IC 1318 The Sadr region

 The Sadr region, known as IC 1318 or the Gamma Cygni Nebula, is a diffuse emission nebula that surrounds the star Sadr.  Around 5000 light years away from Earth, the area also includes the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) and The Butterfly Nebula as well - which is really IC 1318. You can see a dark thin dust alley and then two glowing cosmic wings either side of it - hence 'The butterfly'. 

The nebulas glow comes from nearby stars releasing streams of charged particles known as stellar winds; these ionise the gases causing them to emit light. 

Sadr is a yellow-white supergiant with x12 the mass of our sun and x 150 its radius. It lies at the centre of this stunning Hydrogen II emission region. 

So, acquisition details? 

This is the result of two nights worth of data, processed in SIRIL and Affinity Photo. 

Equipment used: 

• Astro-modded Canon 800D
• Samyang 135mm F/2.8 lens
• EQM-35-Pro mount
• ASIair mini with RVO 32mm guide scope and ZWO 120mm mini guide cam
• Optolong L-enHance filter clip in eos

Acquisition times:  on each night 

• 35 x 240" subs
• 10 darks
• 10 biases
• 20 flats 

I find post editing difficult. There is so much to learn and I am never sure whether I am getting the final image right in terms of tone and look at the end of it all! 

But, here are my three attempts thus far in the order I did them: 

So, this one is fairly good. I like it but I felt I could have done a slightly more aggressive black point adjustment to get the background sky darker; taking care not to blow out the stars

😧From one extreme to another. Second go and I overcooked it - too much saturation, vibrance and contrast. Back to the drawing board! 

And my third effort - a halfway house. Better sky, better colours, not oversaturated but lost the stars! 

Have I ever told you this post editing alarkey is hard work?