The Elephant Trunk Nebula: A Stellar Nursery in SHO Color
Behold the majestic Elephant Trunk Nebula, scientifically known as IC 1396A. This breathtaking celestial structure, a dark and dense cloud of gas stretching 20 light-years across, is a prominent feature within the larger IC1396 nebula. Its striking, elongated form has earned it the evocative nickname "Elephant Trunk Nebula."
Located approximately 2400 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus, the IC1396 region is a vast expanse of glowing gas and dust, about 100 light-years in diameter. The energy for this cosmic spectacle comes from the brilliant bluish multiple star system, HD 206267, at its core. These energetic stars ionize the surrounding gas, causing it to emit light, while interspersed dark pockets of dust add to the nebula's dramatic visual appeal.
The Elephant Trunk itself is a particularly captivating feature. The intense light pressure from HD 206267 plays a crucial role in shaping this region. It pushes away dust from the nebula's core, leaving a darker central area and compressing dust along its edges. This process, known as shock pressure, creates localized density variations that are the perfect cradles for new star formation. Indeed, infrared observations have revealed approximately 250 young stars, less than 100,000 years old, nestled within the Trunk region.
This remarkable image was processed using the renowned Hubble SHO color palette, which assigns specific colors to the emission lines of Sulfur II (SII), Hydrogen-alpha (Hα), and Oxygen III (OIII) to reveal intricate details in nebulae.
Acquisition and Processing Details:
- Total Integration: 56 minutes
- Integration per Filter:
- Luminance/Clear: 16 minutes (4 x 240 seconds)
- Hα: 16 minutes (4 x 240 seconds)
- SII: 8 minutes (4 x 120 seconds)
- OIII: 16 minutes (4 x 240 seconds)
- Equipment Used:
- Telescope: Planewave DeltaRho 500
- Camera: ZWO ASI6200MM Pro
- Filters: Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 50 mm, Chroma Lum 50 mm, Chroma OIII 3nm Bandpass 50 mm, Chroma SII 3nm Bandpass 50 mm
This image, a testament to the beauty and complexity of our universe, showcases a vibrant stellar nursery where the next generation of stars is coming to life. You can view the original submission and more details on AstroBin .
