Astrophotography, NarrowBand Processing of Orion (HDR & Free data!)

In this video I will process this narrowband data I collected on M42, the Orion nebula. I collected long and short subs so that I could create a high dynamic range (HDR) composite image.
I am making the data I captured available for free (link below). You can use this data to follow along what I do in the video or you can process it however you like. The files are saved as TIFs so you should be able to open them in any editing program you want. Feel free to share your work or use this data in your own videos, I only ask that you give this channel acquisition credit.
drive.google.com/drive/folder...
The gear used for this shot:
Gear:
Askar 65PHQ
ZWO AM3
ZWO ASI294MM
KZbin membership is available. Hit the join button and sign up!
There are also affiliate links.
If you make any purchases using the links below, I get a small commission.
High Point Scientific
www.highpointscientific.com/?...
RC-Astro:
BlurXTerminator: www.rc-astro.com/software/bxt...
NoiseXTerminator: www.rc-astro.com/software/nxt...
StarXTerminator: www.rc-astro.com/software/sxt...
#astrophotography
#pixinsight
#photoshop

[@fotografiabymiguel]

Fantastic work on this object, James. Great workflow video and process explanation.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Miguel!

[@ClearAmbientSkies]

Great video James. I watched every minute. Not sure I'm a fan of M42 in SHO, but I think it's a good example for overall post-processing, because of the challenges it requires to be overcome to have a decent image. You did well as always. Thank you for sharing your talent with all of us peasants. Funny thing, Pixinsight announced an update today which includes 'GradientCorrection' module as part of the update. I tried it on some of my data and yours, and wow, I think it's impressive, but we'll see how it is received by the hobby/community over 2024. With the RC xXT sorcery tools along with this GC tool, I think my grandma could be able to post-process astrophotography now. 🤣 Today, Pixinsight's YT channel was updated and has the videos showing the process and examples. PS. Got my Skywatcher Sky Adventurer GTI this week in prepping for the eclipse. I think I'm going to Killeen or smaller town, because it appears there is a great amount of hype and therefore lots of traffic expected. I'm 40 miles NW of College Station, but don't want to sit in traffic all day. Clear skies and God bless, jason

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Jason! I just saw the pixinsight videos in my feed. I will have to check them out. These tools are certainly making it easier to process.. but I still think it requires some judgement and a good eye to get the most out of them. I really hope it's clear in my area because yea.. I think the traffic is going to be nuts the day of. Good luck to the both of us!

[@petesastrophotography]

Excellent work James, it's interesting seeing how other people process their images as there's always something new to learn.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Pete! Yea.. I enjoy watching other people process. I always pick up little tips.

[@joelsweatman1503]

Awesome job sir!

[@DSOImager]

Thank you Joel!

[@AnomalousAstro]

Well you haven't finalized your DBE method yet and I'm going to have to pause the vid and figure out how to secure my shorts cause you keep blowing them off! I've never looked at DBE for it's contrast enhancing capabilities, that alone could result in major reprocessing events. I kinda forgot about/neglected M42 because it never gets above ~40deg in the northeast US and I've gotten stuck/focused on >60deg targets, not mention moving my MM camera rig from the HD8 to my WOGT81. Fabulous work James, gonna take a while to absorb it all!!!

[@DSOImager]

Thank you! With narrow band, you can image targets much lower. I successfully shot the fighting dragons from 31°. It peaked at 10°!

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Interesting.

[@DSOImager]

Very!

[@julesarcher8073]

Blue sky from full moon?

[@DSOImager]

You're talking about with the linked autostretch right? I think the issue here is that the o3 filter passes the most signal, and the moon is pushing so much signal through the filter. With O3 assigned to the blue channel, it will be the dominate color.