IC 1848 (Soul Nebula)
Characteristics:
Magnitude: 6.5 (open star cluster)
Size: about 60'
Distance: 6,150 light years
RA: 2h 51m 47s
Dec: 60 degrees 26' 08"
Description:
IC 1848 is a faint emission nebula
located near IC1805.
It is sometimes referred to as the "Soul Nebula," presumably because of
its juxtaposition with IC1805, which is also known as the "Heart
Nebula". On the higher
magnification view, note that the central "knob" has a distinct
blue-gray hue. This suggests a reflection component, although I
have not usually yet seen this in other images of this
region, including my
own from last year. Please click
here for more information about this object.
Photographic Details:
Date: September 3 and 4, 2005
Scope: Takahashi
FS102 at f8, on the G11 Losmandy
Mount.
Autoguider: SBIG STV with
e-finder.
Camera: Maxcam CM10.
Filter: Astrodon
Ha filter (6 nm bandpass); Astronomiks Type II RGB filter set
(color data through the IDAS-LPS filter).
Exposures: Ha filter, 24 x 10',
Red filter, 8 x 10'; Green and Blue filters, 12 x 10' (all
unbinned). Total exposure: 9.3 hours.
Conditions: Kite string was used to create the
diffraction spikes. Temperature 60-75 degrees F; above average
transparency, below average seeing; calm; clear.
Post-processing:
This is an HaR:G:B image (i.e., no luminance
channel was used) and was created as follows. The Ha data were
first subjected to a mild DDP stretch. At this point, the Ha
image lacks contrast but the signal is easily seen. Without
further manipulation, this "understretched" Ha image was combined with
the R data using lighten mode at 100% opacity. This permitted use
of the entire Ha image (100% opacity), without producing an
overpowering red signal, and also preserved star color. I
repeated the procedure by processing the original Ha image to reveal a
bit more detail, followed by combining it with the Red channel once
again (which is really an HaR combine from the first iteration).
I repeated this process for a third time to achieve the balance of
color and detail seen above. Final processing with levels and
curves in PS CS.
Please
note: Graphics on this website
may not be reproduced without author permission.
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