What started as a simple test run to try out some new rig accessories quickly evolved into a full imaging project. I decided to take advantage of three nights of exceptionally clear skies with a cold, stable atmosphere to go deep on this target.

M1 (The Crab Nebula) was selected for its optimal position in the sky during these dates, but also because it is an ideal candidate for ultra-narrowband imaging from my semi-urban location. The heavy light pollution was effectively cut by the Baader ultra-narrowband filters (3.5nm and 4nm), allowing the structure of the remnant to shine through.

Since the native field of view of the Esprit 100 (550mm) paired with the ASI2600MM is much larger than the target, this image is a significant crop of the original frame. To maintain resolution and bring out the finest details in the nebula despite the heavy cropping, I integrated all data using Drizzle x2.

This image is a Bi-Color HOO composition blended with RGB stars. I want to extend a special thanks to my colleagues from the N-Kuadra group for their advice and support during the processing workflow. A huge shout-out to José García Moreno for his specific guidance and his "magic touch" regarding the RGB star processing, which really helped integrate the natural star field with the narrowband nebulosity.