NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula

[ionia23]

Object: NGC 7023
Common Name: Iris Nebula
Object Type: Reflection nebula
Object Location: Cepheus constellation
Magnitude: 6.8
Distance: 1,300 ly
Imaging Date: 04-03-2022
Imaging Location: Tucson, AZ
Telescope: Orion 8" reflector
Mount: Orion Atlas equatorial
Guiding Camera: Orion Starshoot Autoguider ST-4, direct to mount.
Guiding software: PHD2
Imaging Camera: Orion Starshoot G4 Color
Filters: Lumicon 1949 Light Pollution Filter
486nm Hydrogen Beta: 95.8%
496nm Oxygen III: 96.9%
501nm Oxygen III: 95.6%
656nm Hydrogen Alpha: n/a

Image information:
30 x 180s exposures (90 minutes integration time)
No darks/flats/bias
Debayer and stack in FitsWork4
Image processing in Startools
Final touch up in Photoshop

I decided it was time to try out the light pollution filter, which I have only used in the past for visual observation. I was absolutely floored that color data came through and the contrast in the images was excellent. Exposure times needed to be increased dramatically, but well worth the effort.

This one just has a "haunting" feel to it.