Collecting  Photons

1600x1049

Objects:             One of the brightest emission nebulae in this region. Several small but interesting reflections around. Zillions of colorful stars: hard to handle all of them... The small emission patch at the left side of the image is sh2 201. At the right of center the nebula is clearly bluer: this is due to intense OIII emission. At the center of the bluish patch there is a clear cavity filled with a small compact group of very white stars. This association of O-type stars is the excitation source for the entire nebula. Asecond patch of bluish OIII emission is on the left, surrounding another bright O-type star.

Constellation:     Cassiopeia

Coordinates of field center: 2h 55m +60° 28'

Notes: a quick image acquired while waiting the rising of Perseus.
 

Telescope and camera: ASA 10', f 3.6; SBIG STL 11000.

Exposure: Luminance 26x8'; R 12x10'; G 11x8'; B 10x10'. About 8.6 hrs in total.

Date: three nights on 15, 18, 19-10-09.

Software used: acquisition, CCDsoft. Calibration; registration and stacking: CCDstack, Registar; processing: PixInsight, Photoshop CS. 

Processing notes: I hate stars!

Copyright © 2009 by Gimmi Ratto. (November 7, 2009)