Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Gemini (Gem)  ·  Contains:  10 Gem  ·  11 Gem  ·  12 Gem  ·  IC 444  ·  LBN 840  ·  LDN 1564  ·  The star 12 Gem
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IC 444 . . . . "like fire & ice", Barry Wilson
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IC 444 . . . . "like fire & ice"

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
IC 444 . . . . "like fire & ice", Barry Wilson
Powered byPixInsight

IC 444 . . . . "like fire & ice"

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Acquisition details

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Description

While researching unusual targets for our winter season, I spotted IC 444 a reflection nebula located in Gemini close to the head of the Jelly Fish Nebula and hoped that the TEC140 would be able to resolve some of the finer detail. Although the refractor isn't a light bucket and nor is it quick at is native F7 we did succeed in gathering an interesting data set, one that I have struggled to process.  This image is from my fourth attempt, each time processing from scratch (other than calibration).  I am pleased that we have capture the main elements of the nebula and the blue reflection nebula, lovely star field too.

I naively held in my mind the beautiful image produced by Adam Block from the Mt Lemmon Sky Center, here. I have shamelessly borrowed his "fire & ice" phrase in the title of my attempt .  For completeness Adam's text from the online entry is: "From Adam Block: "Few things are more informative or compelling than contrast. The ability to see the predator about to eat you, the signage on the roadway or the darkening clouds on the horizon may very well be key to your survival. It is no wonder then that when we find contrasting forms and colors in nature we pause and admire them. The field of IC 444, a little-studied region, gives us the contrast we crave. Like fire and ice here we have something sculpted and something tenuous- with the warm and cool colors of better known objects such as the Trifid nebula. The blue veil sparkles due to scattered light from dust and clouds of hydrogen gas glow red from the radiation of newly formed stars." The URL: http://skycenter.arizona.edu/sites/skycenter.arizona.edu/files/ic444.jpg"

Thank you Adam for the inspiration and apologies for only marginally approaching the beauty of your image .

Pixel peepers please note the reflection rays from upper and lower right of the frame, left in the image for full authenticity .

Data acquisition: Barry Wilson & Steve Milne
Processing: Barry Wilson

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IC 444 . . . . "like fire & ice", Barry Wilson

In these public groups

Entre Encinas y Estrellas (e-EyE)