Astrophotography: Thor's Helmet (18 hours of exposure)!

In this video I show the processing workflow I used to complete this image of Thor's helmet.
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#astrophotography
#optolong
#astronomy

[@yourfavoriteastronerd]

OMG I love this! Enjoying this video James!

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Diana, I am glad you are enjoying this one :)

[@user-dz7qm7zu2k]

Really great work, and thank you for walking us through your process behind the scenes. I *always* learn something new this way. I like the green too, I think that nowadays the blue tends to be overdone a little bit so your unique take on the colors is refreshing

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Peter!

[@AstroSoundscape]

This came out really nice James👍 not often we make a star bigger :). Nice.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Ollie! Nope... not often at all!

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Nice work!

[@DSOImager]

Thanks!

[@LogansAstro]

I've been a bit slow to catchup with RUclips videos lately but finally got to watch this. Beautiful image. I don't mind the bluer versions of this target but like you said, the teal colour is probably closer to what OIII should be so a good choice I think. I think some images look better with very mute stars but I think in others, the more prominent stars can actually enhance the overall look of the image so I think the decision to make the stars more prominent was definitely the right choice.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Logan, appreciate your comments :)

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Awesome image James sadly haven't been doing much astro simply due to the crap weather we've been having here so my mojo is at an all time low right now.
Clear skies!! ( I can hope!!)

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Tich!

[@ryanmoeller3308]

GREAT video! I'm hoping to pirchase my first telescope soon! I'll probably start with just observing and eventually get into Astrophotography. Keep up the GREAT work! You have a new subscriber. Much respect and support from Yuma, AZ.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks so much Ryan! Appreciate the sub. :)

[@ClearAmbientSkies]

While we're on the topic of "green", when I was first starting out in astrophotapgraphy, one of the common themes I heard was "there is no green in space." I cannot imagine that is true. I understand why green is an issue for those using RGGB camera sensors, but that is not the same issue. Our eyes see green easier than any other color, and apparently green is a color in the universe. I love the teal color to answer your question, and prefer it over the typical blue/red versions that normally prevail strictly in quantity.
My question is, do you think more time on this target would've helped in your processing? I've noticed I do less processing on images that have plenty of data. The longer I process an image the more I begin to realize I don't have enough data. Not saying yours doesn't, not at all, but thor is a 'faint' target, and I need more data on mine and I was using a RASA11.
Great image either way and thank you James for sharing your astrophotography skills and talent. Clear skies as always, Jason.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Jason!
I've seen that "no green" in space but I believe it's wrong. Ionized O3 has plenty of green in it. The comets are green too :)
If you look at older narrowband amateur astrophotography (mostly 2000s) you see the greens. My theory it was a combination of Pixinsights adaption and a heavy handed approach with the SCNR tool led to green falling out of favor.
I too have noticed that images with more data are easier to process. There is a point of diminishing returns. With my Edge 8 @ F7, on most targets, seems like I hit that point around 40 hours. I imagine you 'd get there a lot sooner with the RASA. I wouldn't mind picking up another 18 hours on Thor's helmet. I think it will do a nice job on the fainter bits.