It is a beautiful emission nebula in the constellation of Monoceros 🦄, which is primarily formed by regions of H (hydrogen) gases, but O (oxygen) and possibly S (sulfur) gases can also be found here. Unfortunately, I don't have filters or a monochrome camera, so it was captured only in RGB, where they emit a signal in the red spectrum.

During processing, I used the new PixInsight plugins from RC-Astro, namely BlurXTerminator in 'correct' mode, which only cosmetically adjusts the image; more precisely, it helped to make the stars look nicer and rounder, and to bring out smaller details a bit. I also used NoiseXTerminator, which slightly reduced the background noise.

Timelapse of one of the nights (March 21) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8478hRawVxo

Data:

Acquired during the nights of: March 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21 Total Exposure: 1104 x 120s (~36.8h)

Acquisition:

Equipment: WilliamOptics Redcat 51 WIFD (main telescope) Proxisky Ragdoll 17 Pro (mount) ZWO ASI585MC Pro (main camera) WilliamOptics Uniguide 31mm (guide scope) ZWO ASI678MC (guide cam) Gemini Focuser Pro (autofocus)

Software: N.I.N.A. - main control PHD2 - guiding

Processing:

Stacking & Processing: PixInsight

Applied processes: WBPP -> DBE -> Background Neutralization -> BackgroundCalibration -> SPFC -> SPCC -> BlurX -> NoiseX -> Starnet2 -> GHS -> CurvesTransformation -> Pixelmath

And finally, a minor bonus: the aurora borealis from Jan 19, 2026 :) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/x9QBZPO6Ago