Comet_C2022_E3_ZTF_AP155_G4_08Feb2023_V3_Crop
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) imaged Feb 8th 2023 - The bright star at top is Al Kab, one of the brighter stars in Auriga.
10/10/10 x 60 sec each of RGB. Unguided.
Camera: Moravian G4 (16803) w Gen II Astrodon RGB
Scope: Astrophysics AP155EDF Refractor w Focus Boss II
Mount: Paramount MX
Processing:
All subs fully calibrated using PixInsight's WBPP script. Final RGB image of the star field assembed from the R, G and B masters. This image was then separated into two images: Stars ONLY and Starless, using Russ Croman's StarXTerminator.
Then the entire set of fully calibrated but NOT aligned subs were then each treated with Russ Croman's StarXTerminator to create a full set of starless comet images. These starless comet subs were then aligned on the comet nucleus using the latest version of the PI CometAlign process.
The comet aligned subs were then combined into new R, G and B masters and combined to produce a starless full colour comet.
The starless comet image and the stars-ONLY star field were then combined in Photoshop, layering the comet over the stars using Lighten Blend Mode. Further tweaks and a run of Russ Croman's NoiseXTerminator was the finishing touch.
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Lucknow, Ontario
Feb 8, 2023