Ghost of Auriga

This image captures a widefield view of the constellation Auriga, featuring the glowing emission nebulae IC 405 (the Flaming Star Nebula) and IC 410 (the Tadpole Nebula) alongside the open star clusters Messier 36 and Messier 38. Located about 1,500 light-years from Earth, these nebulae are illuminated by young, massive stars whose radiation shapes the surrounding clouds of ionized hydrogen.

The photograph was captured over multiple nights from my home terrace in India under light-polluted skies. By using long total exposure time, careful tracking, and selective filtering, I aimed to reveal the faint nebular structures while maintaining natural star colors and the rich Milky Way background. The image highlights the delicate balance between stars and gas in this active star-forming region of our galaxy.
Total Integration:
• 388 × 300 s (Optolong L-Ultimate Pro)
• 38 × 180 s (UV/IR-cut, for star color)
Acquisition Dates: 8–12 December 2025
Location: Home terrace, India ,
BORTLE 8 SKY

• Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro (cooled, one-shot color)
• Lens: Samyang 135 mm f/2
• Mount: Sky-Watcher GTi
• Filter: Optolong L-Ultimate Pro (2")
• Guiding Camera: ZWO ASI120MM
• Guide Scope: SVBONY SV165
• Acquisition & Control: ASIAIR Plus

• Calibration using dark, flat, and bias frames
• Initial stacking and background extraction in Siril
• Gradient correction and noise reduction with GraXpert
• Final color balance, contrast adjustment, and fine detail enhancement in Adobe Photoshop