NGC2070 ‘Tarantula Nebula’

By Anton Winter

I recently modified my Canon 550D DSLR for dedicated astrophotography use, by replacing the internal IR cut filter with an Astrodon replacement that allowed more H-Alpha wavelengths. I thought it would be a good test of the modification by revisiting the Tarantula Nebula that I first photographed on my Orion ED80T Carbon Fibre telescope after I got it. While I have also improved my imaging abilities over the last 7 months, the modified camera was able to pick up much more detail and the resulting image is a significant improvement over the first one I took.

This shot was captured from my suburban backyard on 6th December 2013 and made up of only 65 minutes worth of data. The sub-exposures were made up of the following:

  • 10 x 1 minute
  • 10 x 2 minute
  • 7 x 5 minute

Gear and processing info

  • Imaging Camera: Modified Canon 550D with an Astronomik CLS Clip In filter & Orion Field Flattener.
  • Imaging Scope: Orion ED80T Carbon Fibre
  • Guide Scope: Orion 80mm
  • Guide Camera: Orion Starshoot Autoguider
  • Mount: HEQ5 GOTO
  • Guiding: PHD
  • Image capture: Nebulosity3
  • Stacking and pre-processing: PixInsight
  • Minor curve adjustments: Aperture3