The North America Nebula Captured from My Backyard
This breathtaking image showcases the magnificent North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and its celestial companion, the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070). These emission nebulae, located in the constellation Cygnus approximately 2,590 light-years away, have been captured in all their natural glory, right from the astrophotographer's backyard.
This image was taken without any filters, allowing us to see the true colors of these cosmic wonders. The sheer dedication and skill involved in capturing such a detailed and vibrant image are truly commendable.
A Closer Look at the Details
The post highlights a particularly interesting bright yellow area to the left of the center in the image. This area has been identified as containing multiple Herbig-Haro objects, specifically HH 652 to 657. The distinct yellow glow is likely attributed to HH 656. While broadband imaging, as used here, brings out this vibrant yellow hue, narrowband imaging often reveals a fainter reddish glow in the same region, primarily in the Sulphur emission lines.
The Gear Behind the Glory
Capturing such an image requires specialized equipment and a meticulous process. Here's a rundown of the gear used:
- Telescope: Sky-Watcher Quattro 200P
- Camera: Canon EOS 6D unmodified
- Mount: Sky-Watcher NEQ6 Pro
- Coma Corrector: Sky-Watcher Aplanatic
- Guide Scope: Orion 50mm Mini
- Guide Cam: ZWO ASI120MM Mini
- Software: APT, PHD2, EQMOD, PixInsight
The Acquisition Process
The image was acquired over two nights, August 14th and 15th, 2024, with a total integration time of 7 hours and 12 minutes. This involved:
- Lights: 144 frames x 180 seconds at ISO 1600
- Flats: 50 frames
- Bias: 100 frames
The Bortle scale rating of the location was 4, indicating a relatively dark sky which is crucial for capturing faint deep-sky objects.
Explore More!
For those interested in seeing higher resolution and starless versions of this incredible shot, or to explore more of the astrophotographer's work, be sure to check out the provided links to Astrobin and Instagram.
