Collecting Photons
Cave Nebula, Sh2-155 and VdB 155
Objects: Emission nebula Sh2 155, the large reflection nebula VdB 155, scores of other reflections, dark clouds and a couple of HH objects!
Constellation: Border between Cepheus and Cassiopeia
Coordinates of field center (J2000): 22h 56m 42; +62° 7'
Notes: I have always been fascinated with this area since it seemed to contain so much in so little space. Indeed the colours here are remarkable, especially if one resists to blend in a Ha layer that would tend to wash away the subtle changes in colours at the edges between pure emission and dust. The detailed view down below (75% of original scale) shows the interesting structures present on the south edge of the emission area.
Telescope and camera: ASA 10', f 3.6; SBIG STL 11000.
Exposure: L 20x10'; R 12x10'; G 13x8'; B 9x10'. About 8.5 hrs total.
Date: three nights on October 2011.
Software used: acquisition, CCDsoft, FocusMax, The Sky VI. Calibration; registration and stacking: CCDstack, Registar; processing: PixInsight 1.7, Photoshop CS3.
Processing notes: easy processing due to the good quality of the data. PIP and HDRW processors in PixInsight. A bit of star erosion to abate their luminosity and recover the coour in the bright core.
Detail of the area around VdB 155
Older pictures present in the site shot with the modified DSRL: wise field image (September 2006, Megrez 80, 51x8'); close up with the ASA (July 2008, 41x8').
Copyright © 2011 by Gimmi Ratto. (October 24, 2011)
