The Propeller nebula is a target that I have tried before in 2019, but this time I wanted to add more Oiii and make it stand out in the final image.
The data captured this year wasn’t really enough, so I stacked the new data with everything I had from my previous attempt and I can finally say that I am pleased with the final result.
The equipment used in 2019:
Eq6 Hypertuned mount
Skywatcher 130pds f5 newtonian telescope with Skywatcher x0.9 coma corrector
AstroTech 106LE with upgraded Moonlite focuser and TSFlat 2″ field Flattener
Rigel nStep atofocuser
QHY183m Cmos camera, cooled at -20°C
7×1.25″ StarlightXpress USB filterwheel
Baader 1.25″ 7nm Ha filter
Baader 1.25″ 8.5nm Oiii filter
Baader 1.25″ 8nm Sii filter
TS65Q as guidescope
QHY5L-IIM guidecam
QHYCCD Polemaster
TS 09 OAG off axis guider
The equipment used in 2023:
Mount: StellarDrive GT6
AstroTech 106LE with upgraded Moonlite focuser
TSFlat 2″ field flattener
ASI294MM Pro Cmos camera, cooled at – 15°C
8×1.25″ ZWO USB filterwheel
Chroma 1.25″ RGB and Chroma 1.25″ 3nm SHO filters
Qhyccd QHY5L-IIM guide camera
OpticStar AR90 as guidescope
Qhyccd Polemaster
Software used:
Eqmod, APT, SGP, Stellarium with StellariumScope, PHD2
Location:
2019 – Bushey, Hertfordshire, Bortle 6
2023 – Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, bortle 5
Dates:
18 April to 05 September 2019 and 23 June to 7 July 2023
Frames:
Baader H-alpha 7nm 1.25″: 78×300″(6h 30′)
Baader H-alpha 7nm 1.25″: 16×600″(2h 40′)
Baader O-III 8.5nm 1.25″: 29×600″(4h 50′)
Baader S-II 8nm 1.25″: 30×600″(5h)
Chroma Blue 1.25″: 10×60″(10′)
Chroma Green 1.25″: 10×60″(10′)
Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 1.25″: 50×300″(4h 10′)
Chroma OIII 3nm Bandpass 1.25″: 50×600″(8h 20′)
Chroma Red 1.25″: 10×60″(10′)
Chroma SII 3nm Bandpass 1.25″: 50×300″(4h 10′)
Total integration time: 36h 10′
The stacking, calibration and blending was done in AstroPixel Processor and the post processing in Pixinsight (with help from Star Xterminator and Noise Xterminator and Blur Xterminator) and Photoshop CC 2023