M8, the "Lagoon nebula" in H-alphaLR(H-alpha)GB composition

H-alpha boosted LRGB image of M8.

H-alpha emission of ionized Hydrogen is mixed to a LRGB image.

50% H-a to Red channel in "lighten" mode and 33% H-alpha mixed to a luminance channel.

The telescope and technical information:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPOF-m8_SpqBOCJmzUa6IuQEcdqkbmHTfq5qnA2_8dE3sajkHXcIX9BSy-MTROM1tSzard3W8LeAKC7CIVa66uLghO3WdJxda98-NjAAQmb_8RbHNIu85yg5wvKrs5-T6WgsZTTyqEaY/s1600/NGTelescopeL.jpg

16" RCOS ja Apogee U9000 camera. 

LRGB combo.

Luminance 7x300s., Dark and Flat calibrated.

H-alpha 4x1200s, Dark and Flat calibrated.

Red 5x300s, Dark calibrated 

Green 5x300s, Dark calibrated 

Blue 5x300s, Dark calibrated 

Raw data is shared with Petri Kehusmaa and J-P Metsavainio

Processing workflow:

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v4.xxx

Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack.

Deconvolution with a CCDSharp, 30 iterations

Levels, curves and color combine in PS CS3.

Different color versions:

Pure LRGB-composition.

H-alpha

Natural color composition from the emission of ionized elements, R=80%Hydrogen+20%Sulfur, G=100%Oxygen and B=85%Oxygen+15%Hydrogen to compensate otherwise missing H-beta emission.

This composition is very close to a visual spectrum.

HST-palette from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulfur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen

More information of used color schemes:

http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2009/11/colors-in-astro-images.html