The California Nebula (NGC 1499) in Hydrogen Alpha
Characteristics:
Magnitude: 5.0
Size: 2.7 degrees
Distance: 1000 light years
RA: 4h 03m 14s
Dec: 36 degrees 22' 03"
Description:
This is a very
large and textured nebula in hydrogen alpha light. This
grayscale
version permits a greater appreciation of this nebula's intricate
detail and 3
dimensional appearance compared to color renditions, where subtle
detail can be lost. The large size of this object makes it
difficult to capture its
entire extent with the FSQ106 and CM10 combination, although I tried to
frame the
most interesting area containing many tendrils of hydrogen gas,
associated dust regions, and shadows. This is a deep image that shows the
outer "skirt" of the nebula very well. Please check the higher
resolution view to examine this region in greater detail.
More information about this object may be found here.
Photographic Details:
Dates: October 14, 2006
Scope: Takahashi
FSQ106, on the G11 Losmandy
Mount.
Autoguider: SBIG STV with
e-finder.
Camera: Maxcam CM10.
Filter: Astronomiks
6nm
Ha
filter.
Exposures: 26
x 10' unbinned, total exposure
4.3
hours.
Conditions: Temperature 45 degrees F, average
transparency, average seeing; intermittent breeze; clear.
Post-processing:
Subs were
debloomed with Ron Wodaski's
Debloomer software, calibrated and aligned in Maxim (using Astrometric
align feature, which works very well).
Sigma combined using RC Sigma Reject, followed by DDP
in ImagesPlus (IP). Further processing in Photoshop CS (16
bit format).
Please
note: Graphics on this website may not be reproduced without
author
permission.
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