Horsehead NGC 2244
The Rosette Nebula
Horsehead

(Click on image for Full Resolution)


Date: November 9, 2001 (Reprocessed on 05/23/03)
Exposure: RRGB 70:70:96 : 7 x 600 each R, G, and 6 x 960 B
Processing: MaxIm for Image calibration,(16 flats each RGB, dark subtracted and median combined, 20 bias frames median combined, 10-600s darks median combined, and 10-960s darks median combined), alignment, normalization, color combining, and stretch. Ron Wodaski's DeBloomer plugin for MaxIm for blooming repair. Photoshop 7.01 for curves adjustment,final color balance and jpg conversion. The R layer was used for the luminance after some additional adjustments to bring out the detail.
Conditions: Average, Mag 3-4 Skies
Scope: Vixen 102mm Flourite, f/9 (2.024 arcsec/pix measured with TheSky). All equipment on a CI700/SkyWalker/2 upgraded EQ Mount.
Camera: SBIG ST-8E NABG, CFW-8A IR Blocking RGB filters, -25°
Comments: Finished this one up after the moon had broken the horizon. The NABG 8E gave me blooming on the bright stars at 600s exposures. Tried going long to get the most nebulosity out of each exposure at the expense of blooming. Focal reducer will go on next and I will try to get the entire nebula.