Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Ophiuchus (Oph)  ·  Contains:  HD144820  ·  HD144961  ·  HD145004  ·  HD145025  ·  HD145125  ·  HD145168  ·  HD145185  ·  HD145186  ·  HD145426  ·  HD145569  ·  HD145591  ·  HD145592  ·  HD145681  ·  HD145733  ·  HD145775  ·  HD145805  ·  HD145806  ·  HD145894  ·  HD145914  ·  HD145915  ·  HD145937  ·  LBN 13  ·  LBN 17  ·  Sh2-24
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Sh2-24 In Ophiuchus  is one of the closest yet faintest Molecular Clouds (HII Region)  "The Gray Nebula", Steve Argereow
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Sh2-24 In Ophiuchus  is one of the closest yet faintest Molecular Clouds (HII Region) "The Gray Nebula"

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Sh2-24 In Ophiuchus  is one of the closest yet faintest Molecular Clouds (HII Region)  "The Gray Nebula", Steve Argereow
Powered byPixInsight

Sh2-24 In Ophiuchus  is one of the closest yet faintest Molecular Clouds (HII Region) "The Gray Nebula"

Equipment

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Acquisition details

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Description

Sh2-24 in Ophiuchus is one of the closest yet faintest Molecular Clouds (HII Region).  it is estimated to be
about 500 light-years away and is roughly the apparent size of a full moon in the telescope.

I only found one other dedicated image of this on Astrobin.  Despite imaging with a OSC over a 5 night period
with the Optolong L-Pro the first 3 nights I was getting no color.  The nebula was gray.  After about 7 hours
integration time I started to see a slight red.  The last night I imaged was with the L-Extreme filter because
of a 30% Moon.  Imaging with that it took a hour of integration time before I could even see the nebula.

I couldn't find much information on this.

Note:  I'm calling this: "The Gray Nebula" Even after 18+ hours integration time there was almost no
color just a hint of red.  Durning, processing I made a copy, did star removal and then over-saturated
the color.  I then used gimp and layered that in with the original copy at about 50% each.  That's
how I brought out the reddish hint.  In total, I imaged this 9 nights from 6/1-6/25/2022.



Telescope:   Meade 6000 80mm  APO Refractor  f/6.0  (480mm Focal Length)
Meade X0.8 Reducer f/4.8  (385mm Focal Length)
Mount  IOptron CEM40
Camera ZWOASI6200MC-Pro  Temp -10C, Binning 1 x 1, Gain 100 Offset 50     
ZWO  EFW

12 X 600 Second Exposures W/Optolong L-Extreme Filter  (6nm)
30 X 300 Second Exposures W/Optolong L-Extreme Filter  (6nm)
110 X 300 Second Exposures W/Optolong L-Pro Filter      
54 X 180 Second Exposures W/Optolong L-Pro Filter      
40 Dark Frames/100 Flat Frames
Total Integration Time:  18 Hours 2  Minutes
Acquisition with SharpCap
Stacked with Astro Pixel Processor
Stacked  with Deep Sky Stacker
Guiding PHD2
Processed with Astra Image/GIMP
Photo taken from Seven Lakes, NC  Bortle 4.5

Comments

Revisions

  • Sh2-24 In Ophiuchus  is one of the closest yet faintest Molecular Clouds (HII Region)  "The Gray Nebula", Steve Argereow
    Original
  • Final
    Sh2-24 In Ophiuchus  is one of the closest yet faintest Molecular Clouds (HII Region)  "The Gray Nebula", Steve Argereow
    B

B

Description: Added 7 hours integration time for a total of 18 hours 2 minutes. I wanted more
but the weather said no. I'm saving subs and add to it next year!

Uploaded: ...

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

Sh2-24 In Ophiuchus  is one of the closest yet faintest Molecular Clouds (HII Region)  "The Gray Nebula", Steve Argereow