Wide Field Region Around IC 59 and IC 63 (Sh2-185) - Gamma Cassiopeiae Nebula (Bruce Donzanti)

Wide Field Region Around IC 59 and IC 63 (Sh2-185) - Gamma Cassiopeiae Nebula

This is my first attempt at using my Takahashi FSQ 85EDX beyond a test run and my first attempt at the faint region around IC59 & IC63, aka "The Ghost of Cassiopeia". I decided to do a modified SHO palette. This may have not been a good first choice, given the intense moon glow when taken (67-96% illumination), but I was anxious to test the ability of the scope. IC63, which is usually the main subject matter in this area of sky, is part of a much larger nebulous region surrounding Gamma Cassiopeiae that measures approximately two degrees on the sky — roughly four times as wide as the full Moon. This area has long flowing dust lanes and while only 550 light years from Earth, it is relatively faint. This region is primarily made up of hydrogen-alpha dust, with some SII but almost no OIII. While I did capture some OIII signal in my OIII frames, it is extremely weak and the moon certainly did not help; however, I managed to stay roughly 60 degrees from the moon itself. Ha stars were used.

I could not be happier with these first results in a not-so-easy area to image, but the Tak demonstrated amazing capturing ability. I hope you like this view and always open to any constructive feedback.

Original
C
D
Final
E
F

C

Description: Ha only of cropped region around IC63.

Uploaded: ...

D

Description: Slight color adjustment

Uploaded: ...

E

Description: A complete redo. Re-stretched all data and used a different PM formula. I am not sure this is much better, but that data is what it is. The OIII was badly muted by the bright moon. I also need more data, but I really think this object fairs better doing it LRGB vs. SHO.

Uploaded: ...

F

Description: Cropped view of version E.

Uploaded: ...

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Status	Advanced success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	6416742
PixInsight job	WD5RUZ93FV6J7230DO8HQZNN3HX0X665
PixInsight queue size	n/a
PixInsight stage	TASK_LOG

RA (center)	00h59m57s.22
RA (top/left)	00h46m21s.77
RA (top/right)	01h00m39s.40
RA (bottom/right)	01h13m03s.48
RA (bottom/left)	00h59m10s.71

Dec (center)	+60°59′11″.1
Dec (top/left)	+61°31′56″.9
Dec (top/right)	+59°15′58″.7
Dec (bottom/right)	+60°21′29″.6
Dec (bottom/left)	+62°42′27″.2

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