How to photograph the Omega Nebula (M17)
A bright swan-shaped nebula in the summer Milky Way.
Photo byESO/INAF-VST/OmegaCAM(CC BY 4.0)
When to shoot it from your location
About the Omega Nebula
M17 is one of the brightest star-forming regions in the galaxy. Its bright core responds well to narrowband filters, making it a good summer target from light-polluted backyards.
Gear and framing
The Omega Nebula spans about 11′ of sky. It frames best with:
- Small refractor (250-600mm)
- Long focal length (800mm and up)
You can see how other people have built their rigs on RigDesigner, including my Sony a6700 and 60mm refractor rig.
Filters
This target glows in hydrogen-alpha and oxygen-III light. A dual-band filter, or separate narrowband filters with a mono camera, lets that light through and blocks most light pollution and moonlight. It is a good choice for city skies and for nights with the Moon up.
Tips
- Its compact core suits 600mm and up. At shorter focal lengths, frame it with M16.
Processing
Stack your light frames with darks and flats, then remove the background gradient before stretching. AstroBake does all of this for you. Point it at your folders of raw frames, then adjust the result with live sliders.