Sharpless 171 8/27/2012

Catching Light

Photography by

Dan Lessmann

Oklahoma City Clear Sky Clock

Cheddar Ranch Observatory Clear Sky Clock

Catching Light

Photography by

Dan Lessmann

Oklahoma City Clear Sky Clock

Cheddar Ranch Observatory Clear Sky Clock

Sharpless 2-171

Click image for larger version.

This is Sh2-171 (also known as NGC7822) in the constellation Cepheus. It is an emission nebula of primarily hydrogen gas and star forming region along with a cluster of young stars known as Berkeley 59. The nebula is believed to be about 3,000 light years distant. It is one of many emission and dark nebulae in this region of the sky.

Date: 8/19 thru 8/27/2012

Location: 4Domes Observatory

Telescope: TMB130SS @ f/5.6

Mount: AP-1200

Camera: SBIG STL-6303E

Acquisition and Guiding: CCD Autopilot controlling Maxim DL

LRGB Ha Combine Exposures:

Luminance - 30 x 600, Bin 1x1, 5 hrs

Red - 17x300 Seconds, Bin 2x2

Green - 20x300 Seconds, Bin 2x2

Blue - 20x300 Seconds, Bin 2x2

Ha - 26x1,200 Seconds, Bin 1x1, 8.6 hrs

Post Processing:

ImagesPlus: Calibration, align and combine, digital development

Photoshop CS4: Luminance, Ha, color combine, levels, sharpening

NeatImage: Noise reduction