Thursday, April 10, 2025
Sharpless 155, the Cave Nebula
This is one of the targets I’ve been imaging for decades using various equipment—from camera lenses (150–300mm) to large reflecting telescopes ranging from 11" to 14". (My older photos can be seen at end of this blog post)
This time, I used new imaging setup to capture a high-resolution image of Sh2-155.
The seeing conditions weren’t ideal, but I’m fairly happy with the results.
Sharpless 155 (Sh2-155), the Cave Nebula
Click for a large image, 2000 x 1900 pixels
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements, sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue. Original resolution 6500 x 5500 pixels
Sharpless 155 in Visual Palette
Click for a large image, 2000 x 1900 pixels
Visual color version of Sh2-155 glows mostly in red from a light emitted by an ionized elements,
sulfur=red, hydrogen=red and oxygen=blue, this combination is very close to a natural color palette.
sulfur=red, hydrogen=red and oxygen=blue, this combination is very close to a natural color palette.
Info
Sh2-155—also known as Caldwell 9, Sharpless 155, S155, or LBN 529—is a diffuse nebula located in the constellation Cepheus. It lies within a larger nebula complex that includes emission, reflection, and dark nebulosity. It’s widely known as the Cave Nebula. (Note: The reflection component is not visible in my narrowband image.)
The nebula is approximately 2,400 light-years away. This photo covers an area of about 0.7 × 0.7 degrees of the sky—for reference, the full Moon has a diameter of 0.5 degrees, or 30 arcminutes.
Technical details
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaximDL v6.5
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 27 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS
Levels and curves in PS
Imaging optics,
Celestron EDGE 14" with 0.7 Focal reducer
Mount,
MesuMount Mark II
Cameras,
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U9000M and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and SXV-AO Active Optics @ 5hz
filters,
Astrodon 5nm H-alpha, 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
Total exposure time 21h
H-alpha, 51 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 17 h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
S-II, 6 x 1200 s. binned 2x2 = 2h
My older shots from the area
2008
A photo from 2008, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2008/10/sh2-155-cave-nebula.html
2008
2011
2012
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
A two Frame Panorama of IC 1805, the Heart Nebula
I just published an image of the unnamed pillar-like formation inside the Heart Nebula.
I've created a two-frame mosaic from the new photo, showing its relation to Melotte 15 at the center of the Heart Nebula.
As is usually the case, these pillar-like formations point toward the source of ionization. When radiation pressure (solar wind) push gas and dust away from a newborn star cluster, denser regions of gas can resist this force and begin to collapse. This process leads to the formation of the pillar-like structures. The tips of these pillars can become the birthplace of a second generation of stars within the nebula.
A Hidden Pillar and Melotte 15 in IC 1805, the Heart Nebula
Click for a large image, 3000 x 1700 pixels.
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements, sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue. Original resolution 12.000 x 6500 pixels
Area in Large Content
Click for a large image, 2500 x 3200 pixels.
Photos used for this panorama
Melotte 15
Technical Details and other info can be seen in this blog post
Unnamed Pillar Formation
Technical Details and other info can be seen in this blog post
Strange Pillar like Formation in IC 1805, The Heart Nebula
This is an object in the Heart Nebula that I have captured from time to time. My previous photo was taken in 2012.
This new photo reveals more details, even though the exposure time for H-alpha light was only 5 hours.
The pillar-like formations are typically pointing toward a source of ionization, in this case, the more famous Melotte 15.
I haven't been able to find a name for this beautiful object
A Hidden Pillar in IC 1805, the Heart Nebula
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2000 pixels.
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements, sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue. Original resolution 6500 x 6500 pixelsA close up
Click for a full size detail, 1600 x 1600 pixels.
Orientation in IC 1805
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2500 pixels.
Technical details
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaximDL v6.5
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 27 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS
Levels and curves in PS
Imaging optics,
Celestron EDGE 14" with 0.7 Focal reducer
Mount,
MesuMount Mark II
Cameras,
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U9000M and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and SXV-AO Active Optics @ 5hz
filters,
Astrodon 5nm H-alpha, 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
Total exposure time 9h
H-alpha, 15 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 5 h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
S-II, 6 x 1200 s. binned 2x2 = 2h
Sunday, March 30, 2025
A Fossil Footprint Nebula, NGC 1491
I have shot this emission nebula in Perseus several times during the years and every time felt that I got more out of it.
I have wide field and mosaic images including the NGC 1491 as well as longer focal length photos with various reflecting telescopes. Some of them are included in the blog post as an exampleNGC 1491, the Fossil Footprint Nebula
Click for a large image, 1800 x 2000 pixels
In Visual Colors
Photo in visual palette from the emission of an ionized elements
In Mapped Colors
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements,
sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue
A Closeup
INFO
Wide Field shots of the Area
Click for a much large image
Click for a much large image
Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle
Wider view
Click for a much large image
Click for a much large image
Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle
Older Long Focal Length Photos of NGC 1491
2015
Blog post with technical details HERE
Technical details
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaximDL v6.5
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 27 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS
Levels and curves in PS
Imaging optics,
Celestron EDGE 14" with 0.7 Focal reducer
Mount,
MesuMount Mark II
Cameras,
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U9000M and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and SXV-AO Active Optics @ 5hz
filters,
Astrodon 5nm H-alpha, 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
Total exposure time 12h
H-alpha, 24 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 8 h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
S-II, 6 x 1200 s. binned 2x2 = 2h
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Soul Nebula, IC1848
Detail of my Soul
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2000 pixels
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2000 pixels
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements,
sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue
A Closeup
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2300 pixels
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2300 pixels
Soul nebula from 2014
A wide field mosaic image of the Milky Way
Click for a large image, 4600 x 2000 pixels
Hearth and Soul Nebulae at upper right corner
Click for a large image, 4600 x 2000 pixels
INFO
Soul Nebula, (Sh2-199, LBN 667) is an emission nebula in constellation Cassiopeia. IC 1848 is a cluster inside Soul Nebula. Distance is about 7.500 light years. This complex is a Eastern neighbor of IC 1805, the "Heart Nebula" and they are often mentioned together as Heart and Soul.
An alternative framing
Click for a large image, 2000 x 1600 pixels
Technical details
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaximDL v6.5
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 27 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS
Levels and curves in PS
Imaging optics,
Celestron EDGE 14" with 0.7 Focal reducer
Mount,
MesuMount Mark II
Cameras,
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U9000M and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and SXV-AO Active Optics @ 5hz
filters,
Astrodon 5nm H-alpha, 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
Total exposure time 12h
H-alpha, 24 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 8 h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
S-II, 6 x 1200 s. binned 2x2 = 2h
Monday, March 24, 2025
Melotte 15 in heart nebula, IC 1805
I shot material for this new photo back in February, 10 hours of exposures total for three narrowband color channels. (H-alpha, O-III and S-II)
MELOTTE 15
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2000 pixels
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements,
sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue
A Closeup
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2000 pixels
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2000 pixels
Melotte 15 in the Heart Nebula
Click for a large image, 2500 x 3200 pixels
Click for a large image, 2500 x 3200 pixels
A very large high resolution mosaic photo of IC 1805
Technical details
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaximDL v6.5
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 27 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS
Levels and curves in PS
Imaging optics,
Celestron EDGE 14" with 0.7 Focal reducer
Mount,
MesuMount Mark II
Cameras,
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U9000M and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and SXV-AO Active Optics @ 5hz
filters,
Astrodon 5nm H-alpha, 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
Total exposure time 10h
H-alpha, 18 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 6 h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2h
S-II, 6 x 1200 s. binned 2x2 = 2h
Monday, March 17, 2025
HFG1, a Planetary Nebula in Cassiopeia
I managed to get 17 hours of H-alpha light for the HFG1 and now I'm able to do color photo out of it.
This is a difficult target, very diffused and large, I tried to keep my processing kind of modest to bring out delectate nature of an old and dim planetary Nebula.
Total exposure time is 37 hours and signal wasn't the best possible but I'm happy with this result.
HFG1 (Heckathorn-Fesen-Gull 1)
Click for a large image, 2000x2000 pixels
A bicolor image, the light from an ionized oxygen, O-III can be seen as blueish hues, light from an ionized hydrogen, H-alpha, emits deep red light.
Closeup
HFG1 in O-III light only
Click for a large image, 2000x2000 pixels
HFG1 in the light emitted by an ionized oxygen, O-III
INFO
Planetary nebulae have nothing to do with planets. The name of planetary nebulae originated in the 18th century due to the visual similarity between some circular planetary nebulae and the planets Uranus and Neptune when viewed through small optical telescopes, the name has remained although they are not planets.
HFG1 was created by the central star V664 Cas. This is not a single star, but a dense binary star system consisting of a white dwarf and a sun-like star, which are only a few million kilometers apart and orbit every 14 hours.
Because the binary system V664 Cas moves very fast at 29 to 59 kilometers per second and ploughs through the interstellar medium together with the nebula, a bluish arc shock occurs. HFG1 leaves behind a long, red trace of approx. 10,000 year old gas.
Technical details
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaximDL 6.5
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 27 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PotoShop
Levels and curves in PotoShop.
Imaging optics,
Celestron EDGE 14" with 0.7 Focal reducer
Mount,
Mesu Mount Mark II
Cameras,
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U9000M and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and SXV-AO Active Optics @ 5hz
filters,
Astrodon 5nm H-alpha, 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
O-III, 60 x 1200 s = 20h
H-alpha, 51 x 1200 s = 17h
H-alpha, 51 x 1200 s = 17h
Saturday, March 8, 2025
NGC 281, a New Revision
I made a new composition out of my new NGC 281 material, the original composition and technical details can be seen here: https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2025/01/new-photo-of-ngc-281.html
This new poster format composition brings out the dynamic nature of this target better.
NGC 281
Click for a large image, 2000x2600 pixels
Click for a large image, 2000x2600 pixels
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements,
sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue
A Closeup
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