Malcolm Loro’s image of the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) and behind it, the faint Soap Bubble Nebula, won him Photo of the Week for Dec. 3-9, 2022.
His image was photographed in narrowband over three nights in his backyard in Kanata, Ontario. Loro used a ZWO ASI2600MM Pro and an Astro-Tech AT92 refractor, with a focal ratio of 506mm and an exposure time of 12 hours (Ha, OIII, SII).
Judges said the Crescent Nebula was well processed, while the outer OIII shell contracts nicely with the Ha layers.
“The Soap Bubble Nebula is very faint and very delicate. It takes a gentle touch to bring out this object. Malcolm has done a great job balancing the bright Crescent Nebula with the very faint Soap Bubble Nebula.”
The image was also praised for excellent colour and control throughout the stretching process.
The image was taken on August 2, 2022.
Honourable Mention
Dale Boan gets an honourable mention for an image described as the Milky Way shining over the boundary between Waterton Lakes National Parks in Canada and Glacier National Park in the United States.
Boan said there are three lakes (left to right): Lake Wurdeman (U.S.), Lake Nooney (U.S.), and Summit Lake (Canada.). “Chapman and MT Custer back the two U.S. lakes,” he said.
Judges praised the image as a “Wonderful mountainscape and sky!”
“The colour and clarity of the sky, and the crisp and interesting foreground, really come together so well.”
The image was taken on August 30, 2022, in Waterton Lakes National Park with a Canon R5 and a Tarmon 15-30mm (f2.8).
