NGC 7293 - Helix Nebula

NGC 7293 - Helix Nebula
2

NGC 7293 - Helix Nebula

Throwing my version into the hat. A combination of RGB and SHO data. A good subject for Telescope Live as its too low in the sky from my location in Scotland to make a decent image.
SPECIFICATIONS
Telescope ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Planewave CDK24
Camera ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
QHY600M
Location ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Chile CHI-1
Date of observation ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
JUly 2023
Filters ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
RGB (Stars) SHO (nebula)
Processing ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Astropixel Processor, PixInsight and Photoshop
Credits ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
A W Scobie & Telescope Live
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Comments

Hi Alistair,

Having looked at hundreds of images of this nebula in the past I find this one rather pleasing.
Browsing through all those images on Astrobin you often see repeated similar looking palettes. Whilst yours may not be unique I cannot recall seeing something similar.
Having tried many colour combinations, but not yet found one I'm happy with, every now and again I'll have another try. This may yet be my inspiration.

Cheers and CS,
Ray

Hello Ray, I know what you mean. I can spend many hours playing around with my data trying to create a final image I find pleasing to look at.
I think the reason I am still using photoshop to blend mono channels is that I feel I have a bit more creative control.
In this instance I had created both an RGB and and SHO image. I have used the selective colour and channel mixer tools to make most of the colour adjustments. Usually I do not use the camera raw dehaze tool, but it has been used selectively here also . The primary purpose of the RGB was to harvest the stars, but I do really like it too. It had more interesting detail in the center and I have applied some of the detail from that image into the SHO version. I also realize that I lost the galaxies in the SHO version background that were in the RGB, so I have attempted to add them back in in another version that I have made.
Thank you so much for your comments,
Best wishes,
Alistair