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I agreeImaging telescope or lens:CELESTRON EdgeHD 800
Imaging camera:ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool
Mount:Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G
Guiding telescope or lens:CELESTRON EdgeHD 800
Guiding camera:ASI120MM
Focal reducer:Celestron 0.7x Focal Reducer
Software:Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight , Main Sequence Software Sequence Generator Pro, Adobe Photoshop, PHD 2
Filters:Astronomik H-alpha 6nm CCD 1.25", Astronomik Deep-Sky R 1.25", Astronomik Deep-Sky G 1.25", Astronomik Deep-Sky B 1.25", Astronomik L-3 UV-IR Block 1.25"
Accessories:Moonlite CHL 2.5" Large Format Crayford Edge Focuser, Orion Thin Off-Axis Guider (TOAG)
Resolution: 4236x3078
Dates:Sept. 27, 2018, Sept. 28, 2018, Oct. 8, 2018, Oct. 9, 2018, Oct. 10, 2018, Oct. 14, 2018, Oct. 15, 2018, Oct. 16, 2018, Oct. 17, 2018, Oct. 18, 2018, Oct. 19, 2018, Oct. 22, 2018
Frames:
Astronomik Deep-Sky B 1.25": 30x240" -20C bin 1x1
Astronomik Deep-Sky G 1.25": 30x240" -20C bin 1x1
Astronomik Deep-Sky R 1.25": 30x240" -20C bin 1x1
Astronomik H-alpha 6nm CCD 1.25": 200x240" (gain: 139.00) -20C bin 1x1
Astronomik L-3 UV-IR Block 1.25": 237x180" -20C bin 1x1
Integration: 31.2 hours
Darks: ~50
Flats: ~50
Bias: ~256
Avg. Moon age: 10.33 days
Avg. Moon phase: 49.40%
Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 5.00
Astrometry.net job: 2373396
RA center: 22h 19' 19"
DEC center: +63° 18' 36"
Pixel scale: 0.526 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 90.659 degrees
Field radius: 0.383
Data source: Backyard
This view into deep space reveals a pocket of hydrogen emission (Ha) peeking out behind a large dust cloud. Fortunately, looking with high magnification reveals some additional detail. You can see towering wisps and columns of Ha gas, but the foreground dark nebula obscures the view just as it gets interesting! It kind of makes you want to peek around the corner, doesn't it? Scientific studies in the infrared have indicated a cluster of young energetic stars inhabit this pocket and are actively working to shape these structures.
This area of space is catalogued under a few different names. Sharpless2-140 (Sh2-140) refers to the hydrogen alpha emission and Lynd's 1204/2304 (LDN 1204/2304) is the dark nebula throughout frame. It is immediately apparent that the dark nebula hangs in front due to the lack of stars in the area. There are actually a few interesting features here too, in particular a miniature dark snake to the upper left.
The stars in this image were quite overpowering, as was the brightness of the central pocket. I dimmed down both in postprocessing in an effort to reveal the structure to the observer. I hope it worked! Though this is not an tremendously uncommon target, the inner detail is not something you see every day so I focused on showcasing that as best as I could. I've taken up the hobby of visualizing where these objects are in the "big picture". It sits in Cepheus, between roughly between the more commonly imaged Lobster Claw and the Squid.
Enjoy!
| Cloudy Nights |
| Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope (SCT) Imagers |
| ZWO ASI1600MM/QHY163M |
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