The Pelican Nebula Ionization Front (IC
5070)
Characteristics:
Magnitude: 8.0
Size: Over 80' for the entire Pelican Nebula.
Distance: ?
RA: 20h 50m 57s
Dec: 44 degrees 21' 52"
Description:
The Pelican Nebula is neighbor to the large and familiar North American
Nebula (NCG 7000) in Cygnus. This area is rich in excited
hydrogen gas and offers many opportunities for Ha imaging. The
deep shadows in this nebula are caused by dust that obscures visible
light emitted by ionized gas such as hydrogen, oxygen, and
sulfur. The area just below center is thought to contain an
active stellar nursery, with the glowing topmost
portion representing an ionization front.
Can you find the region of my photograph in this wide field view
of the Pelican Nebula?
Photographic Details:
Date: June 12, 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).
Exposures: Ha: 14 x 5' each (unbinned). Total
exposure 70 minutes.
Conditions: June 12: Temperature 45 degrees F; average
transparency; average seeing; calm.
Post-processing: No dark, bias, or flat frames used. Image
alignment done in ImagesPlus. Sigma
combined using RC Sigma Reject Plug-in for MaximDL. DDP performed
in ImagesPlus
(IP). Subsequent
levels and curves adjustments in Photoshop CS.
Please
note: Graphics on this website
may not be reproduced without author permission.
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