The Rosette Nebula is also known as Caldwell 49. It is a spectacular celestial object located in the constellation Monoceros. It is approximately 5,000 light-years away from Earth. This massive cloud of gas and dust spans about 130 light-years in diameter. It is one of the largest and most striking emission nebulae in the night sky.

At the heart of the Rosette Nebula lies a cluster of young, hot stars known as NGC 2244. These stars were formed from the nebula’s material and now emit intense ultraviolet radiation, ionizing the surrounding gas. This process causes the nebula to glow in vivid shades of red and pink. The glow is primarily due to the emission of hydrogen-alpha light.

This image is 4 hours of 300 second exposures shot with an SVBony 80mm triplet on AM5 mount. Camera is SVBony 405cc one shot color camera. Guiding with PHD2 and editing with Pixinsight and Photoshop.

The above image is the exact same data, no additional, but with different processing method. This is processed purely in Pixinsight. I created a faux narrowband image from the one shot color camera data. This really helps to make the image pop with more depth. I’m quite happy with this. I will probably revisit some of my old data from other Nebula. I want to see how this processing technique can help make new images with more interest.

The following images are edits of the same data with with the same process. Which is your favorite?

The Rosette Nebula is not just a visual marvel but also a region of active star formation. Dense pockets of gas and dust exist within the nebula. Gravity pulls material together in these pockets to create new stars. This dynamic environment provides astronomers with valuable insights into the life cycle of stars and the evolution of galaxies.