Heart and Lion Nebulae
24 worksFirst upload: Aug 2022Peak: 2025Last 12 months: 8
📝 Description
These images depict deep-sky emission nebulae, specifically focusing on the Heart Nebula (IC 1805) and the Lion Nebula (Sharpless 2-132). Photographers select these targets to capture the complex structures of ionized gas clouds located in the constellations Cepheus and Cassiopeia. The images utilize narrowband imaging techniques, which isolate specific light wavelengths to reveal distinct color variations ranging from glowing reds to bright blues. While some shots emphasize the overall shape against a starfield, others highlight fine internal details and dust lanes within the nebulae. The collection is united by its focus on these specific interstellar regions in the northern sky.
How to shoot it
📍 Where to shoot
Shooting takes place outdoors, primarily at observatories or locations with low light pollution for deep-sky observation.
🕐 Time of day
Shooting is done at night when objects are optimally visible above the horizon.
🧳 What to bring
Warm clothing, thermos with hot drink, flashlight with red filter, spare batteries for camera and mount.
🧰 Special equipment
Astrocamera (e.g., ZWO ASI533MC Pro), refractor telescope (Askar Fra Pro 300/5.0), and equatorial mount with autoguiding (Sky-Watcher GTi).
⚙️ Settings
The key parameter is exposure: for SHO narrowband filters, long exposures per channel are required to accumulate signal from faint nebulae.
⚠️ Good to know
Objects are located in the constellations Cassiopeia and Cepheus, making them accessible for shooting in the northern hemisphere. Using SHO narrowband filters allows obtaining quality images even with moderate light pollution.
📈 How the idea developed
works uploadedshare of all site uploads, per 100k
The date is when the file was uploaded to the site. The chart counts works assigned to the idea.
✅ How to repeat it
- Shoot each channel (H-alpha, OIII, SII) separately for subsequent processing in the SHO palette.
- Use mount autoguiding, as total exposure time per object can be several hours.
✨ Interesting facts
- 📐 95% of frames are landscape orientation
- 🥇 4 works reached the finals, 2 won. Best contest: Astrophotography 2025
- 👤 Most frequent authors: ANDREI KOROTKOV 2Глеб Заходякин 2
- 🌍 Authors by country: 🇷🇺 RU 15🇮🇱 IL 1🇯🇵 JP 1🇪🇸 ES 1🇫🇷 FR 1
Some tips are prepared by AI from the idea description, photos and their EXIF. Check the rules and access to places before you travel.
Works
These lists are generated automatically and may contain inaccuracies. Photos are shown in random order, and selections are refreshed twice a day. This section is made for exploring photos and does not claim 100% accuracy. The lists include photos that previously participated in contests that are already completed.
