The red is because of the specific wavelength of light of hydrogen alpha ions. Most of the Star forming and dying regions of space are awash in hydrogen alpha and so are dominantly red.
Fair point, and to each their own. Sometimes I’ll just keep the sky alone, but I go to lengths to represent the land and sky as astronomically correct — always same focal length, optics, tripod position — ensuring the final sky integration matches single shot in terms of astronomical position. So, it’s not arbitrary in the sense that this was the landscape under Cygnus as it set on the night I was imaging. It’s not a single shot itself and that is its strength and weakness depending on what you like.
There are many places in Virginia to see the Milky Way, although the brightest part (the galactic core) won’t be visible again until Spring. By far the best place within a few hours drive of DC is Highland County, Virginia. A lot of national forest to explore and the darkest skies in East until you get to Maine. Check out https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/ and you can see where the darkest parts of the state are. Bortle 4 and below and the Milky Way is clear, even in winter although fainter parts.
The main difference with this and what you see is not in the editing but the fact that the camera can collect light over time, whereas our eyes can only process light instantaneously.
Cygnus Setting - Albemarle County, Virginia - October 24, 2022
Cygnus the Swan setting in the West, marking the transition to the Winter constellations taking over from the summer. For this image, I used a hydrogen alpha filter to highlight the enormous area of star birth in this part of the Milky Way. You can see many prominent nebulae in this widefield image, including the Veil Nebula Complex and the North American Nebula.
EXIF - Sky: 45 x 45s RGB, ISO200, f/2.8; 45x60s 6nm Ha filter, ISO800, f/1.4; (replaced Red channel w/ Ha during processing)Land: 1x120s, ISO400, f/1.4
Gear - Sony A7III (Ha Mod by Kolari Vision); Sony 35mmGM; Astronomik 6nm clip-in Ha filter
Tracked/Stacked/Blended
For more astrophotography, check out my Insta: brennangilmorephoto
Cygnus region of the Milky Way setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia [3376 x 4672] (OC)
I photographed my friend fishing under this evening’s full moon
MrJackDog OP t1_iu4bcx7 wrote
Reply to comment by Alice710 in Cygnus region of the Milky Way setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia [3376 x 4672] (OC) by MrJackDog
The red is because of the specific wavelength of light of hydrogen alpha ions. Most of the Star forming and dying regions of space are awash in hydrogen alpha and so are dominantly red.