Cave Nebula and surrounding nebulosity (Sh2-155)

Cave Nebula
All Images Copyright Steve Cannistra

Please click here or on image for a higher resolution view.


Characteristics:
Magnitude:  ?
Size: about 60'
Distance: ?
RA: 22h 56m 48s
Dec: 62 degrees 37' 00"

Description:
The Cave Nebula is a faint region of Ha emission and surrounding dust in the constellation Cepheus.   This area is rich in detail, which is especially prominent when imaging in Ha light.  In addition to the central "cave-like" structure, notice the subtle patch of blue reflection nebulosity in the upper right hand portion of the field.  The star colors are also beautiful in this field, which adds a nice touch to the overall image.  Make sure to view the higher magnification image for full detail.

Photographic Details:

Date:  November 1, 2004
Scope: 
Takahashi Sky 90 at f4.5 with field flattener/focal reducer, on the G11 Losmandy Mount.
Autoguider:  SBIG STV with e-finder.
Camera:  SXV-H9
Filter: 
Astronomik Ha filter (13 nm bandpass); Type II R, G, B filter set.
Exposures:  Ha:(HaR:G:B).  16 x 5' for Ha (80 minutes total, unbinned); 4 x 4' each for R, G, and B (16 minutes total for each color), all unbinned.
Conditions:  Temperature 42 degrees F; above average transparency; average seeing; calm.
Post-processing: 
No darks, flats, or bias frames used.  Alignment done in ImagesPlus.  Sigma combined using RC Sigma Reject Plug-in for MaximDL.  DDP was performed in ImagesPlus (IP).  Subsequent levels and curves adjustments in Photoshop CS (16 bit format).  Ha was combined with RGB using the technique of Luminance Corrected RGB.


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