter

 

 

 

Sh2-129, Ou4 Widefield

Sh2-129 – The Flying Bat Nebula

Located in the Cepheus constellation, about 1,300 light-years away. This emission nebula, glowing in vivid hydrogen-alpha emissions, resembles a giant bat in flight. The nebula is energized by the radiation from hot, young stars embedded within it, and its structure is full of intricate, glowing arcs that span over 10 full moons in the sky.

Ou4 – The Giant Squid Nebula

Discovered in 2011 by French amateur astronomer Nicolas Outters, Ou4 is a bipolar outflow nebula, meaning it’s formed by jets of material ejected from a central star system—believed to be the triple star HR 8119.

In the lower portion of the image, you’ll also spot faint dark nebulae—interstellar dust clouds that block background starlight.

This is my longest integration to date, around 20 hours. I consider this a work in progress as I’ll be doing a large mosaic of this region but wanted to see how 15 hours of ha, oiii & 5 hours of RGB were looking.

Instagram.com/electriceye.photography

 

 

 

EXIF

Ha, Oiii 5 minutes x 180 Gain 100, Optolong L-Extreme

RGB 5 minutes x 60 Gain 100

ZWO ASI2600MC-P, AM5

Processed in PixInsight, in order:

BlurX - Correct Only
Image Solver
SPCC
Star Align RGB, Ha
StarX W/ Screen Stars
HaRGB Combination
Histogram Transformation
BlurX
NoiseX
Statistical Star Stretch

Export 16 Bit Starless HaRGB & RGB Stars to PS

Color balance
Selective color
Brightness and black point adjustments
Levels adjustment
Reduce contrast a touch
Screen stars layer, run minimum filter at 0.4 to reduce 

Hope you like it.