The Medusa Nebula is a planetary nebula in Gemini, the Twins. I had the chance to get out for the first time in 3 weeks due to weather and other factors (like visiting kids). I got a 2.5 hr block of time on this target - and it came out pretty well.
The Medusa Nebula is a planetary nebula that was shot at the Westport Observatory at the [url=
https://www.facebook.com/WAS.CT/?__cft__[0]=AZXMAatnQa0MWgmb3zxErhy4rJuuUm2SJdFqguaXcpxRCSLLxYFUB0aP9F1Iqrl41n3BwpC4B6GGtuEBBLNo7NpAlRqX6pgCkkccCoAMs_X9in058W4MMhxeWKXdLIVgGbTdS0BRZJlm4gpVN9hBDKby&__tn__=kK-R]Westport Astronomical Society[/url]. This object is a fairly dim planetary nebula (it's also pretty small: this is showing at 2735mm of focal length) or supernova remnant that was the result of a star exploding. The central star is PG 1159 (Wikipedia).
The collection of gases has dissipated in a way as to look like a blurred-out ball of different colored gases. The reds are hydrogen and the blues are oxygen. This image was taken on the 14" EdgeHD with my astro-modified Nikon D750 as the imaging camera. Data below:
Date: 2/28/2022
Location: Westport Astronomical Society
Target: The Medusa Nebula - Abell 21
Lights: 45 @ 180s each, ISO 1600,
Darks: 20
Dark-flats: 30
Flats: 40
Bias: 100
Gear:
Telescope: Celestron 14" EdgeHD
Filter: STC Dual Narrowband - Ha/Oiii
Mount: Astrophysics 1200GT
Guiding scope: 102mm Astrotech
Guiding software: PHD2
Integration Software - PixInsight
Finishing: Photoshop, Lightroom, NIK Tools Silver Efex 3.0
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