Cygnus mosaic (18 panel) in SHO-RGB
This is the first time I properly use my Samyang 135mm F2 lens with one of my mono cameras and I thought it would be a good opportunity to take on a big project that I’ve been planning for quite a while.
Because of the lack of astronomical darkness in the UK during the summer months, a lot of people stop imaging but I never do, and despite that, I used the lens wide open at F2 to collect a lot of data in a short period of time. Most of the panels are done in a single night, because a single panel has 2 hours and 45 minutes worth of data and the nautical darkness only lasts for about 3 and a half hours.
I shot 10 subs for each filter, 5 min for the narrowband and 30sec for the RGB stars.
I initially started with the Sadr region which was processed separately, and after seeing how easy it is to collect the data during a single session, I started adding panels to make my largest mosaic to date.
Equipment used:
Mount: Dark Frame hypertuned EQ6
Samyang 135mm F2 lens
QHY294M Pro Cmos camera, cooled at – 10°C
QHYCCD QHYCCD CFW3M-US 36mm filterwheel
antlia 36mm 3nm Ha, Sii and Oiii filters
antlia 36mm RGB filters
Deep Sky Dad AF3 autofocuser
Qhyccd QHY5L-IIM guide camera
Qhyccd Polemaster
Software used:
Eqmod, SGP – Sequence Generator Pro, PHD2, Stellarium with stellariumScope, SharpCap for polar alignment
Date: 20.05 to 26.06.2023
Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK, bortle 5
Frames:
Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha 36 mm: 180×300″(15h)
Antlia 3nm Narrowband Oxygen III 36 mm: 180×300″(15h)
Antlia 3nm Narrowband Sulfur II 36 mm: 180×300″(15h)
Antlia V-Pro Blue 36 mm: 180×30″(1h 30′)
Antlia V-Pro Green 36 mm: 180×30″(1h 30′)
Antlia V-Pro Red 36 mm: 180×30″(1h 30′)
Integration:
49h 30′
Stacked in AstroPixel Processor and processed in Pixinsight and Photoshop CC 2023