Astronomical witch: Interesting image of a strange nebula:

Astronomical witch: Interesting image of a strange nebula: 

The image of the Witch Head Nebula is a captivating sight that draws the attention of any stargazer. This peculiar nebula, located 900 light-years away from Earth, spans 70 light-years in space and resembles the face of a witch, hence its nickname. It is a cloud of dust and gas that owes its visibility to the light of the nearby star Rigel, which illuminates and reflects off the gas, creating this spectacular reflection nebula.

The process of capturing this image involved using a DSLR camera with a 135mm lens attached to a star tracker at the Kumail Space Observatory in KPK, Pakistan. The camera was set to capture the light coming from the nebula for a period of 2 hours, resulting in 61 images that were then stacked to create the initial image. The image was then processed by astrophotography Kumail Raza Bangash to achieve the final result that we see today.

The Witch Head Nebula is located near Rigel, which is one of the brightest stars in the sky and marks the location of the famous Orion cluster. In the image, the bright blue Rigel can be seen on the right, while the witch-shaped nebula is on the left in the foreground. Another nebula named NGC 1788 can be seen just below the Witch Head Nebula, along with a cosmic ring and gas visible in light blue and orange colors, adding to the image's appeal.

The technical details of the image include 120-second exposures for 61 light frames at ISO 1600, f/2.8, and 135mm. The camera used was an EOS 2000D with a Samyang 135mm f/2 lens, mounted on a Skywatcher Star adventurer pro. The final image was stacked using DSS and processed using PS 2020, with star removal done using Starnet++.

Overall, the Witch Head Nebula is a beautiful example of the wonders that await us in space. It is a reminder of the vastness of the universe and the infinite possibilities it holds. As we gaze upon this image, we cannot help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the mysteries of the cosmos that we have yet to uncover.

EXIF: 120 sec x 61 light frames - ISO 1600, f/2.8, 135mm

15 darks and 30 bias frames 

EOS 2000D, Samyang 135mm f/2 lens

Skywatcher Star adventurer pro 

Stacked using DSS, processing done using PS 2020

Starnet ++ for star removal.