A Dusty Elephant (IC1396 and Surrounding Dust)

IC1396
All Images Copyright Steve Cannistra

Please click here for a 20% size image.
Please click here for a 15% size image.


Characteristics:
RA (J2000): 21h 36m 55s
Dec (J2000): +57 degrees 56' 55"
Position Angle: 131 degrees

Description:
This HaRGB image was taken in May 2023 and represents a section of IC1396, which is a large emission nebula in Cepheus.  The image scale with my FSQ106 plus ASI294MM camera is 0.9 arcseconds/pixel, which is well-matched for my typical seeing conditions.  Additional details of image acquistion and processing are outlined below.  This region has several "cometary globules", which consist of a head followed by a tail of dust that is being blown backwards by HD206267's solar wind.  The most conspicuous globule is 1396A, also known as the "Elephant Trunk", shown left of center in the above imagePlease be sure to check out the larger sized images for greater detail, including the head of the Elephant Trunk region.

Photographic Details:
Dates:  May 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, 2023.
Scope:  Takahashi FSQ106 at f5 on the Takahashi NJP Mount.
Autoguider:  ASI178 autoguider with SvBony 30mm guidescope, focal length 120mm.
Camera:  ZWO ASI294MM at -10C, with 7 position ZWO filter wheel.  Pixel size is 2.3 microns (Bin 1x1), yielding an image scale with the FSQ (530mm focal length) of 0.90 "/pixel (well matched for my seeing of  3 arcseconds).  Camera gain set to 50 (e-gain 2.13 electrons/ADU), offset 25. Read noise at this gain level was 2.18 electrons rms.
Filters: 
Baader Ha, R, G, B filters; 2 inch.
Image acquisition software:  MaximDL for camera control and autoguiding; CCD Commander for automation.
Exposures:  Total exposure 12 hours (Ha: 6 hours, 300 second subs; RGB 6 hours, 120 second subs).
Processing:  Calibration, integration, deconvolution (BlurXTerminator), noise reduction (NoiseXTerminator) in Pixinsight; subsequent processing in Photoshop.
Please note:  Graphics on this website may not be reproduced without author permission.

Back to Nebulae

Home

Map