ROAST ::

July 13/14. A scheduled session to try to improve results for M27, the Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula, and NGC 7380, the Wizard Nebula in Cepheus. For both objects I used 60-seond exposures, with a gain of 60. Here’s the Dumbbell result:

The extra 50 minutes of integration has definitely improved on the first effort. Here are zoomed in details, with the second attempt on the right:

The focus is much better — my fault, I wasn’t checking regularly enough — and more detail is visible on the nebulosity.

Details:
Target: M 27 (NGC 7853), Dumbbell Nebula, Apple Core Nebula.
Time: 2026-07-13 23:02..00:55
Equipment: Dwarf Mini, Duo-Band filter
Integration: 1hr 39mins (99×60secs, +4 failures), gain 60
Conditions: Clear, Bortle 6
Processing: PhotoDesk equalisation, gamma

And here’s the good old Wizard Nebula, although it stil doesn’t look much like one to me:

Again the focus and detail has been improved, and the extended nebulosity is more apparent. Although given the longer integration time (about an hour more), I was hoping it might be better. The first attempt is here, and as well as having shorter integration time was somewhat over-processed.

Details:
Target: NGC 7380, Wizard Nebula
Time: 2026-07-14 01:04..03:42
Equipment: Dwarf Mini, Duo-Band filter
Integration: 2hrs 23mins (143×60secs, +1 failure), gain 60
Conditions: Clear, Bortle 6
Processing: PhotoDesk equalisation, gamma

And so to bed…