California Nebula

[jsb]

I captured NGC 1499 (The California nebula) early December of 2022 for the first time. Here I reprocessed that data focusing on using Bill Blanshan's HOO and colormask pixel scripts.

Nikon D5500 (stock), Redcat51, SWSA tracker, Asiair plus, guided, Optolong L-enhance filter, Bortle 5+.
ISO400, 65x300" subs over two sessions, calibration frames; darks, flats, bias.
Stacked and processed in Pixinsight.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I can sure see California here. Very bright and colorful. I like it lot

 

[JimFox]

Very nice John! I have captured this before, but back then I was only using Photoshop, so my rendition of it is in the pure red Ha color. Seeing this one of yours, I need to go capture it again and do the HOO conversion on it like you did. This works really well.

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the palette and the details.

 

[Dan Moorehead]

Stunning

 

[jsb]

Very nice John! I have captured this before, but back then I was only using Photoshop, so my rendition of it is in the pure red Ha color. Seeing this one of yours, I need to go capture it again and do the HOO conversion on it like you did. This works really well.

Thank you. My original processing also produced a ”pure” red image but still looked pretty good. I’ve seen several targets taken with a OSC and transposed into the HOO palette so wanted to give it a try. Bill’s scripts make it ridiculously easy. I feel like I’m cheating and haven’t properly paid my dues with Pixinisight.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Excellent! I think I might have to go back and reprocess my California data after seeing this excellent result. Lovely color gradations and the star reduction lets the nebula really pop out.

ML

 

[jsb]

Excellent! I think I might have to go back and reprocess my California data after seeing this excellent result. Lovely color gradations and the star reduction lets the nebula really pop out.

ML

Thank you. It is a busy star field and wanted the nebula to come through more. I used Bill Blanshan‘s star reduction scripts (v3) too.