Back when I started, my old Meade ETX-90 couldn't even pick up the Horsehead Nebula.

I finally got a ZWO ASI533MC camera last month and pointed it at Barnard's Loop in Orion, expecting a faint smudge. Instead, the stack revealed this crazy red arc I never saw in any guidebook. It made me realize how much hidden detail modern sensors can pull from light pollution. Has anyone else in a suburban area been surprised by a target you thought was out of reach?

3 comments

3 Comments

allen.ruby3mo ago

Tried the North America Nebula with a duoband filter and it actually popped out. My old DSLR just showed a gray blob.

christopher673mo ago

Ever catch the California Nebula from your backyard?

jennifer_west2mo ago

Is the California Nebula as tough as Allen's North America blob story suggests? I haven't tried it yet but I bet it's just as frustrating with unfiltered gear. Maybe I need a duoband filter like @allen.ruby mentioned - my DSLR makes everything look like gray soup. I keep hoping for that faint red glow but usually just get a washed out nothing.