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Taken 4-Sep-16
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71 of 76 photos

Cave nebula in LRGB

This field shows the Cave nebula in Cepheus. In the top left we have a big red arc, that's Sh2-155 - the Cave Nebula - a popular narrowband target. Below the cave and to the right is a blue reflection nebula - DG 188 or LBN 524. Finally, to the left and a little below DG 188 (at bottom center of the image) is a red region which is HH 168 (I think). Numerous dark nebulas are snaking their way through the image.

Processing was tricky and being a relative newbie at color data perhaps shows in the color balance being off a bit.

Technical details:
Date: Sep 2, 2016
Time: 9:00 pm - 3:15 am
Camera: SBIG STF-8300M
CCD Temperature: -8 C
Optics: Televue 127is (native)
Filter: AstroDon LRGB
Light frames: {L,R,G,B} = {24, 6, 5, 6} x 8 minutes
Dark frames: 32
Flat frames: 16
Flat darks: 16
Binning: 1x1
Guiding: Orion SSAG @ Orion finder (~162 mm)
Mount: AP Mach 1
Dithering: Manual
Processing: Stacking, deconvolution, and RGB combine in CCDStack. Curves, Levels, and gentle noise removal in PSCS6.

Other notes:
This was initially planned for Sept. 1st, but an ant invasion required me to reschedule this for Sept. 2nd. The night started with three gentlemen (hunters) commenting on my gear - the imaging scope. I explained that the imaging scope is for imaging only, but that I do have a visual scope, and that they could come check out Saturn if they feel like it. They did, and their faces lit up like a 5 year old getting their first bike. Realizing that I was busy setting up, the hunters promptly disappeared, and I had the mountain to myself for the rest of the night ...
... yes, even the mice were a no-show. I could hear them, but not one of them ventured out to my setup. The trick? I brought a recording of an owl, and looped it on maximum volume for the entire night ...
... which in turn prompted another owl in the distance to start hooting too. Good times.

Categories & Keywords
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Subcategory:
Subcategory Detail:
Keywords:DG 188, HH 168, LBN 524, Sh2-155

Cave nebula in LRGB