MSHASTRO
Posted By: Mark_H January Deep Sky Targets - 12/18/2020 4:47 PM
Galaxies: Try combining RBG/OSC camera data with Ha filter in the Luminance channel to bring out the magenta in the stars.

M33 - The Triangulum Galaxy
M74 - The Phantom Galaxy
M77 - A Barred Spiral Galaxy
Caldwell 5 - Spiral Galaxy


Open Clusters: RBG/OSC should produce excellent color representation of these objects.

M103 - Open Star Cluster in Cassiopeia
M52 - Open Star Cluster in Cassiopeia
M45 - The Pleiades Open Cluster
M34 - Open Star Cluster in Perseus
M38 - Open Star Cluster in Ruriga


Planetary and Emission Nebula: Excellent choice for narrowband imaging or that nice dual band filter for your OSC camera.

M1 - Crab Nebula. A very small target so get lots of detail and expect to crop the image.
M76 - The Little Dumbbell Nebula, (aka: The Cork, and Barbell Nebula). This is going to take a bit of exposure time.
NGC 1499 - The California Nebula
IC 410 - The Tadpole Nebula. While you're imaging IC 410, use a wide field of view and capture IC 405 in the same frame.
M42 - The Great Orion Nebua. Excellent image for both broadband and narrowband cameras. You may wish to combine very short and long exposures
to prevent over-exposing the core.
NGC 1977 - The Running Man Nebula. If your FOV allows, combine this target with M42 for a nice perspective.


Reflection Nebula: PLRGB or OSC, narrowband images are a poor choice for these targets although inclusion of Ha filter can provide some additional detail for some mixed nebula as listed below.

IC 434 & NGC 2024 - The Horsehead and Flame Nebula. A very bright star Alnitak dominates this image. Use of HaRGB provides great detail.
IC 2118 - The Witch Head Nebula. This is a very faint target so figure on accumulating a lot of exposure time.
IC 405 - Flaming Star Nebula. This is both a reflection and emission nebula, play around with HaRGB to see a more distinct view.
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