The Lagoon Nebula from Sydney

Updated version of my test image of the Lagoon Nebula (M8) with the first light of the ZWO ASI1600MM Pro camera and broad-band filters.

This image combines:

• 39 x 120s H-alpha (Baader 3.5nm ultra-narrow filter), in red. Darks and flats included.
• 40 x 15s OPTOLONG L-Pro filter, in green. No flat or darks.
• 28 x 300s [O III] 3 nm ultra-narrow Antlia filter, in green. Includes darks and flat (this image is the new addition).
• 56 x 6s ZWO B filter, in blue, no flat or dark.

H-alpha data taken on 21st Aug 2020, L-Pro and B data taken on 23rd Aug 2020, from my backyard at home, 15 km North from Sydney’s city center.

Telescope: Skywatcher Black Diamond 80, f=600mm (f/7.5)

Equipment: I used the ZWO ASIAir to control the camera, the mount (Skywatcher AZ-EQ6) and the guiding system (ASI120MM + Orion 50mm finderscope). ZWO filter drawer for changing filter.

The [O III] data taken on 18 August 2021, including the Orion 0.75x focal reducer and the ZWO 7×2″ filter wheel.

Processing: Data processed with Siril software. FITS converted on TIFF using NASA’s Fits Liberator considering a logarithmic function. Color / saturation / levels / contrast / smart sharpen with Photoshop.

Full resolution image in my Flickr.

Credit: Ángel R. López-Sánchez (AAO-MQ).