Gemini
  

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Gemini is one of the constellations of the zodiac, and marks the northernmost point of the ecliptic.

Equipment: Nikon 50 mm/1.8 lens/STL-11000M/Astrodon LRGB filters/Losmandy G-11/Gemini
F-ratio: f/4
Exposures: LRGB: L 8 x 3 minutes: R 11 x 3 minutes: G 11 x 3 minutes: B 11 x 3 minutes: RGB binned 2x2
Date: January 24, 2009
Location: Landers, California, USA
Technical Notes: Three exposures for each color were taken through a diffusion filter, which both enlarged the images and enhanced the colors of the bright stars. A second RGB image was created using these exposures, which was digitally composited with the luminance and unfiltered RGB exposures using the Lighten function in Photoshop CS2.
Russell Croman's GradientXTerminator plug-in for Photoshop was used to remove light pollution gradients.

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