This is a Telescope Live dataset, with acquisition between 11-26-2023 and 12-06-2023 from the CHI-1 OTA in El Sauce, Chili.

This OTA is 3942 mm in focal length, a Planewave CDK24.  It is a bit long for the size of this target, a focal reducer would have been a good accessory for this target.  However, the 'close-up' does reveal structural detail in the nebula that is not apparent in wider FoV images of the same target.  Aesthetically, I think a slightly wider FoV for this nebual is better, YMMV.

This is not a deep integration, but the object is relatively bright which offsets that to a degree.  The post processing was conducted after the Jan 13 version update to PixInsight and all its associated tools, so this was as much a test of the new PI version functionality as it was conducted for the image that resulted.

I'm on the fence as to whether the increased structure detail provided by the CDK-24 was a good thing, strictly from an image aesthetics perspective.  The close-up view does cutoff some of the surrounding Ha cloud at the 'back' of the head which might be off putting to some.  I'm undecided.

My usual NB workflow was followed - GraXpert,  I'm using GraXpert with the default slider setting of zero.   This is the recommendation of the development team since "0" fully enables the AI feature to learn and make gradient/background corrections.  I'm pleased with the results and don't see the inconsistent results that sometimes occurred in the previous version.  YMMV.

After that, BXT (correct only), then Channel Combine to create the SHO palette combined image.  SPCC, then full BXT applied to both the Ha master and the SHO master, SXT in batch mode to create the Starless and stars only images.  Stars only of the Ha, Sii, Oiii to create the RGB stars image (still using the PixelMath algorithm provided by Uwe Deutermann in 2022 - Thanks again Uwe!!!).  STF/Saturation to the Stars image.  STF/CRV/HDR/NXT to the Ha to create an Ha_mask image, then STF, CRV, HDR, then Color Mask + CRV which allows me to pick my way through the nebula, reducing/enhancing specific regions/colors in the  nebula.  NXT, then the DarkStructureEnhance script.  Then combine the Starless and Stars image for the final image setup for posting (in this case a 180dg rotation).

I'm pleased with final result but have reservations due to the close-up FoV which I think is a detriment to presentation of this object.  IMO - YMMV.

From Wikipedia:NGC 2174 (also known as Monkey Head Nebula) is an H II emission nebula located in the constellation Orion and is associated with the open star cluster NGC 2175.[1] It is thought to be located about 6,400 light-years away from Earth. The nebula may have formed through hierarchical collapse.

There is some equivocation in the use of the identifiers NGC 2174 and NGC 2175. These may apply to the entire nebula, to its brightest knot, or to the star cluster it includes. Burnham's Celestial Handbook lists the entire nebula as 2174/2175 and does not mention the star cluster.  The NGC Project (working from the original descriptive notes) assigns NGC 2174 to the prominent knot at J2000 06h 09m 23.7s, +20° 39′ 34″ and NGC 2175 to the entire nebula, and by extension to the star cluster. Simbad uses NGC 2174 for the nebula and NGC 2175 for the star cluster.

Glowing gas and dark dust do not survive well in the Monkey Head Nebula. Young stars near the center of the nebula generate stellar winds and high energy radiation that causes the nebula's material to shift into complex shapes. The nebula is primarily composed of hydrogen which glows at infrared wavelengths due to theradition.