Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)  ·  Contains:  B168  ·  Cocoon Nebula  ·  HD207886  ·  HD208362  ·  IC 5146  ·  LBN 424  ·  LDN 1042  ·  LDN 1055  ·  Sh2-125  ·  VdB147
IC5146 - the cocoon nebula, Tom Gray
IC5146 - the cocoon nebula, Tom Gray

IC5146 - the cocoon nebula

IC5146 - the cocoon nebula, Tom Gray
IC5146 - the cocoon nebula, Tom Gray

IC5146 - the cocoon nebula

Equipment

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Acquisition details

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Description

A number of excellent images of the cocoon nebula, and absence of imaging opportunities, encouraged me to have a go. 

Imaged under pretty poor conditions, a low summer gibbous moon, and high haze this serves only to show the power of processing. 

Data were captured using my Stellarmate powered RPi4, calibrated and stacked using ASTAP and processed in Siril with  colour calibration, background extraction, stretching, and star reconstitution,

Despite my DIY auto focuser, I struggled to get sharp stars due to poor seeing. I exported the data to Astrosharp, a new freeware AI driven tool, which does what it says on the tin!  

You can really see the difference in the final image (with final colour/contrast) and the original processed stack  (Rev B mouseover).

I’ve been enjoying hearing folks views and debating the relative value/concerns about AI. In astroimaging at least it turns a poor image into an acceptable one, and a good into excellent image.

Comments

Revisions

  • Final
    IC5146 - the cocoon nebula, Tom Gray
    Original
  • IC5146 - the cocoon nebula, Tom Gray
    B
  • IC5146 - the cocoon nebula, Tom Gray
    C
  • IC5146 - the cocoon nebula, Tom Gray
    D

C

Title: Final recomposition with improved contrast and star colour

Description: Workflow - calibration and stacking in Han Klein's ASTAP, background extraction, photometric colour calibration and stretching in Cyril Richard's SIRIL, sharpening in George Lowry's Astrosharp, final recomposition in SIRIL.

Uploaded: ...

D

Title: HOO version - processed in Siril

Description: Minimal stretch, basic colour calibration, Starnet removal and photometric calibration (RGB) stars, recomposition and final noise reduction. This feels a bit more natural, albeit with a toned down starfield.

Uploaded: ...

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

IC5146 - the cocoon nebula, Tom Gray