The Seagull nebula and M78

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Seagull nebula (IC2177):

I have been experimenting with different types of mosaic compositions of late in order to image the progress of two asteroids over time and used the techniques to compile several regions of sky around the Seagull nebula that extends between Canis Major and Monoceros. This target covers a large area of sky and so capturing it with an 80mm 400mm FL scope was somewhat challenging. Initially I shot several panes of Ha data extending over a large part of this object in order to pick out part of the objects large circular shape which I also annotated. I then added SII and OIII data on the core area of the object to make a 3 colour SHO composition comprising 4 mosaic panels of 2 hours each giving a total exposure time of 8 hours. Imaged with an ASI 533MM Pro camera and a Sky-Watcher 80 Esprit fitted with a field flattener.

M78: 

A 2.2 hour LRGB integration of this reflection nebula in Orion that is illuminated by two 10th magnitude stars. Imaged with an ASI 533MM Pro camera and a Sky-Watcher 80 Esprit fitted with a field flattener.

Chris Bowden