Melotte 15 in SHO

by EasyQuest

1 Comment

  1. **Comments**

    One of my most favorite area for narrowband, I had to come back with the CDK12.5 system. Still working on the star flairs but much better than before plus collimated the scope better.

    * Astrobin: https://app.astrobin.com/i/cxlhi0

    **Moon Phase, Light Pollution Level, and Date**

    * Average Moon Phase: 59%
    * Bortle 7
    * September 29, 30, 2025
    * October 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, 12, 19 20, 2025

    **Equipment**

    * Telescope/Lens: **Planewave CDK 12.5 (2541mm at F/8)**
    * Flattener/Reducer: N/A
    * Auto Focuser: Planewave Hendrick Focuser
    * Focuser Controller: Planewave Electronic Focus Accessory (EFA) Kit
    * Filter: **Chroma 50mm SHO 3nm Telescope Filter – Unmounted**
    * Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW (7 x 50mm)
    * Mount: **Astro-Physics Mach 1600 GTO**
    * Guide Scope: OAG: ZWO OAG-L
    * Guider: ZWO ASI174MM-MINI
    * Dew Heater Controller: Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance (Clean up Cables)
    * Dew Heater Controller: Planewave Delta T Heater
    * Dew Heaters: Two on CDK 12.5 built into the scope
    * Camera: **ZWO ASI6200mm Pro **
    * Polar Alignment: QHYCCD Polemaster (Precise polar alignment)
    * Intel NUC (For imaging, dither, auto guiding, plate solve)

    **Software**

    * PHD2 (For Auto Guiding)
    * QHYCCD PoleMaster Software (Polar Alignment)
    * Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy (NINA) (Automation with Dithering, plate solving, mount control)
    * Astro-Physics ASCOM V2 (AP 1600GTO Control)
    * Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (Control the Powerbox Advance)
    * Planewave Interface 3 (PWI 3) (Controllers focuser, scope fans, dew heaters)
    * Photoshop (Processing)
    * PixInsight (Calibration & Processing)

    **Acquisition**

    * Total Exposure: **40 Hours**

    * Chroma SII – 192 x 300s (**16 hrs**)
    * Chroma HA – 96 x 300s (**8 hrs**)
    * Chroma OIII – 192 x 300s (**16 hrs**)

    * Temperature: -5°C and -10°C

    * Flats: 20 to 60
    * Darks: N/A
    * Bias: 200
    * Gain: 100
    * Offset: 50
    * Bin: 1×1
    * Pixel Scale: 0.31″/pixel

    **Processing in Photoshop and PixInsight**

    PixInsight

    * Subframe Selector
    * Image Calibration
    * Star Alignment
    * Blink
    * Image Integration
    * RC-Astro BlurXTerminator

    Photoshop

    * RC-Astro StarXTerminator
    * RC-Astro NoiseXTerminator
    * Manual Gradient Adjustment via Masks
    * Adjusted levels
    * Adjusted Curves
    * Selective Curves Adjustment
    * Layer set as “Linear Dodge (Add)” to add back the stars
    * Color Saturation
    * Star Color Correction
    * Blacks Correction
    * Vibrance Applied
    * Clarity Applied
    * Dehaze Applied
    * Sharpening Applied
    * Crop out edge artifacts